1969 Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Mariner Deep Sea (Ref. E558) "Barracuda"

Jaeger-LeCoultre has been one of the leading watch manufacturers and more impressively watch movement manufacturers since the early 1900s, though their dignified roots date all the way back to 1844. Jaeger-LeCoultre or "JLC" for short, produced some of the most important movements for other manufacturers including Patek Philippe, Cartier, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin. JLC created a multitude of its own extraordinary watches throughout the company's tenure as one of the leading Swiss watchmaking houses.

The Jaeger Master Mariner was created in celebration of the Jaeger brand's 125th anniversary and has taken on many shapes and variants over its production period, all featuring an aesthetic that married sophistication and utility into one watch.

The most sought-after of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Mariner line is the elusive and highly regarded Deep Sea ref. E558, also known within the collector community as the "Barracuda". Produced from 1967 to 1974, only a mere 1532 total examples of the Barracuda were originally made, and with no way of knowing how many remain today, it's safe to say the ref. E558 is a 'rare bird'.

The Deep Sea Barracuda makes use of an EPSA Super Compressor case design, though executed in classic JLC fashion by making the case as elegant as possible without sacrificing utility, and successfully so as the case was originally rated to the then industry-standard 200m. Housed within the case is the JLC in-house Cal. K883 automatic movement, featuring 'Fausses Cotes' decoration, because even though this is a diving sports watch, it's also a Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Stock #		JLCDSMME558
Brand		Jaeger-LeCoultre
Style		Master Mariner Deep Sea
Model		E558
Serial		19XXXXX
Size		Men's
Material		Stainless Steel
Dial		Matte Black
Millimeters		36.5
Strap		JLC "NSA" Bracelet

CASE & BRACELET

The gorgeous and geometrical super compressor case is in exceptional condition, appearing to have been only gently polished in the past as all of its factory angles are present and crisp with light signs of honest use. The case retains its original twin crosshatch crowns. The case back has been lightly polished as well and displays gentle wear. The watch retains its original and rare Jaeger-LeCoultre signed "NSA" bracelet that is sized to fit a 7 1/2-inch wrist.

DIAL & HANDS

The original matte black dial is virtually flawless with no damage or degradation present whatsoever. The inner rotating bezel is also in near-perfect condition and also retains its tritium lumed triangle which has aged to match the dial perfectly while showing no degradation. The original tritium lume plots have taken on a beautifully yellow patina with no degradation present under U.V. light inspection. The original tritium hands have taken on a characteristic green coloration that is normally seen in this reference, under U.V. light inspection the hour hand exhibits minor cracking and remains stable, the minute hand remains fully intact.