Jaeger-LeCoultre is famed for the Reverso, but that piece’s origins are, believe it or not, as a tool watch — not a dress watch. 

However, the firm did produce myriad dedicated dress watches throughout the years, perhaps none more elegant than those from the middle of the last century. A plethora of case and dial designs means that a vintage JLC dress piece is reasonably easy to come by, but finding a more unique configuration in great condition remains challenging.

The particular Jaeger-LeCoultre dress watch we have here couldn't be cooler. As it’s signed only “LeCoultre” on the dial and was cased and timed in the U.S.A, we can deduce that it was a piece made specifically for the American market. Featuring a 10K yellow gold case with a gorgeous textured dial, applied gold indices and matching handset, push-pull crown and acrylic crystal, it’s matched to a wildly neat Kreisler 10K, woven gold-filled bracelet. 

Powered by a thin, manually wound calibre, this dress watch from one of the world’s greatest watchmakers would be remarkable enough on its own for its unique design, but its entry-level pricing makes it even more perfect for the budding collector. 

Whether this is your first dress watch or your 1,000th, this is a great opportunity to get into a gold watch without losing your shirt!