LeCoultre

LeCoultre – Original Vintage Fancy-Case Bow-Lugs Steel Watch – Cal. 480/CW

LeCoultre and the American Market Watches signed “LeCoultre” (without the Jaeger prefix) were produced for the North American market, where the movements were imported from the Vallée de Joux manufacture and cased domestically under the distribution of the Longines‑Wittnauer Watch Company. The “CW” suffix on the calibre designation stands for “Cased and Warranted” — indicating that the movement was Swiss‑made by the LeCoultre manufacture and cased in the United States. This arrangement was driven by the same import tariff structure that applied to the Longines imports: it was more cost‑effective to import uncased Swiss movements and fit them into domestically produced cases than to import finished watches. The result, as with Longines, was a product that combined Swiss movement quality with American case design. LeCoultre watches from this period are signed on the dial without the Jaeger name, and the movements carry the LeCoultre signature with the CW suffix. The Watch This stainless steel LeCoultre dates to the 1940s. The round case has attractive and distinctive faceted bow lugs and in measures 31mm, excluding the crown. The case is in very good condition with only light traces of use and retains its original finish. The pressure‑locked caseback is correctly signed and numbered, and is in excellent condition, it still has all of its original finish. The silver dial is in excellent condition. It has large, sculptured hand‑applied indices, small seconds register at 6 o’clock, and an outer minute track. The hands are original. The movement is the LeCoultre Calibre 480/CW, a 17‑jewel manual‑wind in‑house movement with a qualitative finish with cotes de Geneve and Perlage. It is a reliable movement, serviced and running strong. The watch is fitted with a vintage croco strap. This watch has been serviced in‑house and is in good working order. It is delivered with our six‑month guarantee and our originality certificate.