JLC Master Mariner HLC Thrift Store Find, Info Sought

I'm a regular thrifter and came across this today. This was a total surprise! The store clearly Googled and has an (imo) aspirational price, though I hope to haggle. It was a price where I wasn't comfortable purchasing without doing any homework.

I've been researching and gather this is a Master Mariner HPC, ref. 9514, linen dial with onyx indices. Appears it should have a Cal. 164. I found photos from an old listing of the watch (the photo with the watch on wrist is the reference image I'm using. The hands, indices and text on the dial all seem correct, to me. The crystal is obviously cracked and won't know the service history so it would be a gamble. Watch was running.

I'd like to find more information about the specific reference, and check if the information above is accurate. I also have some questions, like what does HPC stand for? Are the crystals tough to replace? Any red flags I should be aware of with Cal. 164? Were they popular in their day or today? I dig the case shape, it screams 70s to me. @gatorcpa if you have images of the watch from a JLC catalogue, I'd appreciate the help!

thanks so much! appreciate it.

This solves it! Thanks for tracking this down.

By aspirational, I mean the price on the tag is $1,400. After Googling, I saw the same price for a different JLC MM on one of the first Google links that pops up when you type in LeCoultre Master Mariner.

However, at this particular thrift store (not a goodwill but very similar) the tag is marked with different colors for certain discounts on certain days. So some days it could be 50% off, so $700. Or it could be 75% off on certain days. It's also possible they'll be open to negotiating further. I found it in a bin with a ton of Seiko quartz and fashion and novelty quartz watches. That's pretty typical, I occasionally see mechanical Seiko or Timex watches at shops like this but never JLC or even Hamilton or Elgin.

I do like the silver linen dial and case shape, though noted your point that it's highly polished and not a desirable movement. I also wonder about the cracked crystal, too, and whether that would be difficult to find a replacement for. Part of considering acquiring this is because the brand is cool, I don't have a linen dial watch and like the 70s cushion case shape. Picking this up at a random thrift store also means something to me, bc I like the story.

I'd like to have it and wear it, with proper servicing, but would also be fine letting it go if I can figure whether it's more likely than not would require a significant overhaul (seems likely given the condition I found it in). I'm planning to give it a second look and check out the movement (I have a rubber ball and loupe). Also hear you on the fact the hrs means that the balance (and I assume pallet fork, right?) experience a lot of stress and replacement parts would be hard to come by.

I know I'm seeing stars a little bit because in my years of digging through junky watches at shops like this, I've never seen something like this. Either way, a fun and unexpected find.

thanks very much for the feedback. appreciate it!

appreciate your feedback, will pass! this is why I like going thrifting, you just never know what will turn up

I decided to add a bit here since this thread is one of the best resources for this watch I was able to come across. The one I was looking at was similar (see pic) but not a lot out there on this model I could find. I also included a post with some engine info.