Jaeger-LeCoultre Heritage Historical Timepieces

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Jaeger-LeCoultre recently unveiled official images of four exceptional vintage pieces from its Heritage Collection, showcasing the brand’s watchmaking evolution from 1890 to 1949 — spanning from pocket watches to early wristwatches with calendar and chiming complications.
The Maison’s story dates back to 1847, when founder Antoine LeCoultre invented the lever-winding crown, making keyless winding a reality. His son, Elie LeCoultre, carried this spirit forward in the 1870s, driving the creation of complicated timepieces.

By the late 19th century, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced its first ultra-complicated watch, combining a perpetual calendar, chronograph, and minute repeater, cementing its place in haute horlogerie.
Below are the four historical masterpieces highlighted in the Heritage presentation:

Minute Repeater Hunter Pocket Watch (1890)

This remarkable pocket watch integrates a year calendar and retrograde date display — the sun motif on the date hand symbolizing the daily solar cycle. The grand feu enamel dial features a day disc at 12 o’clock, moonphase at 6 o’clock, and subsidiary dials for seconds and months.

Case: 18K gold
Movement: LeCoultre Calibre 19HPSM

Ultra-Complicated Pocket Watch (c.1895)

Tracing Jaeger-LeCoultre’s expertise in grand complications, this pocket watch combines a perpetual calendar, minute repeater, and tachymeter. The subdial at 12 o’clock presents month, leap year, and chronograph minute indications; dual windows at center show day and date, while the moonphase with small seconds lies at 6 o’clock.

Movement: LeCoultre Calibre 19/20RMCSQ

Perpetual Calendar Pocket Watch (1934)

This timepiece embodies precision and longevity, with a fully mechanical perpetual calendar that automatically accounts for months and leap years. Its symmetrical enamel dial displays date, day, month, leap year, and moonphase.

Case: Stainless steel
Movement: LeCoultre Calibre 19LRCB

Jacques-David LeCoultre Calendar Wristwatch (1949)

One of the Maison’s first wristwatches featuring a full calendar, this model honors Jacques-David LeCoultre (1875–1948), grandson of the founder. The 18K gold case houses a dial with outer date ring, day and month windows at 12 o’clock, and small seconds with moonphase at 6 o’clock.