Collecting watches is a journey, a journey that does not have a straight line. Many years ago when my collection was exclusively focused on Girard-Perregaux but I started to look over the fence, I had my eye on a vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre that was for sale that immediately struck me with a cool design. It was a Ref. 2777 Calendar Disc in pristine condition in pink gold. Instead of pulling the trigger I followed advice to get my feet wet with JLC starting with the iconic Memovox. While my Memovox and JLC collection was growing and growing, I kept looking back at the 2777 (which was long gone) in my mind but there was absolutely nothing available for years.
After many years, finally a 2777 became available with a very good condition dial and case, so no doubt I was going to jump on it. Not a gold case but steel yet with lovely yellow gold indexes and hands bringing a nice colour play to the blue calendar disc. Calendar Disc? Exactly, that’s the special feature of this Reference. Instead of using a date window, there is a Memovox style inner disc with a pointy arrow that goes around from 1 to 31 indicating the date.
But is gets even better. This watch was introduced in the early 50s, at a time quick set date mechanism were either not existing or very exotic. And remember still till the 70s, quick set date often means you needed to move hands passed midnight and then turn them back to around 22:30h and repeat the process until the date was set. No wonder, I tend not to set the date wearing vintage watches. Later quick-set date mechanism introduced a crown position at which the date could be set. But JLC 2777 goes far beyond that. It has a single button pusher, just like we know from the A. Lange Söhne date setting and all that in the early 1950s. The pusher is integrated into the crown making it very elegant and practical, a bit like the central crown pusher you can find on Rattrapante Chronographs.
Movement Pic credit of Sabi Watches
Inside runs a manual wind JLC Caliber P810. The case measures a modest 33mm in diameter which is typical for its time but wears larger due to the thin bezel. The sides are satin-finished while lugs and bezel are mirror polished. Lug size is the typical 17mm. Very wearable with that wonderful vintage charm on the wrist.
Collecting watches is a journey, a journey that does not have a straight line. Many years ago when my collection was exclusively focused on Girard-Perregaux but I started to look over the fence, I had my eye on a vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre that was for sale that immediately struck me with a cool design. It was a Ref. 2777 Calendar Disc in pristine condition in pink gold. Instead of pulling the trigger I followed advice to get my feet wet with JLC starting with the iconic Memovox. While my Memovox and JLC collection was growing and growing, I kept looking back at the 2777 (which was long gone) in my mind but there was absolutely nothing available for years.
After many years, finally a 2777 became available with a very good condition dial and case, so no doubt I was going to jump on it. Not a gold case but steel yet with lovely yellow gold indexes and hands bringing a nice colour play to the blue calendar disc. Calendar Disc? Exactly, that’s the special feature of this Reference. Instead of using a date window, there is a Memovox style inner disc with a pointy arrow that goes around from 1 to 31 indicating the date.
But is gets even better. This watch was introduced in the early 50s, at a time quick set date mechanism were either not existing or very exotic. And remember still till the 70s, quick set date often means you needed to move hands passed midnight and then turn them back to around 22:30h and repeat the process until the date was set. No wonder, I tend not to set the date wearing vintage watches. Later quick-set date mechanism introduced a crown position at which the date could be set. But JLC 2777 goes far beyond that. It has a single button pusher, just like we know from the A. Lange Söhne date setting and all that in the early 1950s. The pusher is integrated into the crown making it very elegant and practical, a bit like the central crown pusher you can find on Rattrapante Chronographs.
Inside runs a manual wind JLC Caliber P810. The case measures a modest 33mm in diameter which is typical for its time but wears larger due to the thin bezel. The sides are satin-finished while lugs and bezel are mirror polished. Lug size is the typical 17mm. Very wearable with that wonderful vintage charm on the wrist.
Share this:
Like this: