Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Quartz Ref. 23301-42 Circa 1970 38 mm

A little history

The 1960s were the years of the race for the best quartz calibre, a competition in which the traditional Swiss watchmaking companies were all involved. Together, 21 of them built the Beta-21, one of the first quartz calibres. But unfortunately this calibre was unreliable, bulky and very expensive.

In order to offer a credible alternative, Girard-Perregaux developed an innovative movement with the help of funding from Jaeger-LeCoultre. This calibre "352" was considered one of the most advanced movements, offering exceptional precision, more than 10 times greater than its mechanical counterparts. In particular, it was this calibre that established that a frequency of 32.786 Hz was the ideal running frequency for the quartz crystal.

What you need to know

We are here on a piece in perfect condition, with a new plexi glass. Its dial has a very nice texture, and the tritium plots are all present. The crown is signed, and the case back has the correct engravings, including the reference and serial number. The case is very original and does not appear to have been polished before. It is of course equipped with the famous Girard Perregaux movement. The leather strap is new and the buckle is not original. This JLC has been recently serviced by our clock, and as such benefits from the Lepage Vintage one year warranty.