New SIHH 2018 Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris collection

From 1965 and 1968, Jaeger-LeCoultre made LeCoultre slightly over 1,700 Polaris watches for both Continental Europe and United States markets. At the time, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris was an interesting oddity – rare for its size (42mm), rare for its inner-rotating bezel and in fine technical form for the Grande Maison, rare for a dive watch with compressor case designed with 16 holes in the caseback so a mechanical alarm could be greatly audible under water. As far as vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre watches go, the Polaris is right next to the Deep Sea and the Memovox in terms of popularity.

Featuring three crowns, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris could be mistaken for a chronograph but it is literally an alarm watch for a diver, a feat which no other watchmaker has the temerity to attempt. For SIHH 2018 Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris makes a welcome back, newly re-designed and updated by the recently appointed Lionel Favre.

New SIHH 2018 Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris collection

For Watch Idiot Savants, Favre sounds like a nice homage to the company which provided LeCoultre with the blueprints for the Memovox alarm system – Favre Leuba. That said, Lionel Favre, the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Director of Design, assures us that he bears no relation to the heritage watchmaking company, nevertheless, its hard to shake the sensation of a full circle with the new SIHH 2018 Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris collection.

Inspired by the iconic Memovox Polaris watch from 1968, Jaeger-LeCoultre has developed a new collection to join the brand’s existing pillars. That said, the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris is no mere re-issue, it channels the best of the Grande Maison’s watchmaking tradition and its attention to detail, while creating a contemporary sporty yet elegant timepiece, with a vintage appeal, embodying the spirit of Memovox Polaris. More importantly, it marks the return of yet another Jaeger-LeCoultre icon.

The new SIHH 2018 Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris collection is comprised of an initial release of five models, with one limited edition paying tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Memovox watch.

New 2018 Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Automatic

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Automatic introduces the collection, featuring the iconic two crowns, one for time setting and one for the inner rotating bezel. The inner rotating bezel speaks to the diving-inspired nature of this timepiece, simplifying the act of tracking elapsed time. The dual-crown layout is unique to the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris collection.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Automatic Price and Specs

Movement Automatic mechanical movement, Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 898/1 with 40 hours power reserve
Case 41mm stainless steel with 100m water resistance
Strap Polished and brushed finished three-link metal bracelet or alligator leather and calfskin
Price From US$6,600 for calf leather to US$7,600 for stainless steel

New 2018 Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph available in Steel or Gold

The 42mm Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph is the sportiest of the new line, equipped with a tachymeter bezel. “Pump” pushers of the 60s have been updated for a precision instrument of this nature and have been redesigned for a better grip, furthermore, the thin bezel helps to open the dial for maximum readability.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph Price and Specs

Movement Automatic mechanical movement, Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 751 with 65 hours
Case 42mm stainless steel with 100m water resistance
Strap Polished and brushed finished three-link metal bracelet or alligator leather and calfskin
Price From US$10,000 for Polaris Steel Chronograph with calf leather to US $24,500 for Polaris rose gold chronograph on alligator strap)

New 2018 Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph WT (World Timer)

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph WT offers it all – an in-house chronograph and the useful world time complication – perfect for the world traveler. It not only features the two chronograph pushers, but it has an additional crown at 10 o’clock to control the rotating city disc, which you can set to the city you are in, and immediately see the time in 23 other cities around the world.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph WT Price and Specs

Movement Automatic mechanical movement, Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 752 with 65 hours
Case 44mm Titanium with 100m water resistance
Strap Polished and brushed finished three-link metal bracelet or alligator leather and calfskin
Price US$14,500 with calf leather strap

New 2018 Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date

With the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date, the link to the original Polaris from 1968 is stronger than ever. Like the original, this watch uses the same design codes — Vanilla Super-LumiNova*, the triangle along with trapezoidal indices mixed with four Arabic numbers, a railway track for the minutes — and features a date at three o’clock. For the price, it’s the most similar to the vintage 1968 Memovox Polaris model sans Memovox aka alarm functionality.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date Price and Specs

Movement Automatic mechanical movement, Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 899/1 with 38 hours
Case 42mm Stainless Steel with 200m water resistance
Strap Polished and brushed finished three-link metal bracelet or alligator leather and calfskin
Price US$7,750 with rubber strap

New 2018 Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Memovox

Issued in a limited edition of 1,000 pieces, this model features the special alarm function made famous by the 1968 Memovox Polaris watch. This 50th anniversary timepiece has an iconic three-crown design: one for setting the alarm (top), one for the inner rotating bezel (middle) and one for setting the time (bottom). The vintage cues on the dial call to mind the 1968 original – vanilla Super-LumiNova*, trapezoidal indices mixed with four Arabic numbers – and the triangle in the dial center serving as the alarm indicator. Controlled by the alarm crown, the central disc turns to line up the triangle with the desired alarm time.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 956 features the striking mechanism with a gong, along with the central seconds and instant-jump date-change system. This caliber is a direct descendant of the first automatic alarm watch movement created by Jaeger-LeCoultre in the 1950s.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Memovox Price and Specs

Movement Automatic mechanical movement, Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 956 with 44 hours
Case 42mm Stainless Steel with 200m water resistance
Strap Polished and brushed finished three-link metal bracelet or alligator leather and calfskin
Price TBA

New SIHH 2018 Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris collection will be available mid April 2018

 

 

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