Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Evolution

Maybe you kept in mind the photo announcing the release of the Tribute To Polaris, and if not, here it is:



It is now worth paying some interest to what happened between the beginning of the story and its end, between the Mid Sixites and 2008.

First came the Polaris with a not often seen dial, in 1963 / 65 ( '63: Prototype / '65: First definitive watches ).

The Polaris " 65 ":



Then, in 1968, the Polaris as we better know it, with its long triangular tritium indexes:



For years and years, after the extinction od the Polaris " One ", came the time of the silent world, as the Polaris II coulnd't be seen as a Polaris ( no super compressor case / no internal bezel / no hatched crowns ).

In fact, the Polaris was such an important watch for Jaeger- Lecoultre that they decided to revisit it... Oooh, no, we didn't have to wait for the Tribute To Polaris for that.

Indeed, 2002 saw the birth of the Master Compressor Memovox, and with this model, the first attempt from JLC to revisit the Cult.

- From the Super Compressor Case to the Compression Key: The Master Compressr Memovox.



The Master Compressor Memovox can really be seen as a Modern Polaris, and it is obvious that the Design Department was inspired by this model.

JLC states it clearly: Below a photo featuring the Polaris 68, you can read : " This 1965 ( reas 1968 ) Memovox automatic diver's watch with alarm and date display was the inspiration behind the Master Compressor line. "

And, to be complete, the Logo on the case back takes its inspiration from another Cult watch... The Geophysic.



The Polaris was in a certain way a technical watch, for its era, but it borrowed, as so many other brands in the Sixties and Seventies, its " Super Compressor " case to Mr Edwin Piquerez, who patended his invention in 1956, if my memory serves me well.

Here, the techical element is " in house ", with the Compression key, which " secures the crown by supercharging the four gaskets through diminishing the volume of the space in which it is housed. " ( Source: Jaeger-Lecoultre ).

A view on the Compression key:



From an aesthetical point of view, touching to a Myth is always a challenge, and, curiously, with time passing, the Master Compressor Memovox gained its legitimacy and fans, while its birth was not enthusiastically welcomed.

Yes, the Master Compressor Memovox is a modern Polaris.

The concept, an alarm with a date display, with an internal, and, of course, water resistant, is common to the Memvox Compreqssor and the Polaris.

The design, too, is very similar: The triangular luminous indexes and numbers, even if modernized, are very close to the orignal model, but with its own personality, due to the 3 compression crowns and the large alarm window, replacing the inner alarm circle.

Even the size is very close: 41, 5 mm for the Memovox Compressor, which is 0, 5 mm smaller than the Polaris.

It would have been even nicer with the third crown at 3 o clock instead of being located at 10, but it is part of its personality,, and, somewhat, charm.





Water resistant to 100 meters, it will allow you to wear it during your water activities without any fear.

And if you don't swim nor dive all the year, you will certainly often use its alarm, which sounds like a school bell, instead of the Froggie sound of the original Polaris.

It is discontinued since 2007, mletting the place to two other watches, one, the Tribute to Polaris, which is, at its name suggests it, a clear historical come back, and the other, which cannot be seen as a heir of the Polaris, the Navy SEALs Alarm.

- The Amvox One, the Polaris Chic:

The Amvox One came in 2005, first in stainless steel or in titanium Grade 5, then with a 2 mm bigger case ( 44 mm ) in titanium or platinum ( Racing versions ).

Here, no technical evolution.

No compression crowns, same movement than in the Memovox Compressor, the famous Cal 918, nothing new, mechanically speaking.

The purpose is elsewhere: The aesthetics, blending modernity, past, racing and a lot of allure.

From the past, the Amvox One borrows the Polaris case: Same dimensions, same lugs, same bevels and ... same case back.

The Amvox One Case back with its 14 holes ( while the Polaris has 16 holes ) :



From the Racing World, the design od the three crowns, which are located at 2, 3 and 4 o clock, and the inner ring alarm which suggests a speedometer.

Modernity in the layout of the dial... No long triangular indexes, but luminous numbers, and a re designed internal bezel.

All these details contribute to the undisputable allure of the Amvox One, an instant classic watch, very sport chic.

Let's precise that the movement is the same than in the Memovox Compressor, the Cal 918, and that the water resistance of this alarm watch is limited to 50 meters, which is enough for some driving activities, but incompatible with a bath in the swimming pool or in the sea...

After all, this limited water resistance is compatible with the spirit of this watch.

A close up on the stainless steel case and espeically on the shape of the beveled lugs, strictly identical with the Polaris:



And another photo of the Polaris and the Amvox One, which speaks loud:



The Titanium version, and its gorgeous ruthenium dial:



Of course, the Amvox One and the Memovox Compressor have a sapphire glass, as both are a modern evocation of the Polaris.

- The last steap: The Re Editions.

The collectors are clearly targetted, here. Not one, but two dials were chosen, as there were two Polaris.

The 1965, in stainless steel, limited to 65 pieces, and in platinum lilmited to 165 pieces, share exactly the same dial, the first one, with its no luminous indexes.



And the 1968, in stainless steel only:



With the Tributes, the only concession to modernity consisted in housing a new movement, the Cal 956, whose base was first seen on the Extrem World alarm ( Cal 912 ), on which I will dedicate a whole article.

The Cal 956:



Succeeding to the Cal 918 ( Memovox Compressor and Amvox One ) and to the Cal 815 / 825 ( 825 for the original Polaris )

For the rest, as you can see, we are very close to the original, as a re edition should be, from the case, to the layout of the dial, the come back of the plexy, and the 16 holes case back.

The Tribute Case Back:



Here is the story / journey of a myth, the Polaris.

The Tribute was a one shot production, the Amvox One and the Memovox Compressors are discontinued for a long time, now.

Are you missing a new version?

Best.

Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2012-09-25 12:09:43 This message has been edited by amanico on 2012-09-29 03:29:08