In 1959 Jaeger-LeCoultre made a lasting mark on diving history by launching the very first diver's watch to be equipped with an alarm that served to remind the diver that it was time to re-surface. Six years later, the Memovox Polaris was born from this new diving watch concept as a technological breakthrough. Today watch enthusiasts can capture the spirit of the 1960s combined with modern advancements in technology presented together in the Memovox Tribute to Polaris. We have a model up for auction that is equipped with the sought-after ''wrong dial'', which makes it one of the most collectable watches in the world.
By Joaquin Fernandez Cebrian - Watch Expert
The Birth of the Polaris
The Memovox was christened Polaris after the famous American missiles symbolising the Western strike force during the Cold War. But this name mostly echoed the adventurous spirit of the 1960s, distinguished by a determination to travel ever faster and further, in an era when the public at large was fascinated by the space race, ocean discoveries and polar exploration.
Research work began on the Memovox Polaris in 1962, and 1,714 of these watches were made between 1965 and 1970. The most famous of them all was the 1968 model. They were equipped with several types of dial and hands, according to the markets for which they were intended. Today, the slightest variations of numerals, hour markers and signatures generates passionate interest among fervent contemporary collectors.
A Tribute
In 2008, Jaeger-LeCoultre honored this legendary model by creating the Memovox Tribute to Polaris in a limited edition of 768 pieces which delighted collectors with a faithful reproduction of the 1968 model featuring its essential characteristics.
The large, round 42 mm-diameter case has a polished finishing and no visible bezel. It is equipped with three crowns featuring a chequered motif. Just as when this model was first introduced, the watchmakers of the Manufacture have inserted the rotating bezel beneath the dial, with its famous central triangle serving as an index for dive times. To facilitate handling, the case is equipped with a crown at 3 o'clock, framed by the two distinctive Memovox crowns. The one at 2 o'clock enables the user to adjust, wind and start or stop the alarm function, which has its own independent barrel. The one at 4 o'clock serves to set and wind the movement.
The sapphire crystal – a must in contemporary watchmaking – has been replaced on this model by a synthetic material forming the original domed shape of the Polaris watch. Purists will certainly concur with this deliberate infringement of current industry rules. While the Memovox Tribute to Polaris watch is faithful to the spirit and aesthetics of its forerunner, it naturally deserved to be equipped with the latest technical innovations by Jaeger-LeCoultre in order to meet modern demands for precision, sturdiness and reliability.
Making (Sound) Waves
The innovative technology Jaeger-LeCoultre used to create the first diving watch with an alarm has continued be be improved upon over the years, but the basic concept and design remain largely the same. The historical Memovox Polaris was distinguished by its three-part case. The first element was an inside back in bronze that enhanced the resonance of the alarm sound. The second was a sealed back that protected the precious mechanism from any water seeping in to a depth of 200 meter. The last was a third back drilled with 16 holes, which prevented the sound from being muffled by the watch as it is pressed against the wearer's diving suit.
The back of the Memovox Tribute to Polaris model features an inner sealed back that maintains its role as a resonance chamber and an outer back with 16 round openings, secured to the water resistance back in harmony with the original design. The latter is adorned with an engraving inspired by the original ‘compressor' diving helmet and a set of technical information provided inside the case of the original model to symbolise its exceptional water-tightness.
--- Like what you see? You could own your very own tribute to a legend. You could add this Jaeger-LeCoultreMemovox Tribute to Polaris to your own collection and experience the precision and beauty for yourself. This watch is available at Catawiki's Exclusive Men's Watches auction scheduled to close on the 7th of April 2017.