1960s LeCoultre Chronograph Reference E-2644 Why This Watch Matters This LeCoultre chronograph features a vibrant azure ombré dial and a very rare dial design you don't often see. The Full Story This timepiece is a rather mysterious and elusive creation by LeCoultre that rarely surfaces to the public; as such, not much documentation exists for this particular dial design. A strong azure blue was certainly an unusual color choice for LeCoultre at the time. It is somewhat reminiscent of the dials by Rolex affectionately referred to as a "Vingnette" dial, with the ombre effect of the center being the brightest and fading into a darker hue towards the outer track. The round indexes with blue rectangular slivers are also an unconventional choice. The 35mm case may seem like it's on the smaller side, but the thickness of the case gives the watch extra presence on the wrist. The movement is fitted with a chronograph caliber Valjoux 72, which famously powered the Rolex Daytona models from the same period. The Fine Print Maker: LeCoultre Model: N/A Reference: E-2644 Year: 1960s Case No: N/A Movement No: N/A Material: Stainless steel Dimensions: 35mm diameter; 13mm thickness Crystal: Plexiglass Lume: Yes, tritium Caliber: Valjoux manual-winding caliber 72 Bracelet/Strap: HODINKEE Aged Grey Leather Strap Lug Width: 18mm Box/Papers: No What we Love and What You Should Know Overall, this watch is in very good condition. The case shows some light surface scratches, with some that are a little more noticeable on the caseback edges. The case appears to have been very lightly polished in the past as well. The dial has retained a vibrant blue ombré dial. While some of the lume plots have faded away, they have nicely aged across the board. There is a very minor loss of paint on the outermost edge at six. The handset appears to be original, and there is a slight sign of transparent residue on the chronograph hand. The color of the lume on the hands and the lume plots are marginally different, but this appears to be a common trait shared with other known examples; the intensity and the duration of the lume glowing under a UV light are approximately equal. There are some lume particles over the dial in some areas. The movement is in running condition, and the chronograph is starting, stopping, and resetting correctly at this time.
