In 2018 it celebrated it’s 50 years, the Polaris was a great revolution for not only the world of diving but also in the lives of aesthetes.
When we talk about the most famous of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s timepieces it is without doubt that the Reverso comes first in our minds. However, if we want to find out which is the most revolutionary watch of Jaeger-LeCoultre we would find the answer with the Polaris. How come? The watch was a true innovation in the history of watchmaking: a watch that – for the first time – made the alarm function an indispensable signal for distinguished divers.
Hence in the 1960s, the Jaeger-LeCoultre watchmakers worked on the diving concept of “Memovox”, in latin – “the voice of memory”. The idea? To make the alarm function a vital part of diving. The workshops of the Swiss maison worked for eight years on the creation of the perfect watch: the 1968 Memovox Polaris would become an icon. It must be noted that its assets work to its advantage – a 42mm casing that facilitates the reading of the hour, a triple case-back system, a more resonant alarm, and a third very watertight crown. What’s missing? Absolutely nothing.
With their strong expertise, the watchmakers at Jaeger-LeCoultre were able to set a new stage in the history of watchmaking techniques – the triple case-back system would allow the impossible. Under water, the voice of memory calls back to the divers when it is time to come back to the surface – the Memovox resounds like never before! The optimal diffusion of sound under water is made possible by the novel shape of the inclined case that prevents the potential pitfall stifling of the sound through contact with the dive suit.
Baptised with a name din direct resonance with the great adventures of the 1960s, the Polaris incarnates the journey of going beyond the possible. Oceanographic discoveries, space exploration, expeditions to the Poles – it defied all the challenges! Hence in 2018, the Memovox Polaris celebrated its 50th anniversary and the maison Jaeger-LeCoultre dedicated the watch an entire collection.
“I wanted it to be the sport-chic watch par excellence. The timepiece that you can wear daily! I wanted to find both the comfort and simplicity of use of what I call a “montre a vivre” as the complications of the watch are useful, simple and efficient and it’s alarm function is quite practical for arranging the time of a meeting!” explains Lionel Favre, the talent that contributed to the new Polaris watches from Jaeger-LeCoultre. The result?
A new line with elegant sophistication and sportiness, contributing to the attributes of an icon with a very contemporary character. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris presents an even more beautiful version in steel but limited to 1000 pieces. The back of its case is decorated with an engraving depicts a diving suit – the very diving suit that would come to decorate the original 1968 model. Placing the Polaris in the ranks of the most desirable pieces signed by the expertise of the vallée de Joux!