LeCoultre - Cal 839H - Unisex - 1950-1959

A truly rare watch, for those who really want to stand out, and have something truly exclusive and hard to find, moreover from one of those crests that is perhaps currently the most sought after.
On many occasions, even here on Catawiki I make purchase offers that are well below the reserve price I set, but in this case I won’t do that. This is a watch I am parting with with great regret, and it’s a piece whose extreme rarity, with a movement more unique than rare, combined with the Maison’s crest and the almost incredible aesthetic conditions, however majestic, will persuade me to part with it only at the value it deserves, to someone who understands and would value it as I do.
Lecoultre, Jaeger LeCoultre, Military/aviation-style chronograph, and I want to emphasize the extreme rarity of this movement, which some sources deemed credible by Google AI suggest is derived from Vacheron Constantin, but since there is no certain data, and having very little information about this calib er, even using AI, I do not want to state this as a fact, and I will report only what I was able to find. I almost gave up; it seemed I was dealing with a legendary movement, but then I found an identical model to the one I’m offering, with an 18 carat gold case, proposed on Sotheby’s, and I verified that it wasn’t a legend, but an extremely rare movement.
A watch that will certainly be an excellent conversation piece, capable of opening very interesting debates among enthusiasts in the field, I personally guarantee.
A watch of the highest watchmaking and from a brand among the best in absolute terms, in excellent condition and with a wonderful visual impact (remember we’re around 1955), but above all its extreme rarity makes it a watch to invest in, I’d go so far as to say certain and locked in.
Nothing to do with movement 839 of Jaeger LeCoultre, which was made in 1975, and was an ultra-thin and non-chronograph movement (beware not to confuse if you search on the web); it was also used by some models of Vacheron Constantin, but again, these are two movements with no connection. The Cal. 839 H is a tricompass from the 1950s, rare and unobtainable.
Currently, on the entire web, in the entire world, only one other watch with this Caliber exists, this to highlight the rarity of the presented object.
This LeCoultre has a Swiss movement and was designed for the United States market.
The inscription VXN on the mechanism identifies all LeCoultre and Vacheron Constantin watches that were made for the American market, precisely.
The only difference distinguishing this model from those for the European market is that those for the European market bore the full inscription Jaeger LeCoultre.
Typically, these models housed the already rare and sought-after Valjoux 72; even on the web the few that can currently be seen use exactly that caliber.
With the 839 H, after extensive research, I found only 2 models, and one of the two is the gold model I mentioned earlier, sold on Sotheby’s with estimates in four figures.
This watch is moreover in excellent aesthetic condition and is functioning. I should note that I have not tested the watch over the long term; it has such excellent condition that I have touched it as little as possible.
I believe it works well, because I have tested the watch and the chronograph, including reset, and everything is regular.
I do not exclude that it may require lubrication/cleaning, but I say this as a precaution; it might not be necessary.
Regarding shipments to non-EU or EU countries subject to customs controls, any shipment will be assessed individually and discussed with the purchaser.
A truly rare collectibles watch with prestigious crest.
In the last photo I added a screenshot found on the Web of a Vacheron Constantin chronograph from the same years (also two counters); I included it to show you the similarity of the mechanics and the same inscription 'VXN', as evidence of what I’ve stated in the listing.