Watch under test – Jeager Le Coultre 6B/159 ’56 Dennison re-case. JLC calibre 470 movement.
Length of test – 46 years.
IMG_1575 by pdrawmer, on Flickr
This 6B/159 JLC was re-cased by the Air Ministry as part of a wholesale re-casing of unissued 6B/159 watches in 1956. Whilst the 100s of watches bought in by the Air Ministry were great movements from many well-known Swiss watch makers, the original war time cases were very cheap being chrome plated alloy, with press on steel backs.
6b/159 JLC movement by pdrawmer, on Flickr
In 1956 unissued stocks of the 6B/159 specification watch were re-cased into 36mm English made stainless steel cases made by Dennison. These cases make first class watches with a very solid case, nice lugs albeit with fixed strap bars, a high dome watch glass and a fine screw back. This case became the ‘Aquatite’ case as used on the Smiths watch that was advertised as being the first to the top of Mount Everest.
IMG_1582 by pdrawmer, on Flickr
The watch face is an Air Ministry supply item and is extremely easy to read. It is one of the clearest faces on any watch, being devoid of clutter and high contrast with blued steel hands against the white face.
IMG_1581 by pdrawmer, on Flickr
The watch under test was bought as new unissued stock from a war surplus dealer via the magazine ‘Exchange & Mart’ in November 1967. Cost at time of purchase was £12-10s (£12.50). For many of the intervening years it was my daily wearer, and for much of that time I had it on a ‘Fixoflex’ expanding bracelet. If you’re old enough to know what I’m talking about, you’ll remember how the Fixoflex strap was pretty damn fine a removing the hairs from your wrist. Forget watch tan line, this was a watch wrist waxer! The JLC survived a flight onto concrete one time; Centre Court at Wimbledon, a fantastic rally in Conner V Borg semi-final. I stood and enthusiastically clapped, JLC on Fixoflex sailed off my wrist, flew over the front row of spectators and landed on the concrete apron around the court. No harm done.
The JLC fell out of favour, only getting occasional use after I bought a used Omega Chronostop in 1975, which only stayed as the favourite watch for a couple of years, until I went back to the JLC as the Omega with its bracelet was frankly pretty uncomfortable.
In 1992 I got fed up with the floppy Fixoflex, and had a new brown leather strap fitted by a local shop, which instantly made the watch look very smart and it became the daily wearer again until last November when I seemed to accidentally start buying a few more watches.
IMG_1585 by pdrawmer, on Flickr
The JLC still gets an outing now and then, but it now has more competition. I have recently fitted it with a black strap to match the one on the Christopher Ward C5 ‘Battle of Britain’ 6B/159 homage. I had to get one of those; together they make a fine pair.
6b/159 crossing by pdrawmer, on Flickr
JLC 6B/159. Faults - none. Cost of servicing – nil. Timekeeping -30 secs per day now. Maybe it’s time for its first service?
I recommend this watch as it is durable, comfortable, and discrete. It represents extremely good value for money as it has –ve depreciation in the last few years. Buy one if you can.
a cracking review paul with some great pictures 
