Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Mariner Deep Sea “Barracuda” Framed Date Window – E558 – 1969

There are watches that tell time, and there are watches that tell stories.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Mariner “Deep Sea” E558 — affectionately known as the Barracuda — belongs firmly to the latter.

Introduced in 1968, the E558 emerged during the golden age of mechanical dive watches, when manufacturers were not chasing nostalgia but survival at depth. The result was a purpose-built tool with unmistakable character: the Super-Compressor case with dual crowns, an inner rotating bezel designed for real diving conditions, and a dial whose clarity and balance made it a quiet icon.

The example offered here is one of the finest expressions of the reference. Its sharp, well-preserved case retains the crisp geometry of the original design, while the framed date window and thick handset give this variant its distinct personality. The tritium lume has developed a beautiful vanilla patina, perfectly matched across hands and markers, and the dial itself is flawless — a rarity even among well-cared-for vintage divers.

Turn the crowns and the watch still feels purposeful, almost surprisingly modern. Rotate the internal bezel and you’re reminded that this was engineered for the depths, not merely the display case. And beneath it all beats Jaeger-LeCoultre’s automatic calibre 883, a dependable movement whose smoothness and durability have earned it a reputation far beyond its production numbers.

This E558 has just undergone a complete professional service and is offered with a 12-month warranty, ensuring peace of mind alongside its historical charm.

Vintage Barracudas are uncommon. Exceptional ones are genuinely rare.
This is the latter — a beautifully preserved, mechanically sound, and visually captivating piece of JLC’s dive-watch heritage.

A legend returned from the deep, ready for its next chapter.

Fitted with a hand-made suede leather strap, tapering elegantly from 20 mm to a vintage-style 16 mm buckle that completes the period look.