kingmatic
20
A 37mm Powermatic Mexican Cousin
Comment ça va mes amis ?
Sorry, but I shall to switch to English, cause my French is very rusty .
Although I´m not a regular in this forum , I´m always looking for new information of my vintage watches in several forums and IMHO the Amanico & friends´s PuristPro forum is for JLC the ultimate reference .
Let me tell you that a couple the years ago, I was lucky to find a 37 mm Steel Powermatic , but until now I hadn´t "seen" any other exception being in this web page from a London dealer
Even though mine had a bad redial and I´m almost sure not the original hands (let me tell you that I´m very picky with dials and I had rejected some previously for that reason) , it took my immediate attention because its unusual size. The movement is signed JLC but inside the cap says acier inoxydable (i.e. stainless steel) LeCoultre Co.
Moreover, I said before the style of the hands are incorrect, I think should be gold spade hands as in the link.
Reading this post, my guess is that someone in the past refishided the dial with the most " exclusive" Jaeger LeCoultre brand, but who knows !
I was aware of the rarity of this piece, but nothing else.
To my surprise yesterday I found this excellent (as always) post of Nicolas about this rara avis.
So early this morning I took a couple of pics and with further delay I decided to show you this Mexican cousin .
BTW the pic of the movement ( an earlier one took several months ago) is almost identical to the original post, don´t you agree?
saludos from Mexico City
the Aztec King
Kingmatic
PS Anyone can recommend me where I can go for a proper refinish of this dial, and proper hands ?
Thanks in advance !
This message has been edited by kingmatic on 2012-11-03 12:18:11 This message has been edited by kingmatic on 2012-11-03 12:20:14
Vous avez besoin d'une montre? Think Powermatic!
This was the title of a JLC ad in the 50ies. ( Do you need a watch? ) JLC used it for several purposes, including the Powermatic, in a very creative way: The saga of the JLC Automatic started in 1946 with a very conventional watch, housing the Cal 476 ( a...
Thank you so much . I never even knew this 37mm beauty existed
It's a superb and elegant vintage with proportion of a modern day classic What can there be not to like in this beauty Maybe another to add to the wish list :) Best Imran
A 37 mm stainless steel case is not easy to find, but impossible is not english! :)
Thanks for your comments, my friend. Best, Nicolas
En effet, j´ai déja assez de montres, mais cette montre là ...
... is just too tempting, Nicolas! Thanks for your mouth-watering post which again made me feel I am living in the wrong era: watch-wise I am a 50´s and 60´s person. Your shot of the three JLC automatic watches is breathtaking, each of the three watches i...
The Futurematic, Geomatic and Powermatic are all mine.
I am the lucky owner of them. I just have to update my post on Vintage JLC automatic watches, you will see, it is even more spectacular. ;) Best, my friend, and thanks for viewing. Nicolas
Bravo!!!
Nicolas Thank you for present this beauty. Did a research and it seems that JLC was, again, the first-ever to have this power reserve indicator on a commercial product. Breguet had one in 1933 but was one of a kind prototype. Cheers NIlo
Very nice review of this unknown model
Some pictures of the yellow gold version of this Powermatic Jumbo by master "Loupe à l'Oeil" ...
Development indicator device for the mainspring winding watch...
Nilo, Indeed, JLC have many "first" - but this time I suspect that it was a joint venture together with Zodiac. Patent - filed 1948, granted 1952: Here is an article about the Power reserve indicator function from 1949: Best, my friend Blomman ...
This was a point I was not very sure of, indeed.
It was a superb era, when JLC released so many interesting and fine watches! Best, Nilo, and thanks for answering. Nicolas
Some additional info...
Thank you, Nicolas for a great review! :) The Powermatic is a beautiful watch - especially the Jumbo size! As you stated in the review - it started with the Cal 476. Here is the movement specification for the Cal 476 and 481 - as you can see the Cal 481 s...
You just made me think that I have to " pressure " my watchmaker on the 476.
I miss this one a lot. Thanks for your kind words, my friend. I find the Automatic watches from JLC to be very interesting, and developped a small trip into this thema. Will show you.... Best! Nicolas
I wonder..
Interesting watch, I wonder how hard it is to get the correct crown for this piece. Thanks for the review Nico! -MW
Well, I didn't look for the correct crown, till now, but I will, then I'll know. :)))
Thank, you, my friend. Best, Nicolas
Powerful review!
Nicolas, your Jumbo Powermatic is a beauty. Thank you for your review that highlights the mechanical, historical and aestetic interest of this watch as it deserves. I was wearing my Powermatic recently and it confirmed that the window at 12 is a perfect s...
Thanks for adding your beauty to the edifice, Marv.
Your dial is mint! And thanks for the Brevet, it was an important information I missed. Best, Nicolas
Like others..
never knew about the Powermatics! Thank you Nicolas! I find the PR very discreet and well done for a vintage style piece. I have always thought that the PR along with the alarm are the best complications. And the larger 37mm is great for today's wearer. T...
All the collectors markets, my friend.
It is a long hunt before finiding a jumbo Powermatic. But whic knows? I will let you know if I ever find or see one. All the best, and thanks for your kind words. Nicolas
Great review
Hi Great review glad the Powermatic came out on top of the list. One of these has been lurking in the shadows of my want list for a while now. And you're right there is a family likeness between it and the Futurematic. Time to start the hunt in earnest. C...
Thank you, JML.
I think you are right to hunt this reference. much more underated than the Futurematic, but far from being an uninteresting second choice! And in 37 mm, the case is really something. The problem is that they are quite hard to find... Best, my friend. Nico...
A 37mm Powermatic Mexican Cousin
Comment ça va mes amis ? Sorry, but I shall to switch to English, cause my French is very rusty . Although I´m not a regular in this forum , I´m always looking for new information of my vintage watches in several forums and IMHO the Amanico & friends´...
Powermatic
Hi Nicolas, Thanks for sharing my old MRD photos, it was surprising but good to see them again, as I don't have that nice watch any more...but I still have a small American Powermatic with a completely different case and dial which shows the diversity of ...