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CWJ497-027

CWJ497-027 was crafted from one of 500 European-specification Jaeger-LeCoultre Cal. 497 Futurematics in stainless steel, circa 1959.

After this watch’s owner provided one of the 500 original European-spec Jaeger-LeCoultre Futurematics in steel to Cloister to be reimagined, we completed a full mechanical overhaul of the watch’s movement. We mixed a slate grey hue for the dial and applied it using a metallic finish consistent with wristwatches of the era. We rendered the “Futurematic” text in white using an art deco font found on some examples of the “Porthole” Futurematic and replaced the original black/ red scheme of the power reserve indicator with a stark blue/ red palette. We then replaced the “Power Reserve” text on the left subdial with the new owner’s full name and commissioned two bespoke Parisian straps: one in distressed brown leather with grey stitching color-matched to the dial, and another in matte brown crocodile (not pictured), both with contemporary Jaeger-LeCoultre tang buckles.