Posted by I already showed you a photo of the Sputnik box – I would guess that is the most famous of all vintage boxes within Jaeger-LeCoultre!
If you haven’t seen it, go to my “about page” and have a look.
Second most famous would be the Red Book of Jaeger-LeCoultre: the second type of Geophysic Box which I will show your here.
And I can already now tell you that I have a third type of Geophysic box, one which is almost never heard of…
But let’s not run ahead of things, this report is about the Red Book of Jaeger-LeCoultre, the Geophysic box!
The Geophysic book is made out of burgundy red leather with gold prints on both sides and on the back.
It’s a beautiful book with the same feeling as an old high quality text book, only a bit lighter…
On the back is says “JUBILÉ” and “JLC” – we all know it refers to the Jaeger-LeCoultre 125 Jubilé of which the Geophysic was one of the watches included in the Jubilé Collection.
This far, most collectors have seen…
If we look at the other side of the book, now it starts to get interesting…
A detail that I and several other collectors have discussed lengthily is the “JL” logo.
The earliest documents I ever saw with the “JL” logo is dated 1960, T.W.O years after the Jubilé. One ad and catalogue – both French.
The Catalogue have the “JL” logo on the covers and inside the catalogue, about half of the watches have the “JL” logo on the dial.
Last time I visited the manufacture I discussed this with the people at the Heritage Gallery and they mentioned that the “JL” logo were designed for the 125 Year Anniversary – 1958.
Strange as none of the watches or clocks in the Jubilé Collection have the “JL” logo on the dial, not in any Jubilé Collection documentation or on any of the boxes… Or..? Wait!
There is actually something on the Sputnik box which indicated the “JL” logo!
Around the rim of the box is this metal band with what I always interpret as the “J” and the “E” in “Jaeger-LeCoultre” due to the space between, but with this new information in mind, it is clear to see that there are no mid- or top line on the “E”, so it’s has to be a “L”…
And if we go back to the Red Book and look on the side – there we find the typical “JL” logo on the lock!
How could I miss this?! I have had this box for years!
So the “JL” logo was designed for the Jubilé but not used fully until two years later? I have a feeling there is a missing piece of the puzzle here… A topic to return to for sure!
Another detail this side view indicates is that there is an actual book in the Red Book. These pages are sometimes missing, but for the Red Book to be complete, it should be there…
They are illustrated and telling the story of the Jaeger-LeCoultre history and milestones up until 1958.
When you turn the last page of the book a “secret compartment” opens like in spy movies… The book is hollowed, which explains why it’s lighter than a normal book.
Inside is a burgundy red velvet bed for your Geophysic!
As I said earlier – old document is a great source of information, but sometimes they do not tell the whole story!
Funny thing about collecting vintage watches is that once you get your hands on a nice rare watch the journey is not over… It just started!
To find the correct box is often even harder…
Stay tuned as I have one more type of Geophysic box to share…
The Blomman Watch Report 