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Jules Jurgensen Diving Chronograph "Landeron Cal. 248", 1970s — view 1 of 6
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Jules Jurgensen Diving Chronograph "Landeron Cal. 248", 1970s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Jules Jurgensen (maker)
Date
1970s
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Wristwatch
Stock no.
JJDC248
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (JJDC248)
Catalogue title (original)
1970s Jules Jurgensen Diving Chronograph "Landeron Cal. 248" (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number JJDC248), this is a wristwatch by Jules Jurgensen, dated 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) 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

Despite having a name that very few in the watch community will readily recognize, Jules Jurgensen was one of the earliest to do it. The company was started all the way back in 1740 under the name Larpent & Jurgensen by Danish watchmaker Jurgen Jurgensen. After a few changes of ownership—and brand name—Jules Jurgensen became the official moniker in 1814. The brand focused on making stout watches with ultra-reliable movements that could keep ticking no matter what was thrown at them. Case in point – this diving chronograph from the '70s, which features a strong stainless steel case, a rotating dive bezel, and a highly legible dial. It also features the enthusiast-favorite manual-wind Landeron 248, a dual-register chronograph movement with a 30-minute recorder at 3 o'clock and a small seconds hand at 9 o'clock. It may not be super recognizable, but that's not necessarily a bad thing – because this is a fantastic, strong, beautiful piece with some serious history that would be a great addition to any collection. Stock # JJDC248 Brand Jules Jurgensen Style Diving Chronograph Model N/A Serial 40XX Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Matte Black Millimeters 38 Strap 2pc Handmade Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The case is in exceptionally crisp condition despite it being very gently polished in the past and shows all of its original angles and lines on full display with honest signs of use. The original black bezel is excellent condition, showing only minimal signs of use with no fading, and retains it's tritium pearl at the 12 o'clock which features a dark patina. The pump pushers and unsigned crown remain original to the watch. The screw-down case back retains all of its factory markings with some minor tool marks present. The watch will come supplied on a 2pc handmade leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The black dial is in excellent, near virtually perfect condition, with the only elements of age being nominal in nature. All markings and fonts on the dial and subdials are vibrant and legible. The tritium lume plots have aged to a light putty color, matching the original tritium hands, all of which are in excellent shape. Under U.V. light inspection the tritium lume in the dial and hands shows no degradation. ACCESSORIES None. The watch is keeping time perfectly, backed by a 1-year warrant on accurate timekeeping.

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Chronographs and split-seconds watches

A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.

Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.

What to look for

  • Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
  • Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
  • Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
  • Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).

Dating clues

  • Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
  • Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
  • Automatic chronographs: from 1969.

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.

Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph

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