There has been a long silence on my Blog. I don’t even know if I can find an excuse for it, so let’s get into it again without further ado.
A new watch arrival is always a good reason to write a new article and well, I have just received something I would like to share. Right now, there is not really anything exciting new coming out from the watch industry. It seems they have ran out of ideas, reissuing the same watches with a different colour again and again. Thankfully, there is the wonderful world of vintage watches that continue sparking interest with me.
Over the years of collecting, I must say I have become more selective. Especially nowadays, I really only consider vintage watches that come in a very good condition. I know everyone dreams about that super-rare vintage watch in New-Old-Stock condition with stickers and tags, never been used, but let’s stay realistic. A NOS watch can also me intimidating causing fear of wearing that rare gem. That’s not what I want, I want to enjoy my vintage watches and I need to wear them.
I pay now a lot of attention to the case, once you have seen sharp, original polish cases, an over-polished case will feel like a sugar-coated doughnut. I much prefer the not or very slightly polished example with a few marks than the perfectly shiny polished case. The dial is equally important and of course originality is a must. I have pretty much given up on “projects” where I need to find parts to restore the watch to its original configuration. I may narrow down my search with that principle, but so be it.
Case Number starting with 733xxx points to a mid 50s production time
Let’s have a look what we have here. A vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre, time-only dress watch from the 1950s. These watches with the famous manual-wind caliber P450 have been produced quite a bit in the 40s/50s, many have actually survived in good condition as they were likely only worn on special occasions. With a 36mm case diameter, they are rather large for their time and right on the sweet spot again today.
1956/57 Catalogue Scan of Reference 2953, credit Blomman
Those dress watches from JLC mostly came with teardrop or straight lugs, like mine. I wanted straight lugs for a few reasons, one: they will easier show an unpolished case, two: I do have a teardrop lugs Triple Date JLC and finally, I think they wear easier on my wrist with straight lugs. And I wanted Rose or Pink Gold. I don’t own many Rose Gold vintage watches, in fact, Rose Gold was not that popular as most vintage watches came in Yellow Gold.
This should be a Reference 2953. It has a relatively high case number 733xxx, so is likely a late production from the mid 50s. Beautiful silver dial with applied gold markers and applied 3-6-9-12 numerals, inner railroad track. Inside the Railroad track, the dial has a vertical brushed finish, which depending on the angle of the light, gives a nice effect as if the watch has a two-tone dial. Earlier production versions had blued seconds hand, some had painted numerals and coloured dials too. This is a more classic configuration. The case is very sharp and appears if at all, only slightly polished. The dial is spotless, which is a typical problem with these watches when moisture gets inside.
light capturing the different brushed finish showing a two-tone effect
I can see this watch working with many possible strap colours, from black to dark brown, tan or blue, allowing me to give it a fresh look from time-to-time. Only strap size of 17/14mm narrows down the options a bit as they are hard to find unless custom made.
I already mentioned the Caliber P450 inside. I will refrain from opening the snap-on case back, so I’m using a picture from the seller’s ad. Caliber P450 and its siblings have been a true working horse from JLC, evolving over the years with its pinnacle in the Geophysic E168 as P478/BWSBr with Chronometer specifications. I just think it is one of the most beautiful manual-wind calibers in wrist watch history.
How does it feel on the wrist? In two words, classic elegance! I more and more enjoy simple, thin and time-only watches and I also prefer now more precious metal and rose gold has a special feel on a vintage piece. I can wear this watch in a formal setting and equally with jeans and T-shirt. It’s a pleasure to wind and runs reliably, something I’m always amazed by considering this is close to 70 years old. Such a watch will never go out of style.
There has been a long silence on my Blog. I don’t even know if I can find an excuse for it, so let’s get into it again without further ado.
A new watch arrival is always a good reason to write a new article and well, I have just received something I would like to share. Right now, there is not really anything exciting new coming out from the watch industry. It seems they have ran out of ideas, reissuing the same watches with a different colour again and again. Thankfully, there is the wonderful world of vintage watches that continue sparking interest with me.
Over the years of collecting, I must say I have become more selective. Especially nowadays, I really only consider vintage watches that come in a very good condition. I know everyone dreams about that super-rare vintage watch in New-Old-Stock condition with stickers and tags, never been used, but let’s stay realistic. A NOS watch can also me intimidating causing fear of wearing that rare gem. That’s not what I want, I want to enjoy my vintage watches and I need to wear them.
I pay now a lot of attention to the case, once you have seen sharp, original polish cases, an over-polished case will feel like a sugar-coated doughnut. I much prefer the not or very slightly polished example with a few marks than the perfectly shiny polished case. The dial is equally important and of course originality is a must. I have pretty much given up on “projects” where I need to find parts to restore the watch to its original configuration. I may narrow down my search with that principle, but so be it.
Let’s have a look what we have here. A vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre, time-only dress watch from the 1950s. These watches with the famous manual-wind caliber P450 have been produced quite a bit in the 40s/50s, many have actually survived in good condition as they were likely only worn on special occasions. With a 36mm case diameter, they are rather large for their time and right on the sweet spot again today.
Those dress watches from JLC mostly came with teardrop or straight lugs, like mine. I wanted straight lugs for a few reasons, one: they will easier show an unpolished case, two: I do have a teardrop lugs Triple Date JLC and finally, I think they wear easier on my wrist with straight lugs. And I wanted Rose or Pink Gold. I don’t own many Rose Gold vintage watches, in fact, Rose Gold was not that popular as most vintage watches came in Yellow Gold.
This should be a Reference 2953. It has a relatively high case number 733xxx, so is likely a late production from the mid 50s. Beautiful silver dial with applied gold markers and applied 3-6-9-12 numerals, inner railroad track. Inside the Railroad track, the dial has a vertical brushed finish, which depending on the angle of the light, gives a nice effect as if the watch has a two-tone dial. Earlier production versions had blued seconds hand, some had painted numerals and coloured dials too. This is a more classic configuration. The case is very sharp and appears if at all, only slightly polished. The dial is spotless, which is a typical problem with these watches when moisture gets inside.
I can see this watch working with many possible strap colours, from black to dark brown, tan or blue, allowing me to give it a fresh look from time-to-time. Only strap size of 17/14mm narrows down the options a bit as they are hard to find unless custom made.
I already mentioned the Caliber P450 inside. I will refrain from opening the snap-on case back, so I’m using a picture from the seller’s ad. Caliber P450 and its siblings have been a true working horse from JLC, evolving over the years with its pinnacle in the Geophysic E168 as P478/BWSBr with Chronometer specifications. I just think it is one of the most beautiful manual-wind calibers in wrist watch history.
How does it feel on the wrist? In two words, classic elegance! I more and more enjoy simple, thin and time-only watches and I also prefer now more precious metal and rose gold has a special feel on a vintage piece. I can wear this watch in a formal setting and equally with jeans and T-shirt. It’s a pleasure to wind and runs reliably, something I’m always amazed by considering this is close to 70 years old. Such a watch will never go out of style.
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