Jaeger-LeCoultre

Is anyone familiar with this watch? Authentic? Military-issued? Any interesting history, etc.? Sorry about the poor-quality photo, but that's all I have at the moment. Thanks in advance, Jeff ...  

This kind of 24h dial, the Quartermaster. If this is one, then the dial is a really bad repaint.... Do a search here in the forum you will find photos of mine. Best Blomman

You guys are the LeCoultre experts, and I sincerely appreciate your responses. My quick research suggests that NASA ordered (at least) eight of these watches, and gave one of them to each of the seven Mercury astronauts. This would have been in the Mercur...  

Only 8 pieces made for a special occation in US... Never heard of any claims that JLC delivered any watches to NASA. As for this watch, most likely the same movement as in the Quartermaster, Cal 480 CW. Strange choice for an astronout watch. OK, the 24h d... 

No doubt, a very strange story . . . and almost 60 years later, it is difficult to suggest how these eight watches would have been ordered / produced / supplied. But it was being sold with other items from the estate of John Glenn, and the watch matches t... 

Jeff, We await your investigative result with anticipation... Thanks, mate. Regards, Melvyn (MTF)

Sometimes, I think that I am buying the watches, just to add some fuel to the fire, in trying to solve their mysteries. I was born in 1955, so have always been a huge John Glenn / Mercury astronaut fan. Hopefully, we will get some interesting information.... 

Thanks for sharing Cheers D

I found this excerpt, on another forum, quoting Wally Schirra -- "Harold Johnson, one of the STG engineers, came to our office one day with eight wristwatches-one for each of us and one he would wear. They were analog watches with numbered dials, but the ... 

Note the watch on Alan Sheppard's wrist in this cover photo. I think it is the same LeCoultre. At least the band looks the same. gatorcpa ...  

Well Spotted!! At first glance, I thought perhaps an Accutron Astronaut, but two observations -- (a) Shepard's watch has a crown, which would be absent on the Accutron, and (b) May 1961 would probably pre-date the Accutron . . . right? Also, on the Accutr... 

Yes, when we look inside this issue of Life, we see Alan Shepard wearing the Le Coultre, as identified by that crazy looking bracelet (as seen on Wally Schirra's Le Coultre)!! Jeff ...  

Definitely a post I keep checking everyday for updates. Thank you for sharing. Best, David

So the question of the moment -- Does JLC have anyone who focuses on the brands' heritage / history, and might be able to offer any support? Or who even cares about such things? An interesting chapter in the Le Coultre history, right? Not "space worn", bu... 

@ amanico: have you got another watch in your hunting list now? 1 out of 7, that is a limited edition All the best, É.

So does anyone here have a suggestion, as to where I might be able to "beg, borrow or steal" a LeCoultre Quartermaster, with the black dial? I am assuming that buying and selling is not permitted on this forum, but I am hoping that someone can point me in... 

...here's Blomman's example now: But I suspect that you want something a little more "tangible". I've linked this thread over to another forum where you are a member. Someone over there found an auction listing for Gus Grissom's LeCoultre, which was sold ...  

So here is one of the "Johnson" / astronaut style watches (issued by NASA engineer Harold Johnson to the seven Mercury astronauts), sold on eBay approximately one year ago. Listed as a "Quartermaster", we see that it matches the "Johnson" watches, except ...  

I love the puzzles, and this one is fascinating (at least to a 1960s / space exploration enthusiast). I have already learned a lot about LeCoultre, and am optimistic that we will be able to piece the parts together, to explain some of these watches. Also,... 

This has been a fun one, for me as well. I'm looking forward to learning more about these mysterious LeCoultre Quartermasters, and the newly-discovered cousins, handed out by NASA engineer Harold Johnson. Jeff

With sincere thanks to all here who contributed to this search!! Jeff ...  

Thanks again to everyone on this amazing forum who contributed to the identification / chase / acquisition. Tonight, I took the proper head-shot . . . maybe a good way to close-off this thread . . . or at least this first chapter. We'll let it run down ov...  

... could we have back, side and movement shots? You've got a marvel in your hands, lucky man! Best, É.

Yes -- will take more photos over the weekend.

I will follow your mission to uncover these with pleasure. Best Blomman

Sorry for going silent, regarding this watch from the estate of John Glenn, but it will go off for servicing next week, so I snapped a couple of photos last night. Unfortunately, I was unable to remove the case-back, as it seems to require a strange tool ...  

It seems to require a special type of tool . . . usual wrench, but very small pins. ...  

Here we go, folks, fresh from my watchmaker's bench . . . movement is K831/CW . . . serial number is 1328310. Sorry to be telling the story piecemeal, but we will pull it all together, soon. Jeff ...  

@Nicolas: have you got any good story on it? Best. É.

Enjoy -- Richard.