Jaeger-LeCoultre Grasshopper "Aristocrat" Gold-Capped Watch Only

Mid-century dress watches are quite an interesting part of the watch collecting. On one hand, you have some of the most consistent design language that the industry has to offer, with the same 31mm round 18kt yellow gold cases featuring thin straight lugs and plain silver dials across a whole array of models from hundreds of different brands. On the other hand you have wacky and wonderful pieces of rather unique design that can come in all different shapes, sizes, design inspirations and everything else, much like the Jaeger-LeCoultre Aristocrat that we have here, which is also affectionately known as the “Grasshopper” by collectors thanks to its peculiar asymmetrical design.

Made of gold-capped 14kt yellow gold, the Grasshopper is a mid-century dress watch from the 1950s that boasts an asymmetrical case with a sharply angled midsection that tapers in from its lugs at 12 o’clock to a V point at 6 o’clock, with the case boasting a set of traditional lugs at 6 o’clock which serve as the Grasshopper’s rear legs. Featuring a similarly-shaped dial and crystal, the Grasshopper’s whole design language is quite avant-garde, especially considering the more conservative design aesthetics that dominated at the time.

Made for the US market, and thus branded “Jaeger”, the Grasshopper’s dial came in either silver or black, with our example featuring the former. Boasting a two-finish dial, the display sports a vertically-brushed portion and a contrasting horizontally-brushed portion, which gives the dial a real sense of movement and depth that its circular and triangular applied hour markers then build on even further. Powered by a manual-wind movement and finished with a leather strap, this dress watch is a wonderfully artistic representation of how even the more conservative sides of watchmaking can create timepieces that excite their wearers.

Offered in exceptional condition, this example’s gold-capped case shows no large or obvious signs of damage. Its gold-capping is complete and shows no significant areas of fading. In addition, its original silver dial shows no degradation, and its printing is still perfect. Its hands are clean and free from corrosion. The strap and buckle are not original or from Jaeger-LeCoultre. The manual-wind movement runs and operates as it should. The original crystal is also free from any cracks, deep scratches, chips, or other signs of significant damage, wear, or tear. The original crown also works and functions as it should. 

Brand: Jaeger-LeCoultre
Model: Aristocrat
Reference: "Grasshopper"
Set: Watch only
Year: Circa 1950
Dial: Two-tone Silver
Material: Gold-Capped
Movement: Manual-wind
Case Diameter: 23mm (along 3 to 9 o'clock) to 26.7mm (widest point)
Thickness: 9.77mm
Lug-to-lug: 38.75mm
Lug Width: 19mm
Bracelet/Strap: Third-party leather strap with gold-tone pin buckle