AUCTION ONLY, NO BUY IT NOW.

Very RARE mid 1800's Antoine LeCoultre & Son (Geneva, Switzerland) 18K (not marked, rub-tested on stone) key wind/key set ladies pocket watch.  The ornately designed case is stamped on the inside of the back cover "P.M." in a circle and the number 1550.  Inside of the front case is scribed "P.H.G." and "50".  Watch is very good condition, winds with the included key, set the time with the key, and runs.  The movement measures approx 29mm.  I don't know anything else technically about the watch.

From the yourwatchhub website:
"The history of Jaeger-LeCoultre starts in the 19th century when Antoine LeCoultre (1803-1881) invented a machine to cut watch pinions from steel. In 1833 he founded a small watchmaking workshop in Le Sentier, a village that was more or less founded by his ancestors in 1612. They built a church which marked the founding of Le Sentier, a plot of land in the Vallée de Joux which was acquired by Pierre LeCoultre (circa 1530 – circa 1600). He was a French Huguenot who fled to Geneva from Lisy-sur-Ourcq, France, to escape religious persecution. In Geneva he obtained the status of “inhabitant” in 1558.

It was 1844 when founder Antoine LeCoultre invented the world’s most precise measuring instrument at the time, the Millionomètre. Three years later he created a keyless system to rewind and set watches. He was awarded a gold medal in 1851 for his work on timepiece precision and mechanization at the first Universal Exhibition in London. In 1866, Antoine and his son Elie LeCoultre (1842-1917) established the Vallée de Joux’s first full-fledged manufacture. It was named LeCoultre & Cie. and employed around 500 people.

In 1903 there is a Paris-based watchmaker who works for to the French Navy. His name is Edmond Jaeger and invented an ultra-thin movement. Somehow he wasn’t able to produce it himself and therefor he challenges Swiss manufacturers to develop and produce that ultra-thin movement he had invented.

Antoine LeCoultre’s grandson Jacques-David LeCoultre was responsible for production at LeCoultre & Cie. And he accepts Jaeger’s challenge. He develops a collection of ultra-thin pocket watches, including the thinnest one in the world in 1907.

Years later, in 1937, the collaboration between Jaeger and LeCoultre leads to the company being officially renamed Jaeger-LeCoultre. But, from 1932 to approximately 1985, due to the Smoot Hawley Tariff Act, their watches for the American market were sold in cases produced in North America. This was under the name LeCoultre, by the company Vacheron-LeCoultre, which was a subsidiary of Longines-Wittnauer. After 1985, Jaeger-LeCoultre was adopted uniformly worldwide." 

I didn't find much information regarding the survivability of his watches with his name "Ant. Lecoultre & Son" on the Internet.  Being that these were hand-made, I don't think many were produced early on in the company with key wind/key set.  His later watches were keyless.

The watch weighs about 22.9 grams.  

The W# in the title is our inventory number. 

We have purchased a number of pocket watches so look at our other listings. 

 

NOTE: Since our physical store is open Wed-Sat, THESE ARE THE *ONLY* DAYS WE SHIP.

Since 2008, we are Coins and Gold Exchange in Portland, CT a trusted seller that deals regularly with USA and World coins & currency, fine jewelry, precious metals, and high end collectibles. You will receive the exact item pictured. This item is guaranteed to be authentic & as described or you can return it for a full refund within 30 days.

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