When I reviewed Vintage Military Watches by Zaf Basha back in 2023, I mentioned that this outstanding reference was not his first book, as he had already published a guide to Jaeger-LeCoultre watches in 2008. Today, I have a newly revised and updated version of that original volume in my hands. The aptly titled Jaeger-LeCoultre, The Ultimate Guide for the Collector, ($195) lives up to its name, offering a staggering quantity of information between its impressive covers.
Given that we both live in the D.C. metro area, I’ve had the pleasure of talking watches with Zaf on several occasions, and each time, I walked away amazed at his encyclopedic knowledge as well as the easy and affable manner in which he shares it. I have also learned that he is not a man who does anything in half measures. Just as he did with Vintage Military Watches, Zaf committed to cataloguing JLC watches with his whole heart. At 405 pages, it is about twice the size of the original work and brimming with information. It is also a much fancier package.
I praised Zaf’s last book for its high-quality printing and glossy, heavy stock paper. The new volume takes its presentation to another level as the red and gold embossed cover, gold leaf page edges, and red page marker replicate those of the famed JLC Geophysic Jubilee Box. Yes, the book looks like a box that looked like a book. You can learn all about it on pages 321-323. It’s a remarkable nod to the brand and a not-so-subtle hint of the kind of content you will find inside.
After a brief history of the brand, it gets right into the 1925 Duoplan and gallops on from there. The Reverso, Memovox, and Futurematic are all in there. Chronographs, Chronometers, and Calendars are covered. The Uniplan, Galaxy, and Quartermaster? Check, check, and check. Are the Deep Sea, Polaris, and the whole range of military watches in there? Of course they are. You’ve got the details of 175 distinct watches from 1925 through 1970 in those glossy pages.
Simply cataloguing these watches would be a service in and of itself (he does so admirably, with clear color photographs of the front, rear, inside case back, and movement of each watch, along with production numbers and key specifications), but he also provides period advertisements, exploded movement diagrams, and parts listings. He decodes serial numbers and case markings. He provides patents and explains their significance.
If Zaf is aware of any peculiarities, he describes them. If he has encountered a trick or a challenge in his years as a vintage watch dealer, he offers them as collector’s tips. If an original source document was available, such as military requisitions or factory repair notes, he has reprinted them here.
I honestly cannot fathom the degree of effort that went into compiling this book. It is a must for any serious Jaeger-LeCoultre collector. Really, the only work that came close was Zaf’s first edition, and this one exceeds the original in every way. Consider it a $195 investment that can help you avoid a several-thousand-dollar mistake. However, you don’t need to be a JLC aficionado to enjoy this book. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves watches because even if you assume you will never buy a vintage JLC, you can appreciate that these pieces are icons of the watchmaking industry, with an impact that still reverberates in modern watch development and design. I find it fascinating, and I’m proud to have such a volume in my collection.
Jaeger-LeCoultre, The Ultimate Guide for the Collector, is available now at classicwatch.com.
