Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Quartz - Caramel Striped Dial - Original Box - Circa 1972

Jaeger-LeCoultre occupies a position in Swiss watchmaking that very few houses can claim. Known within the industry as the watchmaker’s watchmaker, they have supplied movements to Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin, and their calibers have powered some of the most important timepieces in horological history. What you are looking at here is a complete, fully working example from the early 1970s in exceptional condition, presented in its original green leatherette JLC box with gold clasp, a detail that by itself speaks to how carefully this watch has been kept. Finding a vintage JLC at this level of preservation, with its box, is genuinely unusual.

The dial is horizontally striped in a deep burnt caramel that graduates in tone toward the edges, creating a warmth and depth that very few 1970s dials achieve. Gold baton indices ring the hour positions, the date window sits cleanly at three, and the cushion-shaped gold-filled case with its integrated bracelet frames the whole composition with the confident design language that defines JLC at its best.

The movement is JLC’s Caliber 352, the heart of the Master Quartz line and one of the house’s earliest forays into quartz timekeeping. The Cal. 352 was developed by Girard-Perregaux in the early 1970s and runs at 32,000 Hz, a significantly higher frequency than the Beta-21 movements that preceded it, making it measurably more accurate. It powered watches from several prestigious houses at the dawn of the quartz era and was built to the same exacting standards as JLC’s mechanical calibers, with the finishing and precision that the manufacture’s reputation demanded. This was not the cheap, disposable quartz that would flood the market in the years that followed and ultimately destabilize the Swiss industry. Decades later it runs accurately and reliably. The caseback carries the JLC crossbow mark and is stamped Master Quartz / Water Resistant / Stainless Steel Back, reference 23307-01. 

The watch runs and the battery was recently replaced. It wears its age honestly. The case and band carry scratches and some pitting consistent with a watch of this period, and the gold plating on the bracelet is worn in some paces, you can see this a bit on the picture of the clasp but in person its more visible. The caramel dial remains clean and strong. The original box is included, with new black velvet and a soft black pad added by me as described in the description. Service history is unknown. Please study every photograph closely, as the photos document the actual watch and are part of the description. If anything is unclear, message through eBay before purchasing.

As with all vintage watches, accuracy, power reserve, and water resistance are not guaranteed. 

All sales final. Please review photos carefully and ask any questions before purchase.