You often see watches signed “LeCoultre,” but very rarely simply signed “Jaeger.” The reason for the two different names used throughout history is easily explained. Edmond Jaeger of Paris and Jacques-David LeCoultre of Le Sentier, Switzerland merged their businesses in the early 1900s. They officially renamed the company Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1937.
Jacques-David LeCoultre was the grandson of Antoine LeCoultre, who laid the foundation for the company in 1833.
Coming across a timepiece signed only “Jaeger” is rare. To date, there are very few known watches with only this name on the dial.
Vintage Jaeger “Panda” dial 4 ATM
The timepiece pictured here is known as the Jaeger “4 ATM.” It has no official model name, but it does have the reference number: E.13001. The nickname in lieu of a real name comes from the inscription on the back denoting its water resistance “4 ATM” (ATM = atmospheres; 4 ATM is 40 meters/130 feet).
The production numbers of this piece are unknown, but Quill & Pad’s vintage virtuoso Boris Pjanic believes there could be less than 100 of them. This model was not produced at the Jaeger Le-Coultre factory, and there is very little official information regarding it.
But here is what we do know thanks to research by Boris and Pascal Ravessoud of the FHH with help from Jaeger-LeCoultre.
The distressed leather strap perfectly complements this vintage Jaeger “Panda dial 4 ATM”
Bezels and dials
Produced only from 1968 through 1971, the Jaeger 4 ATM boasts a diameter of 41 mm and is outfitted with a rotating, graduated bezel. The dial has luminous hands and dot markers as well as a tachymeter scale in either km/h or mph. Versions exist where there are no tritium dots on the dial.
The bezels, which seem to have been produced in aluminum with a black surface treatment, also exist in various forms on the known executions of the Jaeger 4 ATM. The particularity of the 4 ATM rotating, graduated bezel is that it shows the numbers in reverse order.
A number of dial versions exist, and their color combinations comprise silver-colored background with black chronograph counters, or black dial with silver-colored chronograph counters. The dial can be marked “17 rubis” or “17 jewels” and “Made in France,” “Swiss Made,” or no indication of origin at all. The chronograph’s twelve-hour counter is divided into 2/4/6/8/10/12 hours or 3/6/9/12 hours.
There appear to be five dial versions in existence. Version one has the “17 rubis” indication, the silver-and-black color combination, tritium dot markers, chronograph counters that slope, 12-hour counter with 2/4/6/8/10/12, a narrow font type, longer minute indexes, and the tachymeter scale in km/h.
Vintage Jaeger “Panda dial 4 ATM”
Version two is the same as version one but with “17 jewels” and the tachymeter scale in mph.
Version three is marked “17 rubis” and “Made in France.” It’s also missing the tritium dot markers. Its chronograph totalizers (subdials) are flatter and recessed into the dial. Its font type is overall somewhat larger, and its minute indexes are shorter than other models. The twelve-hour counter is divided into 3/6/9/12, and its tachymeter scale is shown in mph.
Vintage Jaeger “Panda dial 4 ATM”
The fourth version says “17 jewels” on the silver dial and boasts tritium dot markers. It otherwise has the same configuration as version two.
The final version displays “17 rubis” on the silver dial and it has no tritium. The rest is the same as above.
All of the hands on every version are silver- or steel-colored and with cut with two large facets. Some have luminous inlay along the length of the hands.
All of the dial versions are marked “Jaeger.”
Paul Newman wearing what has become known as the “Paul Newman” Daytona with a “Panda” dial
The “Panda dial”
So-called Panda dials are typical of the Rolex Daytona, the most famous of which is known as the Paul Newman Daytona. This features a white dial with black chronograph totalizers. If you look at it, a certain resemblance to a panda bear’s face will become obvious to you. Hence the name.
By extension, this term can be applied to any chronograph watch of the same period (and maybe even into the present) that features a white or silver dial with black counters.
Vintage Jaeger “Panda Dial 4 ATM”
The mighty Valjoux 72
This watch was not produced at the Jaeger-LeCoultre factory and it is not powered by a LeCoultre movement.
The movement inside this wristwatch is a Valjoux 72. This is the same column wheel chronograph that can be found in hand-wound Rolex Daytona models (like References 6263 and 6265) and many, many others such as classic Breitlings.
This 29.5 x 6.25 mm movement was manufactured from 1938 to 1974. It beats at a frequency of 2.5 Hz (18,000 vph) and has approximately 46 hours of power reserve.
A special thank you to Boris Pjanic and Pascal Ravessoud for all the research and information.
Quick Facts Jaeger 4 ATM
Case: 41 mm, steel
Movement: hand-wound Caliber Valjoux 72
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds; chronograph
Last known secondary-market price: approximately $5,000
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I found among my father things a Jaeger “only” chrono watch. Not in good shape. All the bits and pieces seem to be there but it does not run and the face is somewhat damaged. I was thinking of sending it to Govberg.com watch repair company to see if they can repair it. But if this watch is very rare, I am concerned about who I send it to to look at and give me a repair estimate. It’s a chrono so very interesting. Any advice? Many thanks. Jon.
Wanna sell it?
somrtimes, you can find some with another movement (“in house” instead of valjoux) in case did you check allready ??
Hi,
I have a really nice “Jaeger only” 4ATM and would love to find out more information on the watch and potentially get it valued. Does anyone know of a specialist for these watches who i could speak to. It is very similar to the watch above but with full albino face which looks great. Good article.
Thanks
Jon
Hi Jon,
Depending where you are I could give you some pointers. Email me on [email protected]
I also have a Jaeger ony watch and I don’t know its value. It is not like this one from the page, but the vintage ordinary model. https://imgur.com/a/y9fJ9 here I put an image. Does anyone know the value of this watch?
hi, i am not a specialist … just, i don’t find it “homogeneous”. hand and dial don’t fit tthe box ?? is the crown signed ??
Here’s another interesting find that I picked up in Amsterdam. The shop was under the impression this may have been a prototype, but couldn’t confirm it.
https://imgur.com/mRoXi1X
https://imgur.com/ln7eHGM
Thoughts? I haven’t been able to open the back as my standard case opening tools don’t fit this case design.
How much did you pay for it I have an excellent shape Jaeger name only on the dial have been told its a prototype also
Thanks for this very interesting article. I bought one of these at an auction in Paris about 20 years ago, and have never been able to trace its origin. The dial is identical to the one in your pictures, but my hands have no red tips. Also, my bezel is marked in minutes not hours, also in reverse order – 55-50-45-40, etc.
I also seem to be missing the tachymeter scale, but the face does not look like anything is missing (a barely visible gap).
Would happily share pictures, but I can’t seem to be able to post them directly in this reply section.
Where can I purchase this watch?
As this is a vintage watch, Eric, you will have to hunt around for one!
I found mine at an auction in Paris, where they are offered regularly for around 800-1200 euros.
This case was used by several brands in the 19602-70s. Several interesting examples and photos in the article below:
https://chronographes.net/2019/02/14/les-chronographes-4-atm-dans-tous-leurs-etats/
Bonsoir,
Si ce modèle vous intéresse, je peux éventuellement m’en séparer, selon l’offre que vous m’en ferez.
Cordialement.
I recently found in some of my belongings a jaeger watch. The watch is in good condition and seems and looks great. Just interested in how to find out the value of this rare watch. It has a white ivory face with jaeger on the dial.
You should take it to an auction house or watchmaker for appraisal. It might well be worth something, especially in today’s climate.