lot 14

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Duomètre Quantieme Lunaire

Estimate CHF 10 000 / CHF 15 000
Starting bid CHF 10 000

Hammer price CHF 18 000
Total bids 17
All prices do not include 24% Premium

Specification

CaseRose gold case 750/1000 with sapphire caseback, moonphase corrector at 10 o'clock
StrapDark brown alligator strap, with original rose gold pin buckle
DialSilvered grained dial, with applied roman numerals, time display at 2 o'clock, jumping seconds at 6 o'clock, moonphase at 10 o'clock, second hand in the center, twin power reserve
MovementManual wound movement with 2 independent gear trains, moonphase function, flyback function for the second hand
Cal.381
Ref.602.2.24.S
Case No.2739982
AccessoriesPapers
D=40.5 mm

Condition report

Case:Good, small signs of wear
Strap:Worn, replacement recommended
Dial:Very good, mint condition
Movement:Good, all functions working properly
Amplitude (Dial on top/Lift angle 52):290 degrees
Accuracy (Dial on top):-5 s/day
Box:Yes
Papers:Yes

Details 

A fine, unusual and attractive rose gold complicated wristwatch of the famous Swiss watch brand Jaeger-LeCoultre, founded in 1833. Production period: 2011–2021. Case made of 18k rose gold, diameter 40.5mm, 13.07mm thick, silver-plated and grainy textured dial, recessed sub-dials, sapphire caseback. Hand-wound ‘dual-wing’ caliber 381, double barrel, power reserve up to 50 hours. Functions – indication of time in hours and minutes at 2 o’clock, central seconds hand, foudroyante 1/6-second hand at 6 o’clock, date, moonphase and age of moon indicators at 10 o’clock, timekeeping gear train power reserve indicator at 7 o’clock, and functional displays power reserve indicator at 5 o’clock. Winding crown intended to wind the watch and adjust the hours and minutes located at 3 o’clock, push-piece to adjust the date at 10 o’clock, and corrector to adjust the moon phase at 11 o’clock. Black leather strap with 18k rose gold Jaeger-LeCoultre pin buckle. Alternative Jaeger-LeCoultre reference: [Q]6042421. 

Lot essay 

Duomètre wristwatches with a dual-wing concept, featuring one escapement and two independent gear trains – the first just for timekeeping, and the second for functional displays, including the indication of time in hours and minutes – were first developed by Jaeger-LeCoultre in 2007, when the Duomètre à Chronographe watch was launched. The Duomètre à Quantième Lunaire watch of a dual-wing design with date and lunar calendar indications appeared in 2010 – it was a 300-piece, 18k yellow gold 42mm Duomètre à Quantième Lunaire Serie Limitée watch, followed by numerous variations that were produced throughout the decade. These include a black-dial 18k white gold 42mm watch (2011, limited edition of 200 pieces), and a 40.5mm 18k rose gold model with solid silvered dial, the present reference, at the end of 2011. The current line-up also includes 42mm 18k rose gold and 40.5mm 18k white gold models with partially opened dials without an age of the moon indicator. 

The originality of the Jaeger-LeCoultre’s dual-wing concept implemented in the present watch is often explained by the similarity to a complicated pocket watch equipped with a double or even triple wheel gear system. Usually, in the 19th and 20th centuries, these were pocket watches with a full strike (grande sonnerie), a trip minute repeater, an independent-seconds hand, a seconde foudroyante, or even more complicated editions, the recognized master of which in the 19th and the first half of 20th century was the LeCoultre factory, the predecessor of the modern Jaeger-LeCoultre brand. It should be clarified that such a comparison is not completely correct, since the aforementioned pocket watches had separated gears for the time indication system and for additional functions, for example, a full strike, but the modern Jaeger-LeCoultre’s dual-wing concept is arranged differently. In it, one gear is intended only for timekeeping, without indicators (except its power reserve indicator), while the second gear moves almost all the indicators of the watch. 

The ingenuity and unusual combination of rare mechanical functions are incredible. The same emotions are evoked by the high-quality execution of a watch.

With a unique dual-wing concept embodied in it, the Duomètre Quantième Lunaire is a pure pleasure for the connoisseur of fine mechanical watchmaking. The ingenuity and unusual combination of rare mechanical functions are incredible. The same emotions are evoked by the high-quality execution of a watch. Caliber 381 with mainplate and bridges in German silver, decorated with radiating côtes soleillées pattern and carefully polished chamfers, shows a very attractive patina over the years, giving the movement a golden and grey tint. The distinctive granular texture of the silvered dial is produced by hand-chiselling with a special graver, the surface of the dial undergoes repeated procedures in all directions until the desired texture is obtained. Numerous indicators are thoughtfully placed on the dial, which is enlivened by a seconde foudroyante hand which moves with lightning speed (hence its name in French), making a revolution in 1 second and six ‘jumps’. 

Reasons to bid 

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre Quantième Lunaire Ref. 602.2.24.S appears to be a fine purchase for a collector or haute horlogerie afficionado as a watch featuring a unique concept for the modern industry, peculiar aesthetics, embedded with traditional finishing and breakthrough inventions. It is a beautiful, rare and unprecedented complicated mechanical watch from a world-famous traditional watch brand, one of the undoubted leaders in the haute horlogerie watch market. The combination of impeccable technical workmanship, exquisite artisan finishing of the movement and the dial, and a recognizable design undoubtedly adds to the appeal of this lot.