Rare LeCoultre Automatic Bumper Movement 12A wristwatch made for the US Market by Jaeger-LeCoultre. This watch is Pre-Owned and appears to be in sound mechanical condition and is keeping time. There are light scratches on the face of the watch and the case but I did my best to show them in the pictures, please use the zoom feature to see them and the watch up close. I am selling it without the band so that they buyer can add their own touch to the watch. Great classic watch for a great value.

LeCoultre was started in 1833 by Antoine LeCoultre and in 1903 they formed a partnership with the Parisian firm of Edmond Jaeger. In the late 1930s Jaeger and LeCoultre merged to create Jaeger-LeCoultre as we know it today.

Jaeger-LeCoultre was the brand used more in the European markets while LeCoultre was used more in the US, but both brands used the same calibers. LeCoultre is the older of the two companies.

Here is a quote from Zaf Basha (JLC expert and author of a new JLC History):

“A U.S. Company called Longines-Wittnauer (LeCoultre-Vacheron Constantin) was formed in the U.S. to market, case and time "LeCoultre" timepieces. Special attention was paid to U.S. market needs with the use of Gold Fill, 14k gold and less conservative case designs.

However, to say that this entity's relationship with JLC Switzerland was only limited to the supply of movements is simply not supported by the many watches that exist under both nameplates.

Hard evidence to the above can easily be found in U.S. market watches bearing the LeCoultre name which match up to their Swiss counter parts 100%, typically in steel & 18k. Also note that many Swiss market JLCs have "LeCoultre" signed cases bearing Swiss Hallmarks which are entirely correct.

So, yes, perhaps they were different legal entities but to make the claim that JLC only supplied movements to a company that has nothing to do with them, is not supported by the many hundreds of watches I have personally examined.”