1970s JLC 'Tank' 18ct White Gold Textured 25x30.5mm 4421
Ref: 4421
Specification
Lugs : 17mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : 18ct White Gold
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as “Watch Only” and, therefore, comes without its JLC box or paperwork. It is paired with a suitable 17mm leather strap and pin buckle. The watch is from the Circa 1970s and is sold in worn condition; however, it is in very fair condition for its age, as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1u98E7ouby4qN_Y6mlbx6r5ZT_NAZi5iq?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 19:49 - https://youtu.be/wziknn0cfCw
The Watch
Here, we have a rare classic 1970s JLC 4421 with a distinctive 25mm '18ct White Gold Tank' shaped case. Its delicate curved flanks end with flat-ended lugs that lead to a lug-to-lug length of 30.5mm and a case thickness of just 5mm, ensuring a comfortable fit on your wrist; on the right side, a recessed coin-edged crown, the expertly crafted elaborate zig-zag decorated stepped bezel holds a domed crystal above a striking silver dial. Slim stick indexes mark the hours, beautifully complemented by elegant stick hands that sit majestically in the centre, and the applied JLC motif completes this sophisticated dress watch at noon. On the reverse, a snap-off case back is stamped with the serial number, and inside a high-grade manuallywound JLC Cal. P838, an ultra-thin movement. It comes paired with a suitable 17mm leather strap and pin buckle.
Personal Note
With the undeniable boom in vintage Cartier, especially Cartier Tanks, it is no wonder collectors are widening their net to see what else is out there in the iconic 'Tank' shape and that is when we stumble across beautiful hidden gems like this 18ct white gold JLC 'Tank' that features an intricate design throughout the case and an ultra-thin profile whilst being powered by the manually would JLC calibre P838. All of this in a traditional size of 25mm by 30.5mm, fits effortlessly on the wrist and will look fantastic on a wide range of straps. I would not hesitate to add this beautiful watch to your collection today!
The Brand
Antoine LeCoultre founded LeCoultre in 1833 in the small village of Le Sentier, Switzerland. By 1866, LeCoultre’s workshop had grown from home-run manufacturers spread across Switzerland to installing modern steam-driven machines to power the watchmakers' tools, moving them from their homes and bringing them together in one central unit. Now named LeCoultre & Cie, the company became the very first manufacturer in the Vallée de Joux Switzerland. Antoine and his son Elie LeCoultre employed more than 500 watchmakers in-house. In 1903, Edmond Jaeger, a watchmaker in Paris who made watches for the French Navy, challenged Swiss manufacturers to produce an ultrathin movement. Jacques-David LeCoultre, Elie’s son, rose to the challenge and created the world’s thinnest pocket watch, equipped with the LeCoultre 146 calibre, measuring just 1.38 mm thick. Over the following years, Jaeger and LeCoultre kept in touch, building a strong friendship, and in 1937, Jaeger-LeCoultre was founded. In 2013, they celebrated their 180th Anniversary. Creating iconic timepieces like the Reverso wristwatch and the brilliantly engineered Atmos clock. During the war years, the Mark VII pilot watches of the 1940s were so accurate that the Royal Air Force used them as aerial navigation instruments; later, they created the first automatic watch to house a power-reserve indicator in 1948 that the US Army Air Corps used. Jaeger-LeCoultre has developed and revolutionised the watch industry like no other manufacturer. Since 2000, it has been a wholly owned subsidiary of the Swiss luxury group Richemont. This group includes Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, IWC Schaffhausen, Panerai, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin, Montblanc, Dunhill, and Chloé.