Since its establishment in 1833, the Jaeger-LeCoultre watch factory has made the design and production of timepieces in the Grand Workshop quickly become a model of sturdiness and precision with excellent craftsmanship. In the middle of the last century, scientists from many countries took advantage of the International Year of Geophysics (l’ Année Géophysique Internationale) to launch a profound scientific exploration. The Jura Valley Workshop decided to join this unprecedented feat, and the Geophysic® geophysical watch with outstanding accuracy came into being.
In 2015, Jaeger-LeCoultre unveiled the mystery of two unique watches to pay tribute to this legendary watch. Two timepieces, one using stainless steel and rose gold, and the other using platinum, are the crystallization of R & D innovation and exquisite craftsmanship of Jaeger-LeCoultre. The watch is equipped with a self-winding mechanical movement that has been tested repeatedly to ensure it is sturdy and reliable. The 38.5 mm case follows the aesthetic design of the prototype. The dial style is simple and pure, and easy to read.
Geophysic® chronographs are historically significant in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s tradition, with a fascinating story behind its creative design. In 1958, coinciding with the ‘International Year of Geophysics’, the birth of this watch became a symbol of precision and reliability, and its simple and pure aesthetic design was unparalleled in the world. The 478BWSbr mechanical movement from military watches contains the essence of watchmaking technology at the time: a stop-second device that can precisely adjust the time; a Glucydur * beryllium bronze balance wheel with strong temperature resistance, and a An anti-vibration balance wheel that can withstand various shocks; a gooseneck-type precision trimmer; and an indispensable soft iron inner case, protecting this unique clock mechanism from magnetic fields.
The unparalleled performance of this extraordinary watch is a perfect gift for the first warrior to conquer the Arctic. This extraordinary timepiece can withstand a magnetic field with a strength of 600 Gauss and maintain amazing accuracy in any environment.
In 1958, the world was divided into two camps, and the Cold War intensified. The major international organizations have decided to unite as one to explore the last place on earth where no human has stepped. For the first time, 67 East and West countries jointly initiated a research project. At that time, the space race had just begun, and rockets were launched one after another to explore the edges of the atmosphere. In the International Geophysical Year, the theory of plate motion has been confirmed by seabed research. The poles of the earth are still mysterious and have become the focus of global attention. As a result, a long-term expedition station was established in Antarctica, and an American submarine carried out an arctic ice cap submarine to sail from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
On August 1, 1958, the first nuclear submarine in history underwent a secret polar journey. Named USS Nautilus, the submarine pays tribute to the magical submarine described by Jules Verne. The submarine has an unprecedented mission: to take the ice-covered Arctic Ocean and develop the most direct route between the two oceans. Three days later, the Nautilus successfully crossed the North Pole. At the time, no one knew about this feat except the submarine crew.
The new watch draws on the design of the prototype watch, is clear and easy to read, and highlights the ingenuity of the historic watch. The three Geophysic® 1958 series watches have a diameter of 38.5 millimeters, satisfying the needs of customers in the 21st century for wearing comfort. The prototype model is equipped with a 478BWSbr mechanical movement, showing research results closely related to the geophysical year. The three new watches inherit this technological tradition and are equipped with the most accurate and reliable automatic mechanical movement to date-the Jaeger-LeCoultre 898/1 mechanical movement.
This superb mechanical movement contains 21st-century cutting-edge technology: a stop-second device that accurately adjusts time; a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour to ensure accurate operation; a balance wheel with fine-tuning screws on the edge; Kifparechoc * anti-vibration device to withstand various shocks; Spyr gear transmission mechanism to ensure smooth gear torque transmission; automatic lubrication system of non-lubricated ceramic balls; and inner case of soft iron to ensure that the watch is protected from magnetic interference.
The central hour, minute, and second hands move upstream of the white wheat-trimmed dial, which is decorated with ‘Geophysic ®’ and the Jaeger-LeCoultre logo at 12 o’clock. A circle of appliqued hour markers, set between 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock, sets out the details of the legendary watch’s layout and design. This masterpiece of fine watchmaking is both practical and beautiful. It is unique and has the characteristics of a large workshop. The edges are marked with hour markers, and the opposite dots are coated with a luminous coating, blooming traditional iconic colors. Sword-shaped pointers have different styles: the steel version has rhodium-plated hands, while the 18K rose gold hands are warm gold. The dial is subtle and simple, showing purely functional properties, exuding timeless elegance. The exquisite design of the case makes the watch’s extraordinary characteristics self-evident. Its water-resistant depth is 100 meters. The bottom cover presents a globe with the warp and weft lines crisscrossed. It is superimposed with the letters ‘J’ ‘L’ ‘. Each Geophysic® watch is equipped with a crocodile leather strap with a pin buckle matching the color of the metal case: stainless steel with a black crocodile leather strap and rose gold with a chocolate brown crocodile leather strap. This legendary timepiece is destined to become the exclusive treasure of watch lovers. It is an honor to wear this watch bearing an exciting chapter in the history of science. The Geophysic® 1958 series watches are limited to 800 pieces in stainless steel and 300 pieces in 18K rose gold. In 2014, a limited edition of 58 platinum watches will soon be available. The Geophysic® watch series will show a different style. The dial is fitted with appliqued hour markers and digital hour markers are used only at 6 and 12 o’clock. Rhodium-plated sword-shaped hands indicate hours, minutes and seconds. This watch comes with a blue alligator strap.
Today, all Jaeger-LeCoultre watches must pass 1000 hours of testing to ensure accuracy and reliability. This internal test of the Jaeger-LeCoultre watch factory sets a new standard for measuring the quality of watches. The ordinary watch test only detects a part of the movement, while the 1000-hour test is performed on the entire assembled watch. Over a period of up to six weeks, the watch has been tested in six different positions, rotating and stationary. Like the prototype models, the new Geophysic® 1958 series launched by Jaeger-LeCoultre jewellery bears a lasting imprint on our time. The same series of excellence make it a favorite of science and watch enthusiasts, reminiscent of the world’s pioneering exploration of unknown areas of the earth, and evoke the yearning for exploration and adventure. In 2014, the spirit of adventure of the Geophysic® watch will show unprecedented vitality.
* Glucydur and Kifparechoc are not patented by Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Technical features of Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic® 1958 series
Movement
积 Jaeger-LeCoultre 898/1 automatic mechanical movement
43 43 hours power reserve
数 Number of parts: 202
数 Number of jewel bearings: 29
振 28,800 vibrations per hour
Thickness: 3.30 mm
dial
Stainless steel and rose gold
“ Geophysic ® ” and Jaeger-LeCoultre logo at 6 and 12 o’clock respectively
Numbers at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock and applique indexes are treated with rhodium plating (stainless steel) or gold finish (rose gold)
夜 Luminous scale
铂 Platinum
Geophysic ® and Jaeger-LeCoultre logo at 12 o’clock
3, 6, and 12 o’clock and time scale are rhodium plated
夜 Luminous scale
pointer
时 Hour and minute hands: sword-shaped hands, rhodium-plated (stainless steel and platinum) or golden finish (rose gold)
中央 Central second hand
Features
显示 Hour, minute and second display
Case
Diameter: 38.5 mm
Thickness: 11.40 mm
Soft iron inner case
底 Caseback engraving pays tribute to International Year of Geophysics
抛光 Polished bezel and lugs, satin-polished case hoop
Water-resistant to 10 bar
Strap and buckle
精 Stainless steel: black alligator strap with stainless steel pin buckle
Rose Gold: Chocolate brown alligator strap with 18K rose gold pin buckle
Platinum: blue alligator strap with platinum pin buckle
Numbering
精 Stainless steel model: Q8008520, limited edition of 800 pieces
18K rose gold: Q8002520, limited edition of 300 pieces
款 Platinum model: Q800652j, limited edition of 58 pieces, only available in Jaeger-LeCoultre stores