JLC Tribute to Deep Sea Alarm Review

amanico's post celebrates the highly anticipated Jaeger-LeCoultre Tribute to Deep Sea Alarm, chronicling its development from early prototypes to the final production model. This article offers a detailed look at the subtle yet significant refinements made, highlighting JLC's dedication to honoring the vintage original while incorporating modern watchmaking advancements. It captures the excitement surrounding this important release for JLC enthusiasts.

I suspect we'll have many posts about the TT DSA, US or Europe, as it landed one week ago, and as it is one of the hot JLC watches, this year.

But, somehow, it is quite logical.

You were the first to see it, to read posts about it, to see its birth, its evolution.

So, before seeing the final watch, let's recall the different evolutions:

1/ The first prototypes:

Here is what we had in December 2010: No beveled lugs, hesitations on the bezel, typo of the numbers on the bezel, and too large 5 minutes indexes on the TT DSA US.



2/ The improvements, seen at the SIHH:

The lugs are beveled, now, the triangular indexes of the bezel are painted, now, the bezel is matt, definitely, and the typo of the numbers on the bezel didn't change, yet.



One question was still unanswered about the sound of the alarm: School bell, or Frog ?

In December, I played with the case, dial, and plexy, but there was no movement, yet.

In January, the movement was housed, but, at my greatest surprise, it sounded like a frog.

3/ The final watch, as you'll have it on your wrist ( or as you already have it, by the way... )

So, we logically are at Step 3 ( SIHH + 1 ), and the modifications are:

- The Typo of the numbers on the bezel, specially the shape of the 0 at 10.

- The Triangles on the bezel are luminous and match with the indexes.

- The lugs are slightly more beveled than on the 2d prototype, seen at the SIHH.



- The Alarm sounds like a ... cricket, as it was the case on the Vintage. Which pleases me a lot, as the TT DSA will be the only moder Memovox housing the Cal 956 and sounding like this.

Some side by side pictures with the elusive original model:





And some additional pictures of the new object of desire:



A closer look on the original upper crown:



2 regrets, though:

- We still have a so so strap, not very qualitative, which will be happily replaced by the TT DSA owner with an aftermarket ( the distance between the lugs is 20 mm, by the way ), while the buckle is pleasant to see.

- JLC doesn't provide a 2d plexy, like they did with the Tribute To Polaris.

All in all, it won't refrain me enjoying this watch, I would just have preferred seeing an improved strap, and a 2d plexy. That's all.

Please note that the TT DSA US will come a bit later in July for the first pieces, normally.

4/ The informal party.

Tuesday 5th of July, 7 PM, Paris, Place Vendome... Some happy few were invited to take a glass of Champagne with some delicious " petits fours ", to celebrate this important moment for any Deep Sea Alarm fan and for the birth of the watch.

The happy few are also, for some of them, the usual suspects: Kayser Sauzée, Mr George Alias Clooney, Mr Clavi, Heer Blomman, Mr hs 111, and Thom, a french friend.

The unveil of the long awaited marvel, in a kind of expert " horological strip tease ", perfectly achieved by Elisabeth:





Some were just happy, others thought about how confessing after so many recent sins...



The greedy gang is examinating the beloved piece...



... A definitive YES:



Clavi, approving:



Hmm, let me see that again...



I llove the packaging of these TT DSAs:



The JLC Boutique is the ideal place to have some passionate discussions about Modern, but also Vintage watches, and some nice Vintage Memos were there!



Two happy Purists, new members of the TT DSA gang:



As you can see, we have almost no time to get boried, in Paris...



The idea behind the watch is not only to have a nice / fine, / historical watch, but also to get a Community watch, a bit like with the Tribute To Polaris, a Community who will share his passion around a nice timekeeper.

And you know what? I have the strong feeling it will also be the case with the Tribute To Deep Sea Alarm!

My suggestion is that we may wait some more months, maybe two or three more months, before starting a Tribute To Deep Sea Alarm Roll Call?

Best to All.

Nicolas.

PS: Many thanks to the Paris Boutique and Team for their warm welcome and organization.

PS 2: Next step, the TT DSA US!

PS 3: A friendly though to those who couldn't attend, Patrice and Bill. We missed you so much, guys. This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-07-05 16:35:39