World famous watch designers Jaeger LeCoultre are presenting their second online auction this week for the benefit of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
The watch on offer is their 1958 Geophysic Chronometer. The watch was created in a specific historical context: a period of time from 1957-8 was predicted as a time of exceptional solar activity and scientists wanted to use the time as best they could to record and understand the events.
For this, a timepiece was wanted which could be relied upon not to break down across a variety of extreme conditions so that it could be used in polar base stations, in laboratories or during underwater expeditions.
Jaeger LeCoultre made the Model E168 with the intention that it would pass all durability tests, and it has become a legend for this reason. Just 1290 were made.
 An example of Jaeger LeCoultre 1958 watch, to be sold on Thursday |
One of the greatest qualities of the timepiece was its resistance to magnetism, with the case resistant to magnetic fields up to 600 gauss - an extraordinary achievement at the time and priceless at polar stations.
This 1958 Model E168, (casing number 748166) was tested in 2009 by a climbing team led by Swiss climber Stéphane Schaffter which reached the top of a previously unconquered Himalayan summit.
The sale takes place on Thursday March 18. Bids will start from $4,000, though there is an undisclosed reserve price which must be met.
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Image: Jaeger LeCoultre
