Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovex Tribute to Deep Sea

Modern Classic. This could be the most interesting watch announced at SIHH 2011, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovex Tribute to Deep Sea. Two models were announced at SIHH 2011, one for Europe (Ref. Q2028470) and the other for the United States (Ref. Q2028440). 

European Version (Ref. Q2028470)

US Version (Ref. Q2028440)

Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovex Tribute to Deep Sea. These watches are close reproductions of the a model released in 1959. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovex Tribute to Deep Sea follows the design of the typical divers watch with a rotating bezel, but features a rather unique feature for a mechanical divers watch. It is an alarm. The original model was equipped with a hand-wound movements, while the new versions come powered by JLC’s new caliber 956 automatic movement. This movement beats at a speed of 28,800 vibration per hour and has a 45 hour power reserve. True to the classic design of a divers watch it has no date display. In keeping with its classic theme, the watch has a Plexiglass crystal covering the dial, something we have seen of a lot these year with some of the new Panerai releases.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovex Tribute to Deep Sea has a stainless steel case with a 40.5 mm case diameter which is just 7.45mm thick. This is slightly larger than the original 39.5mm case. The dial is  

matte black and grey dial, with distinctive luminescent central triangular marker for the alarm indication. 

Jaeger-LeCoultre Press Release on the watch talks a bit about its history.

The first diver’s watch instrument

In the early 1950s, humankind was fervently dedicated to building a new world. Modern individuals were dynamic and intrepid, embodying the values of a future-oriented era and keen to set off on the discovery of new territories focusing on the unexplored heart of continents, the infinity of the cosmos, and the ocean depths. In 1957 the USSR launched the first artificial satellite of the Earth. A few months earlier, Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Louis Malle had unveiled the fascinating mysteries of underwater life in the film entitled The Silent World and which was acclaimed by critics at the Cannes Film Festival and subsequently by the public at large. Commander Cousteau’s passion was soon shared by a growing number of eager scuba diving fans, especially once the simultaneous invention of a revolutionary diving bottle fostered the spread of this promising young discipline. A new kind of sports enthusiast emerged, requiring instruments suited to the exercise of their recently developed passion and able to help them successfully undertake their adventurous missions below the sea.

In order to meet demand from American enthusiasts of this booming sport, Jaeger-LeCoultre launched a daring project in 1959 involving the development of a diver’s watch. This represented largely uncharted territory at the time, with no criteria stipulating the demands that should be met by this unprecedented category of timepieces, and almost 20 years were to elapse before the adoption of the NIHS norms applicable to diver’s watches. The watchmakers and technicians of the Manufacture immediately set to work and that same year presented a watch endowed with a degree of reliability and performances that were truly exceptional in that early period of underwater exploration. The Memovox Deep Sea was the world’s first diver’s watch equipped with an alarm function. Jaeger-LeCoultre engineers devoted the full measure of their inventive skills to transforming the alarm generally featured on Memovox watches into an acoustic signal designed to warn divers that it was time to begin their progressive ascent to the surface. In keeping with an essential principle consistently upheld by the Manufacture, functionality was already dedicated to serving security.

This is a limited edition watch. The Europe version will be produced in only 959 pieces while only 359 pieces will be produced the model for the United States.

About JLC. In 1833 Antoine LeCoultre founded a small workshop, which was to become the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre. In 1903, Edmond Jaeger cam together with Jacques-David LeCoultre, grandson of Antoine to form what is now called Jaeger Le-Coultre. Jaeger Le-Coultre is a accomplished watch and clock manufacturer, and at one time even supplied blank movements to Patek Philippe. Today, Jaeger-LeCoultre is one of the world's most prestigious luxury watches and clock manufacture, based in Le Sentier, Vaud, Switzerland.