A Gentleman's self winding

"Futurematic" wristwatch C.1953.

Please quote Stock # 3202.

A rare and fine vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre Futurematic C.1953  Calibre; 497, self winding Gentleman's "Gold Filled wristwatch" with power reserve indication and subsidiary seconds dial.

The Gold Filled. Case in excellent condition. Diameter.35mm with snap on case back. The hands set by a button to the case back. This is a "hands set only button", unlike conventional self winding wristwatches,this button will not manually wind the movement, but then it doesn't need to! .... .....please read on.

This unique self winding calibre; 497 in superb condition, possessing a most unusual and innovative action, requiring only to be moved for it to be activated once again. The watch was designed to run down and stop with adequate power remaining ( about six hours) to be able to re-start, as there is no manual winding facility. 17 jewels, Balance - Two spoke Glucydur, with adjustment screws Balance Spring - Nivarox spiral with Kif shock absorbing.

Jaeger LeCoultre have since 1833 introduced many innovations in case design and movement technology, however, this amazing movement must be one of the most unusual, requiring only movement to power and activate it.

The engineering involved in producing this unique classic vintage wristwatch was so costly that according to accounts from factory employees at that time, Jaeger LeCoultre actually made a financial loss on each Futurematic sold.

The original two tone silvered dial signed "LeCoultre Futurematic" with subsidiary seconds dial and power reserve dial showing 40 hours with red warning zone.

There is some aging and spotting to this original dial however, it remains most handsome, with raised gold dagger and triangular dot indexes. Beautiful original Gold classic "Alpha" hands, again with some age spotting.

The unique hand setting button is sited at the back of the case, its single function, to set the hands to the correct time. A configuration which not only makes this model most unusual but also gives the watch a most handsome uncluttered, symmetrical appearance.

"Gold filled" cases should not be confused with "Gold plated" cases. The manufacture of a gold filled case was a complicated and time consuming process, being constructed from a sheet of laminate consisting of a base metal with solid gold laminated to both sides. Starting as an ingot it was heated and milled out to produce the material from which the wristwatch case was made.

Gold plating however, is a completely different process, far, far less costly, which electronically deposits a thin layer of Gold onto the base metal. Gold filled cases such as used in the production of this particular vintage model were very expensive to produce, so much so that the process was largely abandoned by the watch making industry by the 1960s.