Jaeger-LeCoultre calibres

by Stephen Foskett (Grail Watch)

Jaeger-LeCoultre is known as a manufacturer of many movements. This list is an attempt at organizing them, grouped by “family” of similar calibres.

Calibre Naming

Jaeger-LeCoultre uses numbers to identify their calibres. There is a rough system to their numbering, with smaller calibres getting lower numbers and larger and more expensive ones assigned higher numbers. Jaeger-LeCoultre also tends to use similar numbers for related calibres, though this isn't always the case. In most cases, variants of a base calibre in the same generation will have numbers in the same decade while major revisions will get a new decade. For example, Calibre 889 was replaced by Calibre 899, and variants of the latter included Calibres 896 and 898.

Prefix letters generally refer to shock protection systems, though these are rarely used in modern times. “P” was Parachoc, while “K” was Kif.

Numeric suffixes denote minor revisions, as is the case for other movement manufacturers. Some Jaeger-LeCoultre calibres have a “/2” variant, for example, when changes were made that did not require a new calibre number.

Suffix letters refer to complications or characteristics “SQ” refers to a skeleton (“squelette”), while other letters often indicate complications, certification, or applications. For example, Calibre K880G was a chronometer certified version of Calibre 880 with Kif shock protection.

Manual Winding

Tonneau
- 101, 104, 403, 406 - 2×6.25 ligne “Duoplan”
- 202, 207 - 19 or 22 ligne (similar to 201/206)
- 404, 407 - Lady Reverso original
- 410, 11LO, 413, 424, 438, 411, 437, 412, 436, 486, 806 - 8×11 ligne Reverso
- 460, 490, 491 - Reverso oval
- 807, 840, 845 - 5.75×7 ligne tonneau
- 822, 823, 843, 844, 846, 851, 854, 864, 865 - Reverso modern
- 976, 986 - Reverso 28,800 Autotractor
- 873, 874, 875, 878, 879 - Reverso 8 Days
Round
- 117, 122, 408 - 9 ligne
- 139 - 16 ligne
- 140, 145, 415 - 17 ligne
- 168 - 8/9 ligne
- 169, 426 - 7 ligne
- 201, 205, JLC 206, 208 - 19 or 22 ligne (similar to 202/207)
- 380, 381, 383 - Duomètre
- 449, 452, 463, 469, 479, 451, 464, 484, 494 - 12.75 ligne sub-seconds
- 450, 468 - 12.75 ligne sweep seconds
- 470, 478, 488 - 12.75 ligne chronometer
- 480, 483 - 10.5 ligne sub seconds
- 800, 810 - 10.5 ligne sweep seconds
- 818, 819 - 9.25 ligne slim
- 838/839, 849 - Ultra-thin
- 876, 877 - 8 Days

$Calibre JLC 489\\ © [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]] (click to enlarge!)$
Calibre JLC 489
© Jaeger-LeCoultre

Alarm
- 489/601, 814, 910/911, 914 - Memovox alarm

Automatic

Round
- 476, 481, 813 - Bumper
- 497, 817, 827, 837 - Futurematic
- 809 - Rendez-Vous Celestial
- 880, 881, 882, 883, 885 - 11.5 ligne Geomatic
- 889, 896, 897, 898C, 899 - Ultra-thin
  - 929, 923, 936, 937, 939 - Complications on ultra-thin
- 891, 924, 866, 868 - Master Calendar
- 920 - Ultra-thin OEM (not used by JLC)
- 925 - Thin with moon phase and date
- 928, 938 - Master Réserve de Marche
- 939 - Master Geographic
- 967 - Compact
- 960 - Master Compressor Automatic
- 966, 968 - Reverso Squadra Lady Duetto
- 970, 971, 972, 975, 977, 979 - “Autotractor” - Unidirectional, rugged, ceramic bearings