The Memovox Parking, or how to save money when you buy a watch
amanico
Let's fly back to ... 1958.
This year, JLC wanted to celebrate both 125th year of the " La Grande Maison " Birthday, and its creator, Antoine Lecoultre.
To fulfill this purpose, JLC released several watches, and among them, one on which the Brand communicated a lot, the Memovox Parking.
Sometimes with humour...
" Let the Memovox Parking rather than the Police remind you the limitation of your parking time ..."
We see again the same idea in the 1961 catalogue:
" The watch which saves you parking fines "
There were so many Memovoxes that it is impossible to give a definition of what should aesthically be a Memovox.
The style, the design and aesthetics, the movements, the functions differ from a model to another, and the only thing they share is the Alarm.
The Memovox Parking is not only a funny watch, it is first and foremost a very nice time keeper.
1/ A very elegant case:
For the Memovox Parking ( Ref 3161 ), JLC used a 35 mm case, in stainless steel or in 18 Carat Gold:
Not the smaller, as some Memovoxes have 32, 33, and 34 mm cases, not the bigger as others are 37mm, 39, 42 and even 43 mm ( The so called Polaris II, ref E 870 ).
Numbers are one thing, Reality is different..
You may think that it is a small watch, while it is just perfectly sized, with harmonious proportions, due to a good thickness / size ratio.
Another important detail is the aperture of the dial, which amplifies the feeling that the watch is bigger than it is.
Here, the Ref 3161 capitalizes on a thin case and straight lugs, whose sides are brushed, while the other parts are polished, and this contrast is really an eye and light catcher.
The lugs are superbly shaped, as shown on the picture above, shorter than on the E 855 or on the E 875:
The 2 unsigned crowns look a bit oversized, compared to the thin case, but they are very slim.
To be complete, the 3161 has a snap back case, with no case reference engraved outside nor inside, just " Memovox" and the case serial number:
Here the shape of the snap case back, domed and flat:
On the wrist, the watch is nicely centred, and you really have the impression that it is bigger than the announced 35 mm. Very light, it is also so comfortable that you almost forget you're wearing it.
But the presence on the wrist is very pleasant:
There was also another correct reference for the Parking, the ref E 858, which shares with the 3161 the same size, 35 mm, but whose case is different:
The dial of the E 858 Parking is different, too, as the triangular and slim applied indexes replace the 3 / 6 / 9 / 12 hour markers.
2/ An original dial:
As always, the dial is divided in 2 parts: The Alarm disk, and the outside dial.
The major specificity of this dial is that it blends Elegance and Fun.
The outside dial is sublime, with these thin triangular applied indexes, and 3 / 6 / 9 / 12 applied numbers, which enhance its symmetry and balance.
The Alarm disk is the " touch of fun " on this watch, as it is conceived and designed like a Parking Meter, with the Blue P which represents the Parking Symbol, and the numbers which inform you on the remaining parking time.
How does it work?
Pull the upper crown which is dedicated to the Alarm, to set the parking time, by aligning it with the hour hand, then push the crown, and wind it.
For example, if you bought 2 hours, place the " 2 hours " writing just in front of the hour hand, and it will ring in 2 hours.
On the pic above, you can see that it remains less than 30 minutes before the end of the Parking Time.
You will also notice the radium dots each 5 minutes, on the Alarm indexes.
Who else could offer such a crazy watch, and such an unique complication?
Do you know any other Parking Watch in the History of Horology?
3/ A great movement, the Cal 814.
The Cal 814 has been massively produced from 1953 to 1964 ( 115 000 movements were made ! ), and coexisted during 5 years with the Cal 489, the first Memovox movement ( 1950 - 1958 ).
The characteristic of the Cal 814 are the same than the Cal 489, a 17 jewels manual winding, 28 mm big / 5,20 high, with a power reserve of 45 hours, beating at 18 000 vibrations per hour, while the Alarm has an autonomy of 20 seconds.
The main difference between these 2 calibers is that the Cal 489 has 2 bridges, while the 814 has only one.
4/ A lovely and original watch:
As previoulsy said, compared to a most known Ref E 855, the case of the Memovox Parking is much thinner, and smaller, too.
A couple of E 855:
And here some comparison pictures which gives a better idea on how different are both cases on these 2 Memovoxes:
The dials:
See the difference in the profile of the cases and lugs, and the variations in the crowns, not signed on the Parking ( which is correct ):
The Memovox Parking benefits of one of the nicest Memovox case, indeed, which contributes a lot ot the charm of this watch:
Not only original and charming, it is, historically, an interesting model.
Interesting more than important, in my opinion.
The Géophysic is important, as well as the Reverso, the first Memovox, the Polaris, the Triple Date and a few others, which brought osmething to Horology, as an Innovation, for example, or a re interpretation or an adaptation of an horological tradition, while the Parking is not one of those.
It is a funny watch which was created for the Jubilé, along with the Géophysic, the 2233 ( Ultra Thin ), the Memovox World Time, and a less known one, the Master Mariner Chronometer.
Does an Anniversary always have to be seriously celebrated?
Hell, no!
Best to All.
Comments:
patrick_y June 4th, 2014-10:47
Oh I need that! I don't get a lot of parking tickets. Haven't gotten any for the past twelve months. Knock on wood. But I'm always in fear of getting them. I never knew this watch existed. A beautiful watch, a sensible idea, and a compelling marketing campaign. Thank you...
amanico June 4th, 2014-12:52
You can also use it for important phone calls and meetings. This is a very smart idea, I must say, and a lovely Watch, too. Thanks for your feedback, my friend. Nicolas.
hs111 June 4th, 2014-12:44
Love it.. Love it, a lot !.. Love it, indeed.. Thx for this review - superb ! :)) .. I bookmarked this post already, goes to my " alltimes".. [I will come back later , maybe tomorrow or so, with 1 or 2 humble pics..] Thanks so much, for this magnificent share - nice, funny and pretty cool, as well ! :) :) Best, my friend, hs
blomman Mr Blue June 4th, 2014-14:12
The Memovox Parking is one of the best vintage Memos on the wrist, IMO! Love this watch! It's a Memovox, it's a Jubilé watch and it's beautiful - what's not to love! Thank you for a wonderful post, Nicolas. Best Blomman
Ilja June 4th, 2014-14:39
Wow! You should do you 'reviews' with due diligence, the entire chapter about the E85 8 is plain non-sence, picturing a franken watch. Congratulations. It should read E856, same dial as ref 3161, 3 piece screw back case. Here a Gübelin retailed E856 IpsoVox st...
Clavi June 4th, 2014-15:40
AFAIK, non-signed crowns were the norm in 1958. AFAIK, non-signed crowns are the norm in 1958. The JL logo was introduced in literature around that time, and crowns were signed on most models released only afterwards. For example E853 was born with non-signed crowns in 1957, and so were the 3159, 3160 ...
Ilja June 4th, 2014-16:08
well The signed vs. unsigned thing is not correct when taking into account at least 2 Parkings within the a VERY close (aka in between) range of case/mvmt serials, compared to others without signed crowns. The claim is a claim not a fact. Sorry. The E858 is no...
amanico June 4th, 2014-22:48
To complete the theme, a 3161 in gold. And yes, the E 856 also had a Parking dial. Here, yours, from the photo session we had in 2010: Best, Nicolas ...
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