LeCoultre Master Mariner Powermatic Gold-Filled (Ref. 2295) 'Cal. 481', 1950s

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

Founded in 1833 by Antoine LeCoultre, the LeCoultre manufacture established itself as one of Switzerland’s most influential movement makers, supplying sophisticated calibers to some of the industry's most prestigious watchmaking houses. Its longstanding partnership with French watchmaker Edmond Jaeger ultimately led to the formation of Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1937, although watches destined for the American market continued to carry the LeCoultre signature for several decades. Among the manufacturer’s many horological achievements, the introduction of the Powermatic in 1948 stands as a particularly significant milestone. Powered by the innovative cal. 481 bumper automatic movement, the Powermatic became the first commercially produced self-winding wristwatch to incorporate a power-reserve indicator, displaying its approximately 40-hour reserve through a distinctive red-and-white aperture positioned just beneath 12 o’clock. Beyond its technical significance, this charming complication adds an unexpected element of character to an otherwise understated and classically styled timepiece. This 1950s LeCoultre Automatic "Master Mariner" ref. 2295 is a wonderful example of this pioneering design, featuring a warm silver dial with applied gold Arabic numerals and faceted hour markers, an elegant dauphine handset, and a handsome 10K gold-filled case. Combining quintessential mid-century aesthetics with a genuinely important piece of watchmaking innovation, this example offers an intriguing and historically significant addition to any vintage watch collection. SPECS Stock # JLCPM481-3 Brand LeCoultre Style Master Mariner Powermatic 'Cal. 481' Model 2295 Serial 88XXXXXX Size Men's Material 10K Gold Filled Dial Satin Silver "Aged" Millimeters 35 Strap 2pc Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The impressive 10k gold-filled case features straight lugs that show minimal wear and light evidence of prior polishing. The "LEC" signed crown is believed to be original to the watch. The case back is in excellent condition with almost no wear present. The watch comes supplied on a 2pc handmade leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The original satin silver dial remains in excellent overall vintage condition, exhibiting an attractive, evenly developed warm patina throughout, with no notable damage or wear marks present. The distinctive power-reserve indicator positioned at 12 o’clock remains fully legible, transitioning from white when fully wound to red as the movement's power reserve approaches depletion. The original radium lume plots have aged to a deep brown patina, with the plot at 9 o’clock missing under UV inspection, while the remaining plots exhibit only nominal degradation. The original dauphine hands feature tan-colored luminous material that appears to have been professionally restored with tritium at some point. ACCESSORIES None. The watch is keeping time, but the service history is unknown. A movement service can be provided upon request.