Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Jul 09, 2016

LOT 112

JAEGER LECOULTRE MEMOVOX ALARM AUTOMATIC DATE STEEL Jaeger LeCoultre, Automatic," Ref. E859. Made circa 1967. Fine and rare, center seconds, water-resistant, self-winding, stainless steel wristwatch with date, alarm and 3 crowns. Accompanied by the original fitted box, guarantee and instruction booklet.

HKD 160,000 - 240,000

USD 20,600 - 30,900 / CHF 20,400 - 30,600

Two-body, polished, inclined bezel, the crown at 2 activates the central revolving alarm dial, patented Piquerez Compressor system triple back, 16 holes for sound emission. Black with luminous Arabic and baton indexes, inner bidirectional revolving disk with minute divisions for the alarm, outer dot minute divisions with 5-minute/ seconds markers and Arabic quarters, aperture for the date. Luminous steel baton hands. Cal. K825, 14```, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring, index regulator.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 42 mm. THICKNESS 17 mm. Launched in 1965 as a successor to the MEMOVOX DEEPSEA, the POLARIS was JAEGER LECOULTRE's response to the ever-increasing popularity of recreational scuba diving. Designed in a massive 42 mm.case, it featured an internal revolving bezel as well as an alarm function and a date. Equipped with the Jaeger caliber K825 that revolutionized the watch world a few years before as the world's first automatic alarm watch, the Polaris offered divers reliability and endurance. The first generation was fitted with a plain full back and a dial with applied baton indexes, the second generation of 1968-70 were drilled for better sound emission and a dial with large luminous indexes. The total production of the Polaris model is believed to be fewer than 1714 units, manufactured between 1965 and 1970. Examples destined for the American market were signed LeCoultre to the dial with the remaining signed Jaeger LeCoultre.