The Jaeger LeCoultre Polaris is the most complicated way to solve a problem - and that is why we love it!
What is that problem? How do I know when I am going to run out of oxygen underwater! Decades before the Polaris, Jaeger LeCoultre has been producing its highly novel and unique alarm watch known as ‘The Memovox’. That model utilized and automatic winding in—house movement with a mechanical alarm function. At some point, this complication and design was thought to be married to a highly technical and robust diving watch that would be for the most serious of professionals. That watch, was the Polaris and its brother the Deep Sea Alarm.
Both of those watches are icons today, but The Polaris is the most interesting of the two as it married the Alarm Memovox, with the Technical SuperCompressor case and internal rotating dive bezel to create a truly innovating and unique watch sporting three crowns. The top crown controlled your inner bezel, the middle time, and the bottom the alarm. All housed under a massive plexi dome crystal. The idea being that you could use the alarm to physically (as the watch does vibrate) and visibly (as it would emit bubbles underwater) alert you when you would be running out of air on a dive.
Think about the technical prowess to build a waterproof dive watch with multiple inner rotating discs, operated by THREE crowns, and has a resonator case back… FULL OF HOLES! It's large size (by the standards of the time) lends for a perfect modern wearing experience and has become an icon of the JLC historical canon.
The example that we have here comes to us from the family of the original owner and even has a letter from them to go with it! The owner was a welder and recreational diver who used this on his dive trips off the coast of Bermuda! Remarkably, it has survived in fantastic, well-preserved condition with a strong unpolished case, an exceptional dial and inner rotating bezel, all three 'hashed' crowns, and even its U.S. market J.B. Champion 'brick'-link bracelet with a blade clasp.
An outstanding package!
Condition:
Case: Unpolished with clear defined lug bevels and normal signs of wear throughout with one impression on underside of top left lug.
Dial: Superb overall showing very light mating and even patina across Tritium elements.
Bracelet: Period correct J.B. Champion stainless steel 'brick'-link bracelet with unsigned blade clasp.
Shipping:
All watches will be shipped via FedEx Insured Priority Overnight shipping. International shipping will be shipped via FedEx International Priority Express, always fully insured. This service is included in the listed price and will not incur any additional fees. All watches are shipped 1-2 business days after receiving payment confirmation by Chrono24. We are unable to ship watches on Saturday or Sunday.
Our Policy:
We service or perform necessary maintenance to the extent necessary to all of our watches, unless otherwise noted. All watches are listed and sold running and functioning as intended.
Our Guarantee:
Through rigorous vetting of each watch offered, we’re able to guarantee authenticity of our pieces. Ultimately, your satisfaction is our mission, as is helping you get YOUR perfect watch. If you have any questions at all, we will get back to you ASAP.
Each of our timepieces are vetted, evaluated, authenticated, and approved by our experienced team of experts and watchmakers prior to sale. We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise disclosed. We guarantee the authenticity of each watch in perpetuity.