Jaeger-LeCoultre

 

 

This is certainly the less known watch, among the Polaris Family.

 

Indeed, you all know the Polaris versions, from 1965 and 1968, which were re edited last year.

 

The Original Polarises:

 

1965:

 

 

 

 

1968:

 

 

 

 

The Re Editions:

 

 

 

 

But what we less know is that, from 1971 till 1975, JLC released another Diving watch, the so called Polaris II ( for the US Market ), while it received  the reference E 870 for the European Market, and were quite rare, as only 1120 pieces were produced during this period.

 

So, with this watch ,the JLC Diving Episod ended, to re born in 2002 with the Master Compressor Memovox.

 

1/ Aesthetically speaking, this is a very curious watch:

 

The Polaris II is indeed a very hard watch to appreciate in pics.

 

Its curious ovoide case, the absence of lugs, the 14  angles of the bezel, and the eggshell case back contrast with the more classical round dial and bezel, even if there are things to say about the dial...

 

Look at these pics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is obviously not really a photogenic watch, in pics.

 

 

 

 

We may even say " Awkward ", if we pay attention to these different geometrical shapes, and if we have in mind that the Polaris II is a big watch ( 43 mm ) !

 

Awkward, maybe, but strong, brutal, and why not, in a certain way, charming, and it shares this particularity with some other realisations of the same era, the 70ies, like the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, which came with a very funky orange bachelite bezel .

 

It is not an easy beauty, something you immediately appreciate, it will take time.

 

Curiously, under certain angles, the round dial overrides the ovoide case and the angular bezel, as shown below:

 

 

 

 

It is also a thick watch, not as the Polaris E 859, but quite impressive, due to its multi level construction:

 

 

 

 

On this last pic, it is even more obvious:

 

 

 

 

You will also notice the sandblasted finish of the case, giving a matt look to this watch, and the perfect integration of the 2 signed crowns in the case.

 

 The case back plays the card of the originality, too, with an evident eggshell inspiration:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, I compared it to another close reference, the Snowdrop ( E 877 ), and even if they have an " air de famille ", they are both very different:

 

They share the same angular shaped bezel, actually bigger on the Polaris II, both don't have lugs:

 

 

 

 

The 2 signed crowns are here too, more integrated on the Snowdrop,  the case is more round on too, on this last one, and the 2 case backs are way different.

 

 

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The dimensions are very different,  the Polaris being bigger II ( 43 mm ) while  the Snowdrop has a  40 mm case, and much thicker, too, as spectacularly shown below.

 

The Polaris II case is more " ovoide " while the Snowdrop is more round shaped, the first receiving a sandblast finish, the last being brushed.

 

 

 

 

Things are looking more classical when we speak about the layout of the dial, indeed.

 

At least when you pay a quick look at it, because when you study it more deeply, you will see some interesting differences.

 

First of all, to be complete, it must be said that the Polaris II came with 3 dials, the grey, like mine, the more known blue, and the red burgundy one.

 

Here, the most famous blue dial:

 

 

 

 

And there, the Burgundy dial:

 

 

 

 

 

 

While on the E 877 Snowdrop the dial is flat, here, on the E 870, the outer white part where the minute indexes are located is above the rest of the grey dial and of the silver alarm disk:

 

 

 

 

Look at the blue dial on you will notice that there is a small writing on the alarm disk " HPG " which stands for " High Precision Guaranteed ".

 

You will find this writing only on the American, hence Lecoultre, models.

 

On the European models, there is nothing written, or, according to the Manufacture, for the French models, " GT " ( stands for Grande Taille, as you can see on the Burgundy Polaris II pics I posted above .

 

So, on mine, which is an european model, there is no writing at all on the alarm disk.

 

The triangle, which is used as a repere for the alarm, may be in tritium ( like on the Blue Polaris ), or not:

 

 

 

 

The big indexes are made in tritium, and on mine, in perfect condition:

 

 

 

 

It is funny and strange to notice how the color of a dial may change the overall look, spirit and character of a watch.

 

In Blue or Burgundy, the Polaris II is looking very 70ies, as the color enhances this characterisitic.

 

In slate grey, this is a totally different watch, sporty, original, but also elegant, too.

 

the contrast between the silver alarm disk and the slate grey dial is also dynamized by the white outer part of the dial, a bit above.

 

All in all, this Polaris II is a surprisingly lovely watch to wear, very comfortable on the wrist ( I had some doubts, because ot the " eggshell " case back ), very well centered while wearing it, and the dimensions are still very reasonnable:

 

 

 

 

2/ An improved version of the Polaris Ref E 859? :

 

- Aesthetically speaking, this may be discussed, as it is a matter of taste.

 

Personally, I prefer the Polaris I, with its sweat and timeless round case, its very domed plexy, and even the layout of the dial, the gridwork on the crowns.

 

It is a bit like a " fight of generations " the 60 ies against the 70ies.

 

Here, the Polaris 68 with the Polaris II:

 

 

 

 

And now, with the Tribute to Polaris 65:

 

 

 

 

I think that for the era, it was considered, at this moment, as an aesthetical improvement, compared to the too wise looking Polaris, but 40 years later?

 

- Which is certain is that, mechanically speaking, there is a big improvement.

 

JLC started from the Caliber 825 to, in a certain way, modernise it.

 

We have the same number of jewels, ( 17 ), the Caliber 916  goes down to 13 lignes instead of the 14 of the Cal 825, both have the same power reserve  ( 45 hours ), and the Alarm in both movements lasts 20 seconds, and you have in both cases to move the hour hand from 10 PM to 3 AM to set the date ( which is a bit painful, I have to admit ).

 

So, where and what are the improvements?

 

While the 815 / 825 were the first Bumper automatic movements, the 916 is the first 360 degrees rotor  automatic movemen, which has an incidence on the noise.

 

While, on the Cal 815 / 825, you hear the  matt " dong dong " of the bumper  when the watch moves, with the Cal 916, you hear the usual more modern, but less romantic wobble of the rotor.

 

From 18 000 vibrations per hour, we now have, with the 916, 28 800.

 

Hence more accuracy.

 

This cal iber was that good that it may be considered as the Father of the Caliber 918, housed in the ...Master Compressor Memovox ( 2002 / 2007 ).

 

The Caliber 815 ( the same than the 825, without date ):

 

 

 

 

The Cal 916: ( Don't know who to credit for this last pic )

 

 

 

 

Another different thing between these 2 movements is the sound of the Alarm.

 

Lower, on the Polaris, it sounds like a big frog, while on the E 870, it is sounding much more like a ...Cricket.

 

Another improvement can be seen by the use of the sapphire glass, instead of the plexy.

 

Here again, less warm, but more resistant to scratches...

 

Conclusion:

 

The Polaris II is a true Memovox, with a familiar looking dial ( even more in its grey configuration ), and an original Polaris, very 70ies looking, with a strong and lovely personality.

 

It is indeed dign to belong to the Polaris Family, and it was time to give it justice!

 

 

 

 

Best,

 

Nicolas

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