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Lot Essay
The 1958 Geophysic Chronometer must be considered amongst the most important models in the history of Jaeger-LeCoultre, representing the manufacturer's values of precision, robustness and aesthetic purity. Made at a time of fundamental scientific and political developments, it was directly involved in this historical context.
To match the watch model that would resist any type of challenge, especially from the standpoint of water-resistance, antimagnetism, adjustment, etc., the name Geophysic Chronometer was suggested, also as the model perfectly met the criteria and values of the International Geophysical Year (IGY). The International Geophysical Year, a particularly significant scientific event, was organized on the initiative of the United States and took place at the high point of solar activity, from July 1, 1957 to December 31, 1958. It was also the first year of the Space Age, with the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, on October 5, 1957.
The models were fitted with Jaeger-LeCoultre's first chronometer movements developed in 1957, new water-resistant cases with soft iron domes to protect the movement from magnetic field influence up to 600 gauss, hence meeting the needs of research scientists who could be working on polar bases, in laboratories or inside submarines. The origin of this watchmaking project was the call for "resistance to any type of challenge". Consequently, the cases were able to withstand magnetic fields, given that magnetism was also one of the scientists' main areas of study. Precision, guaranteed in mechanical watchmaking by the term 'chronometer', is another crucial necessity as every science requires exact measurements.
The Geophysic was recently revived by Jaeger-LeCoultre and that has played a role in creating a new appreciation for the original examples, such as the present watch, which remains in beautiful condition and is a watch that manages to blend elegance and formality with a robust design and one of the finest movements ever made by Jaeger-LeCoultre.
To match the watch model that would resist any type of challenge, especially from the standpoint of water-resistance, antimagnetism, adjustment, etc., the name Geophysic Chronometer was suggested, also as the model perfectly met the criteria and values of the International Geophysical Year (IGY). The International Geophysical Year, a particularly significant scientific event, was organized on the initiative of the United States and took place at the high point of solar activity, from July 1, 1957 to December 31, 1958. It was also the first year of the Space Age, with the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, on October 5, 1957.
The models were fitted with Jaeger-LeCoultre's first chronometer movements developed in 1957, new water-resistant cases with soft iron domes to protect the movement from magnetic field influence up to 600 gauss, hence meeting the needs of research scientists who could be working on polar bases, in laboratories or inside submarines. The origin of this watchmaking project was the call for "resistance to any type of challenge". Consequently, the cases were able to withstand magnetic fields, given that magnetism was also one of the scientists' main areas of study. Precision, guaranteed in mechanical watchmaking by the term 'chronometer', is another crucial necessity as every science requires exact measurements.
The Geophysic was recently revived by Jaeger-LeCoultre and that has played a role in creating a new appreciation for the original examples, such as the present watch, which remains in beautiful condition and is a watch that manages to blend elegance and formality with a robust design and one of the finest movements ever made by Jaeger-LeCoultre.