I thought those lugs looked familiar. The size at 41mm is also interesting. It is interestingt that JLC was making large watches back in the 60s and 70s -- far ahead of the large watch "trend" of today, right?
This watch is more and more appealing as yoiu share more and more of ti with us.. Thanks for posting this.
respo
The 70ies were crazy years, and watches followed that " state of mind "...
When you have a look at the JLC production, you see some big Memovoxes, such as the Polaris II, the Snowdrop, and the " TV screen ", which were indeed big watches.
The 4 ATM is a chrono to re discover, IMO.
The proportions are nice, and the details reveal some points of the " Grande Maison " History.
Thanks for your input, Respo.
Best,
Nicolas
Sadly, I don't have the production figures on the 4 ATM.
There were several kind of bezels, Damien.
Here is one, but there was also a decimal one.
One word about the difference of treatment, which is in fact a guess I will have to check.
If I remember well the answer from the Heritage Gallery Team, to whom I asked this, they answered me that the Jaeger movements, on the Chronographs, were never signed, while the LeCoultre and Jaeger-LeCoultre Chronos were.
The 4 ATM was only produced by Jaeger, while the Diving Chrono was only made by LeCoultre and Jaeger-LeCoultre, hence the difference.
Best,
Nicolas
Because at this moment, JLC didn't have an in house movement, and the Valjoux or the Universal were good ones!
Best,
Nicolas
Your posts are really in a class of their own! Great work once again!
A very interesting and informative post!
The French market JAEGER with the blue sub-dials is very appealing!
I must confess that all your posts about chronos have really made me start to look in that direction…
Got my first chrono just some week ago – a one button, no sub-dials (non JLC).
So it’s not that big step from what I am used to
But soon I will probably cave in and get a full chrono…
Best, my friend and keep up the good work!
Blomman
PS. I am amazed about the title – “A quick…” ::))
That we could dedicate an entire thema of collection about them.
2 or 3 registers, round or cushion, gold, or stainless steel, class or sporty, small or big, there are so many variations!
Though, I will not make this trip, as I have to end my Vintage JLC Collection with 4 or 5 more watches.
But I have to confess that it is tempting.
This Jaeger 4 ATM is interesting with its unusual markings, and this original bezel.
To wear it is a great pleasure, too.
I would like to dive a bit more in the details, but this quick approach has a purpose:
Sharing, and maybe also changing some people's perception on Vintage JLC Chronos...
Best, my friend, and thanks for your kind comments.
Nicolas
I personally saw some fakes, and some questionnable, and I speak more about the Shark than the 4 ATM...
Thanks for the warning, and for the spectacular, but necesary warning.
Best,
Nicolas
It’s sad that this kind of warnings is needed, but I guess it’s too much money in it …
… for dishonest people resist.
This is one of the reasons I still haven’t gone deeper in my vintage hunt yet.
I have a lot of studying to do…
Best
Blomman
“Only 4 or 5 more vintage JLC’s"?
Nicolas, be honest now – will you ever be able to stop?!
And if you do make it and stops - why?!
Best, my friend
Blomman
So, my journey into Vintage JLCs will end with my 30th piece.
I try to get the most representative of JLC History, which is very subjective, as some will privilege other models than those I chose, but I also have to love these pieces.
30 pieces, that it damn crazy, don't you think?
Aaah, I don't count the Clocks, Table Clocks and some accessories or goodies I'm still hunting.
Best,
Nicolas
That is true love and passion, my friend!
It is good to put a limit, especially when it comes down to things that are controlled by the emotional part of the brain…
But I still wonder – will you be able to stop at 30..?
I mean, just look at your BP FF story or your Rolex’s…
If I don’t recall wrong you have more that one of each model…?
…?
Best
Blomman
The 4 ATM was all except a Diving Chrono, my friend.
4 Atmospheres ( 40 meters ) are not enough to provide a good water resistance when diving.
My guess is that the decimal bezel or the hour indexes were used for some different activities.
But it is only a guess.
Thanks for your nice words.
Best,
Nicolas
I don't know about these, Nico.
They seem to fall into the category of many Chronos of that era.
So many brands were putting out these 'generic' style chronos, many with 72s inside, that the JLCness of them just doesn't seem to be there. Something is missing.
Case: Outsourced. Movement: Outsourced. Bezels: common/generic. Hands: common/generic. What's left but to put a brand on the dial?
I like them, but not as JLCs...nor Enicars, nor....
This message has been edited by BDLJ on 2010-06-01 17:25:06This case was used by Jaeger only, not LeCoultre nor Jaeger-Lecoultre, which used another case for their Diving Chrono, the " Shark ".
Actually, this is not the only watch to use an outsourced case, the other most famous example being the ..Polaris, but in this last case, the dial was specific to the watch.
As for the movement, the Valjoux, or the Universal Genève were commonly used by many other brands, as you know.
The interest of this 4 ATM is that it is a big Chrono, with a nice aesthetic, as well as the other similar chronos released by some other brands.
A matter of taste, indeed.
Thanks for your input, Ben.
Best,
Nicolas
got a question in mind, movement of these chronos was not made in housed, why JLC/LC did develope chrono calibres in the past and only made in housed calibre until very recently?
by the way, very nice and tempted chronos.
stefan
My guess is that LeCoultre made very nice in house Chrono movements, at the end of the 19th Century and at the beginning of the 20th Century, for pocket watches.
If you have a look at the Chrono movements for Wristwatches, at " La Grande Maison ", you will notice that they appeared, for the first time, with the LE RG Reverso Chrono, in 1996 ( Cal 829 ).
There is a hole in the " in house " Chronograph production, indeed.
Why?
This is only my guess, but maybe it is due to several factors:
1/ The UG 285 and the Valjoux 72 were reliable movements, so why thinking about an " in house " solution?
2/ Conceiving an in house Chrono movement is not an easy thing, someone even told me that it was more difficult than a perpetual calendar!
JLC is filling the gaps, nowadays, and since the 90ies:
There was no perpetual calendar wrist watch, now it is done, since more than 15 years.
Same for Minute Repeaters, since 5 years, now.
A True Manufacture has to develop the ability to produce all the horological complications, IMO.
That's what they're doing, at JLC.
Best,
Nicolas
As they used the Valjoux 72 for their Dayto, then the Zenith, and we had to wait till 2001 if I' m not wrong to see Rolex housing their own in house Chrono Movement...
PP did the same, until very recently.
So, it is not exceptional at all.
Yes, too many things to learn and to discover, Stefan!
Best,
Nicolas
Because I know by heart the Year Book One.
No, my friend, no problems with the PMs, I'm still trying to arrange all the schedules.
Best!
Nicolas