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Marius Lecoultre Grande Sonnerie Minute repeating perpetual calendar retrograde with independent jump second
A highly complicated and intriguing watch came across my eye recently and i would like to share this.It has complications that I personally have never seen in a pocket watch before. While not the most complicated on the surface, this watch is technically very impressive and certainly unique. The movement was certainly a creation of the legendary firm of Victorin Piguet Le Sentier as the strike-work clearly gives this away. Its a 24''' Grande Sonnerie with minute repeater with a brand signature retrograde date perpetual calendar with an independent jump seconds. Most Sonneries barring highly complicated ones made for the likes of J.W Packard and Henry Graves Jr. are usually about 19''' (43 mm) or 20''' (45 mm). This is extremely large at about 24''' or about 54/55 mm. For context the Graves Supercomplication was a 25''' base movement.
money shot
What makes this really unusual is that It doesn't have a normal chronograph, but an jumping independent seconds, but it doesn't use a 2nd train to achieve it but uses the same going train. It also has a very unique (to the brand) regulator and is visually quite striking.
striking mechanism (under dial)
the perpetual calendar module developed by Marius’ father Eugène Constant Lecoultre
typical dial of the brand
the case is massive and has a diameter of 63 mm and thickness of 25
This message has been edited by India Whiskey Charlie on 2025-12-15 13:59:17
money shot
What makes this really unusual is that It doesn't have a normal chronograph, but an jumping independent seconds, but it doesn't use a 2nd train to achieve it but uses the same going train. It also has a very unique (to the brand) regulator and is visually quite striking.
striking mechanism (under dial)
the perpetual calendar module developed by Marius’ father Eugène Constant Lecoultre
typical dial of the brand
the case is massive and has a diameter of 63 mm and thickness of 25
No other words than WOW come to my mind, what a marvel ! Absolutely amazing, thanks for sharing such unique pieces !
…and today’s brands rave about a minute repeater perpetual as a mechanical invention, or some huge achievement charging millions!
Pieces like this put them to shame!
Congratulations on winning it, I thought they'd withdrawn it because it wasn't running
Who is your watchmaker?
it is running just not well
sotheby's also broke the seconds hand (which they say they will fix) but they also said they would pay to fix the watch but then said no so who knows. Bought it because I've never seen this kind of movement ever. I'm going to probably send it to john mcgonigle for a full restoration but we shall see!