Jaeger-LeCoultre Triple Date Moonphase, 18k Rose Gold, Cal. 494, Circa 1950

Jaeger-LeCoultre Triple Date Moonphase (c.1950)
18k Rose Gold | Cal. P494/1 | Full Calendar with Moonphase | 34.5mm

Every so often, a watch comes through our hands that’s so special it nearly doesn’t make it to the website. This is one of those.
 
This stunning Jaeger-LeCoultre Triple Date Moonphase, housed in a 34.5mm 18k rose gold case with sculpted teardrop lugs, is one of the finest examples of post-war watchmaking we've had the pleasure of offering. And we’re not the only ones who think so—the previous owner literally flew to Europe just to buy it. It last sold for €7,995 and has since undergone a professional service at significant expense. We're now offering it at just £5,995, which frankly feels like a steal for a watch this rare, this beautiful, and this mechanically poetic.
 
And if you want a sense of just how rare it is… the owner of our company is currently trying to scrape together the funds to buy it for himself. Out of the thousands of watches we’ve sold, this would be only the fifth time he’s made that move. We’re listing it for now—but fair warning: if he gets his way, it might quietly disappear…
 
The silver dial is exceptionally well preserved, with no major signs of ageing—only the most minimal tone variation around a few numerals if you really go looking. The applied Arabic numerals at 3, 9, and 12 add a touch of flair, while the outer date ring (indicated by the red-tipped central hand) and the twin day/month apertures create a perfect visual symmetry. At 6 o'clock, the moonphase aperture adds a final flourish of romance, set above a running small seconds.
 
Inside beats the hand-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre P494/1, fully restored in 2020, (again by us this month) and running beautifully. The case appears to have never (or only lightly) been polished and remains in very good condition, with only superficial marks from careful wear. It's fitted to a brown alligator strap with the original rose gold-plated JLC buckle—a touch that’s increasingly hard to come by.
 
Watches like this don’t just turn up. They’re chased down by people who know exactly what they’re looking for—and who understand what makes a watch collectible not just in value, but in feeling. This is not a piece to overthink. With only one available, a remarkable backstory, and a price that undercuts market comparables by thousands, it simply won’t be here for long.
 
And if you’re still undecided, remember you’ve got 14 days to change your mind. But we suspect you won’t want to once it’s on your wrist.