
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Jaeger-LeCoultre Geographic Master Compressor (Ref. 146.8.83), 2004
- Maker / attribution
- Jaeger-LeCoultre (maker)
- Date
- 2004
- Historical period
- Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- JLCGMC146883
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (JLCGMC146883)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 2004 Jaeger-LeCoultre Geographic Master Compressor (Ref. 146.8.83) W/ Box & Papers (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number JLCGMC146883), this is a wristwatch by Jaeger-LeCoultre, made in Switzerland, dated 2004. The Atlas places it in the Mechanical Renaissance period (1990 – 2010) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Craft & Tailored
With a rich history that dates all the way back to 1833, Jaeger-LeCoultre is often referred to by collectors as “the watchmaker’s watchmaker” and is easily one of the industry’s most celebrated luxury timepiece brands. Through the 20th century, the manufacturer packed its archives full of interesting and noteworthy designs, with some, like the Reverso taking on almost an independent identity from the rest of the family tree. In the 90s Jaeger-LeCoultre created their now-famous "Master" line, a branch that has in and of itself produced a staggering amount of fruit, from time-only models all the way to this gorgeous world-timer. SPECS Stock # JLCGMC146883 Brand Jaeger-LeCoultre Style Geographic Master Compressor Model 146.8.83 Serial 01XXXXXX Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Black Millimeters 41.5 Strap JLC Brown Crocodile Leather Strap W/ Deployant Buckle CASE & BRACELET Dramatically modern, the Master Compressor Geographic is from front to back its own animal. The brightly polished stainless steel case measures 41.5 millimeters, features two oversized, lockable crowns, and appears to have been worn extremely sparingly. The Geographic shows off a thick bezel and lugs, and a gorgeous case back secured by four screws. The watch is worn on an elegant JLC crocodile strap with deployant buckle. DIAL & HANDS The dial is deep black offset by shining white and shocks of red. It is busy but legible, eccentric but perfectly executed. The inner dial features the date and a 12-hour sub-register with accompanying AM and PM indicators for a second timezone. The outer dial includes a long and curved world time city register. No matter where you are in the world this Geographic would be at home. ACCESSORIES The watch comes complete with its original inner and outer boxes, its instruction booklet, and its guarantee paperwork. The watch is functioning and keeping time perfectly, previous service history is unknown.
Historical context
Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)
Mechanical watches return as cultural objects; independent watchmaking flourishes.
Mechanical watches returned as cultural and luxury objects. Complications, tourbillons and new materials proliferated; independent watchmakers such as George Daniels, F.P. Journe and Philippe Dufour revived artisanal watchmaking; collecting vintage watches became a major field.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Quartz Revolution
Atlas type guide
Wristwatches
Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.
After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.
What to look for
- The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
- The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
- Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
- Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.
Dating clues
- Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
- Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
- Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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