Jaegar-LeCoultre Coulissante Duoplan

The Coulissante Duoplan was designed to be handled.

The interaction comes first. A thumb presses, the gold panel slides, and the dial appears with a mechanical certainty that feels rehearsed rather than accidental. The movement is smooth, spring-loaded, and confident in its execution. It was engineered to be repeated, not admired from a distance.

This example dates to the 1950s and carries all the hallmarks of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s most inventive period. The case is slim, rectangular, and sharply drawn, measuring 15 × 32mm in solid 18k yellow gold. The sliding hood is finished with a finely executed hobnail texture that breaks up the surface and plays with light as it moves. Closed, the watch reads as a sculptural gold object. Open, it reveals a restrained white dial with applied gold indices and clean printing that remains remarkably intact.

The mechanics behind this design are rooted in the Duoplan movement, one of the most consequential developments in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s history. Built on two superimposed planes, the Duoplan allowed for compact proportions without sacrificing mechanical integrity. It marked the moment LeCoultre transitioned from a movement supplier into a fully realized watch manufacturer, capable of pairing engineering innovation with complete design authorship.

Inside this watch sits the manual-winding calibre 409, a back-wound construction that eliminates the need for a side-mounted crown. The absence of a protruding crown keeps the case profile uninterrupted and allows the sliding mechanism to function without obstruction. Every surface remains intentional. Every line serves the mechanism.

Condition elevates the entire experience. The case retains sharp edges and well-defined bevels. Hallmarks are deep and legible. The sliding action remains strong with positive spring tension. The lugs angle downward cleanly, giving the watch an unexpectedly assertive stance despite its size.

There is also a certain joy baked into wearing a piece like this. It invites interaction. It turns a simple check of the time into a small moment of quirky fun. It is equal parts elegance and mischief, a reminder that serious watchmaking has always left room for fun.

Adding to its provenance, this model was part of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s own Collectibles release in June 2023, where the brand curated and retailed its most iconic vintage pieces directly to collectors, priced north of $20,000. Here, it is offered for a fraction of that figure, without sacrificing condition, character, or credibility.

For the collector who already has the classics, this is the piece that keeps a collection interesting. Uncommon, historically significant, and endlessly engaging, the Coulissante Duoplan is here to starts conversations.