Jaeger-LeCoultre

While we think of the masterpieces of the JLC past, the Future Matic is a watch which comes immediately to each JLC lover's mind, beside the Géomatic, the Géophysic, The Memovoxes, and the Vintage Divers ( where there are some Memovoxes, the Deep Sea Alarm, and the ..Polaris ).

The Future Matic plays in another league, a league apart.

While the others plays the card of the Chronometry, the History, The Future Matic also plays the card of the Originality...

Since Harwood, in the 30ies, we never saw such a weird watch, which has the particularity to not have any crown on the side of the watch.

A Word about the Harwood, as this is the first.

The Harwood was made in collaboration with Frederic Emile Blancpain, and was presented at the Basel Fair in 1926.

The interest of this watch is capital, as it is the first automatic wrist watch in the world!

At this moment, it was a 12 hours ( !! ) Power Reserve, And...And...we're coming back at our intial topic, no crown to change the hour nor to wind the watch...

There were 2 Harwood Watches.

A round case:



On this one, the hour is to be set by turning the bezel.

A Tonneau Case, where the hour is set by a crown located on the case back...

The interest of this original solution is not only esthetic, but practic, as the purpose was to fight against the problems of water resistance, dust and anything that can damage the movement.

This solution is the one chosen for the JLC Future Matic, which was released in the beginning of the 50ies.., more precisely in 1953, while the First Automatic Watch was launched in 1946 ( Cal 476 ), and the First Automatic Watch with a power reserve indicator was born in 1948 ( Cal 481 ).





The Future Matic... A Watch we quite often speak about, but that we don't see too often!

Here an extract from the JLC Catalogue of the moment, presenting the 2 Future Matic, ref E 501 for the version with the Power Reserve sub dial, and ref 502 for the Port Hole, with 2 Calibers ( Cal 497, and Cal 817 ).



Here, the Port Hole:



1/ The Movement:

The main characterisitics of these 2 Calibers are the following:

Cal 497 ( Ref E 501 ):

Bumper Automatic Movement

Diameter - 31.3 mm (13 3/4")

Height - 6.3 mm

17 jewels

Balance Spring - Nivarox spiral

Frequency - 18,000 A/hr, 2 Hz

Kif shock absorbing

A hook prevents the watch from any overwinding, and the movement is also hacking, allowing its owner to set time at the second.

Another stunning thing is the way the power reserve works.

When there are a few hours of power reserve, let's say 4 or 5 hours, the movements stops.

So, as there is no crown to wind the watch, the owner just has to set the Hour and Minutes, to put the watch on the wrist, on at the forst movement of the wrist, the watch starts to work!

Cal 817 came further, which is, basically, the same movement, but the difference is that the power reserve indicator is not designed the same way, called " Port Hole ", with a white witness showing that the power reserve is ok, and black to warn the owner that the power reserve is ending.

It was a very sophisticated movement for this era, and the story says that JLC had to stop the Future Matic because of that!

A pic of the Cal 497:



Here a document explaining ( in French ) all the Mechanical qualities of the Future Matic:



2/ The ads:

An old ad about the Future Matic Credit pic: Marv ):

" Elegance, Accuracy ,and Robustness "



Here, with an Ultra Thin, and an Early Memovox:



And my absolute favourite...



3/ The Diversity of the Future Matic models:

The first choice is between the Ref E 501, and E 502, so between the Power Reserve Sub Dial or the Port Hole:

E 501:



E 502:





Then, do you want it in Gold, or in SS?



What kind of color for the dial?

Black or Silver?



What kind of indexes?

What kind of lugs, straight, curved?

What kind of marker for the end of the power reserve in the E 501 Sub Dial?

And so on...

4/ The Watch in itself...

In this important diversity, and I chose the simpler and, IMO, the more elegant one, the SS with the silver dial, straight lugs ,and the long, thin, and triangular indexes....



The first words which come to mind when viewing this Future Matic is Elegant, and timeless.





Can you imagine that it is ...55 Years Old???

This is a 0 default watch, esthetically speaking.

The dial is symmetrically designed, not busy at all, with only 2 sub dials, and a very pure main dial.

IMO, this dial, with the thin long triangular indexes, is the nicest for this watch, giving to the Future Matic a sobriety, a class which is simply awesome.

As we speak of the dial, here are some macros to appreciate the quality of the finish of this old Lady, and its beauty too.

Not much writing on the dial, just the essential:



All is Symmetry:



Spade Hands for the Hours and the Minutes...



But also for the Power Reserve and Seconds Hands...



Nice circular finish for the SubDials of the PR and the seconds...



There is a lot of Purity, here...Just the Essential is present, without " fioritures"...

Hence its timeless look, indeed.

The Case is just gorgeous, too!

What is really impressive is the dimension of the watch, its perfect proportions.

A Diameter of 37 mm, a real thinness, and beautiful lugs.

The only volume is due to the sexy plexy, which adds a nice warmth and a light distorsion to the dial.

A light distorsion:



An impressive thinness, beautiful lugs and thick plexy, all is here:



Here, it's even more impressive:



And there, the whole watch in its true maginficience, showing its nice proportions and volumes:





A look on the case back, and you will understand how to set the time, with this particular watch.

On the crown, is written as a Reminder: " Slide, do not lift "...

So, you slide the crown at the interior of the case back, you set the hour, and then you silde it again at the exterior.

Here's the pic:



Wearing it is a great moment, indeed...

37mm and 55 Years Old?

Are you sure? LOL

Seems extraordinarily modern, though!





The comfort is here, as the Future Matic sits perfectly on the wrist,and as a light watch it is, you don't feel it, you're just hearing its heart bit.

Even the Packaging was great...

Here, the US version, " Lecoultre "...



And here, the lovely box of my Future Matic...



The only important thing to say is that if you consider this watch, you should always remember to check its condition, especially if the movement works, as it is quite difficult to repair...

To end this post, I would like to say that this Future Matic is an emblematic Vintage watch, and not only among JLC watches, but all brand included.

Its charm, beauty, sophistication mechaniccaly and eshtetically speaking is a milestone in the History of Horology.

From 1953 till 1958, some 10 000 Future Matic were made, so, compared to the Memovoxes, it's quite nothing, as I speak here of both references, and please note that I'm not sure of the number of pieces produced, so if the experts here can confirm or infirm, it will be with a great pleasure!

A watch to seriously consider for all of us who are in love with weird watches, indeed.

There was first the Harwood, then the JLC, and now, the Freak...



Hope that you will enjoy this review as much as I had pleasure to prepare it!

Best.

Nicolas

PS: Please note that I haved to pick quite all the pics except pics of my watch on my Hard Disk, and they come from the net world, so I can't remember who to credit, but I'll do it under request, of course. This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-11-13 13:47:39 This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-11-17 11:58:16

Or you may loose the Reason...

When you come, I will show you some specimens, and you wil understand, my friend...

LOL

Best!

Nicolas

Nicolas, that is amazing and fascinating! Thanks for making that review of the Futurematic.  I had only heard of the piece and knew nothing about it, so reading your piece was a treat. 

One question (so far!):  Did the Harwood also have the mehanism in the movement to retain some power reserve so as you just had to set the time and put it on to reactivate it, or was there some winding mechanism other than the absent crown?  How did it work and was the Futurematic's solution to dispense with the need for winding completely original and different from how the Harwood worked?

Oh, and I love the last photo of these distantly related freaks.  Nice shot!

respo

And as the power reserve was only 12 hours, you imagine that if you're a good sleeper, it was not a very easy watch to use...

With the Future Matic, the improvements were so important that you could use it as a Daily Wearer.

There are some precautions to keep in mind, and to not shake the watch, if you wnat to start it.

The very first movement of your wrist will start it...No need to shake.

Yes, the Future Matic is way more elaborated than the Harwood, but the Harwood was the First!

I have to make a search on the Harwood, because I don't remember how to wind it once it stops, but I think that this is the same principle than on the Future Matic ( to rewind it )...

As for the pic of the Freak and the FM, Yes, it is really stunnning to see these 2 Monsters together!

Thanks for your input, my friend!

Best.

Nicolas

No message body

No message body

nt

great piece..

SLIDE DONT PULL!

" Slide, don't  pull " !!!

I needed time to hunt some documents, so things couldn'be done in the hurry, but what a pleasure, finally!

Thanks, my friend.

Best.

Nicolas

Thanks Amanico for the blast from the past......so nostalgic and a sign of those hopeful post-war times when people looked forward to the future..........

1953

USA announces the hydrogen bomb developed.

A panel was set up by CIA to discuss UFO phenomenon.

First 3D film premieres - Bwana Devil.

First TV broadcasted Academy Awards ceremony - Oscars.

Salk polio vaccine announced.

Blackpool FC wins the FA Cup.

Mount Everest climbed succesfully by survivors.

Queen Elizabeth II crowned and was still a 'Babe'   She's my Queen; I can say what I like but - off with my head!

First Chevrolet Corvette built......life was never the same again.

First commercial computer Univac 1103 THAT used Random Access Memory (RAM) - a 'massive' 1024 bits per tube (gasp) and 36 Williams tubes.......tubes???

1st Playboy magazine.....whoopee.

!st commercial colour TV sold and life was really never the same again.

Regards,

MTF

This message has been edited by MTF on 2008-11-13 17:38:42

Greatest event of ' 53! LOL

Great answer, my friend!

Best.

Nicolas

1953 is the date the Futurematic was released by Jaeger-LeCoultre to the European markets.

The watch was actually released earlier in the United States under the "LeCoultre" brand with US-made watch cases.  Here is an advertisement from "Life" Magazine dated in late 1951 clearly showing the Futurematic for sale here.

JLC has told me that the movement in my example was made in 1952, before the "official" release date.

This is one of my most accurate watches.  Rarely off more than a couple of seconds a day, and I'm sure it would do better if worn on a consistant basis.  But I have to give it's younger brother some wrist time, too!

 

Great article, Nicolas!

Take care,

gatorcpa

The release of the Future Matic, according to Zaf, is 1952...

I didn't modify my post because I received Zaf's Book after having put in line my review...

LOL

Thanks for the kind words, and for these great scans, my friend!

Best.

Nicolas

...or it does resemble my beloved RDM? Size, overall design, power reserve indicator, triangular hour indexes, hours / minutes hands format?

 

Marcelo

There are some Stylistic common points between your beloved RDM, and this Future Matic...

The inspiration is obvious, when we have a look at the 2 dials.

Another excellent reason to be in love with your RDM?

LOL

Best, my friend.

Nicolas

We never get tired of classic pieces

 

All the best!

Marcelo

Thks for sharing

but you already know that!

 

Thanks for putting up the review, it's about time too!

 

HAGWE

 

Asi

And we are some here to dream about a new Future Matic!!!

Best, my friend, and see you soon!

Nicolas

Overview of Futurematic calibers:

497

497/1

827 - all above are hand-style powerreserve.

817

817/1

837 - all above are "port hole"

Somewhere on this forum are production figures posted...

From my memory the cal. 837 has a run of 500 pieces.

The references E 501 and E 502 are screw caseback and therefor "E"tanche.

Shown steel "port hole" watches are Clavi's (brown strap) the one with pink gold indexes is mine.

Cheers - Ilja

Yep, E for Etanche, I didn't put it, indeed.

Thanks a lot for the movement overview, and for your pic of the Pink Gold Port Hole!

Best, Ilja, it's always a pleasure to read you!

Nicolas

Hi Nicolas,

What a great review on this Futurematic by JLC.

What spark me that now perhaps only memoree 1 by ML deserve the word Futurematic.

Thanks for the indepth developement of JLC's futurematic.

BHK9

Amazing review, i really enjoy, thanks Nicolas.

And ot the less beautiful, too!

Caught by the virus, my friend?

Best.

Nicolas

Thanks on such a great post Nicolas.
Keep on going like this and eventually everybody here on the "purists" will get smarter by the day ...

Salutations

Filip

To share with you such beautiful watches...

And only Pleasure!

Best, my friend.

Nicolas

... and I must say that I am not disappointed...  Congrats for this post, the photos and the nice illustrations !

And where did you manage to get all these vintage documents? Back to the futurematic ?! LOL

The Futurematic is an incredible watch with both mechanical and esthetical interests. You did manage to find one with very nice lugs and an incredible mint dial. Beautiful!

Here are some pics of mine. Lying close to a similar model used to illustrate an ad.

An original but pure design !