Jaeger-LeCoultre Power Reserve "40 heures", calibre 481 Bumper, yellow gold 18 carats, 1953

Jaeger-LeCoultre Power Reserve "40 heures" - Calibre 481 Bumper - 18K (750) yellow gold - Circa 1953.

Watch-men's wristwatch, automatic, signed Jaeger-LeCoultre, featuring the "Bumper" Calibre 481, one of the most emblematic automatic movements of the Sentier manufacture in the early 1950s.

This model, rare in this yellow gold 18K (750) configuration, can be identified by its power reserve at 12 o'clock, presented in the form of a semi-circular aperture displaying the main spring tension "gauge". The indicator progressively changes from white to red according to the barrel's energy level - an innovative complication, christened "Réserve de Marche 40 heures" at the time.

Technical and aesthetic features

Case 18K 750 yellow gold (eagle-head hallmark), engraved screw-down back n°339923 A

TypeBracelet-watch Diameter: 33 mm (excluding crown)

Gross weight : 35,85 g

Dial Silvered, original, uniform natural patina, power-reserve aperture at 12 o'clock, applied hour-markers and gilded dauphine hands.

Movement Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 481 automatic with bumpers. 17 jewels - 40-hour power reserve Frequency: 18,000 vibrations/hour. Bidirectional winding device with typical pre-rotor buffer springs.

Glass Curved Plexiglas (New, replaced when fully serviced).

Bracelet ABP Concept Paris, leather made-to-measure burgundy lizard for fixed handles (value 240€).

Buckle unsigned, consistent with the original aesthetic.

Crown Period, unsigned (a common configuration on early Power Reserve watches).

Watchmaking history and interest

Introduced in the early 1950s, Jaeger-LeCoultre's Power Reserve "40h" marks a major milestone in the history of automatic winding. Its calibre 481 derives directly from the 476 - the company's first self-winding movement - but adds an innovative power reserve complication, inherited from the systems developed by JLC for instrumental and marine watches.

At a time when power-reserve indicators were reserved for on-board watches or chronometers, Jaeger-LeCoultre democratizes the function in an elegant wristwatch, displayed in the form of a horizontal gauge at 12 o'clock - a true aesthetic signature of the brand in the 1950s.

Condition & care

Full service at ABP Concept (Paris):

Overhaul complete mechanics, cleaning, oiling, adjustment and testing (fluid movement, excellent amplitude).

Domed plexiglass replaced, light polishing to preserve case volumes.

Dial unrestored, with some period oxidation, retaining a homogeneous patina characteristic of the original silvering. Bracelet new in burgundy lizard (ABP), adapted to the case's fixed handles.

Set delivered:

Large original brown Jaeger-LeCoultre case (wood and velvet)

Full service invoice (ABP, Sept. 2025)

Extract from Jaeger-LeCoultre archives

Expert commentary

The caliber 481 is one of Jaeger-LeCoultre's most elegant and ingenious movements, and the 12 o'clock power reserve makes this watch a technical and aesthetic milestone. Its original patina and state of preservation make it a collector's item, all the more sought-after in 18K gold with its complete original case."

Price justified by :

The quality of the complete overhaul (ABP Concept, with invoice supplied),

The presence of the complete set (original box + archive extract),

Top-of-the-range custom-made bracelet,

The complete authenticity of the timepiece (original dial with patina, unmodified movement).

A genuine heritage piece from Jaeger-LeCoultre, this Power Reserve 40h illustrates the golden age of mechanical watchmaking in the 1950s. At once rare, historically significant and timelessly elegant, it will appeal to both the discerning collector and the cultured man in search of a dress watch with period charm and discreet presence.