Jaeger-LeCoultre

It's great to see these days so many posts of new owners of their own Jaeger-LeCoultre Tribute to Deep Sea. You rarely see so much pleasure freely and frankly expressed. You may to some extent wonder why?

The delivery of the Tribute to Polaris watches was not as acknowledged as this time if my memory is sound, even if it should have been. In fact the time was not as good and even if we have to remember that we live in a difficult world, we can recognize the pleasure when it comes.

I received my own Europe version in late June. Do you think I'm happy? Yes you win!

Jaeger-LeCoultre has issued many appealing watches in the last years but they were quite often either too expansive or too large for me. And this year we get two somewhat affordable watches that an amateur of vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre watches can hardly miss: the Tribute to Deep Sea and the Reverso ultra thin Tribute to 1931. I will hopefully get the Reverso someday in the future, but I found a friend to buy one so I can see it often. For the time being I got the Memovox and it's going to be hard this year to wear something else.

What is the magical thing of the Tribute to Deep Sea? Who am I to say? I can only bet.

IMVHO the simplicity of this watch, the vintage look that has not been polished extensively by an excessive interest so far, the strong design, the honest charm of the brand, even the ingenuous concept of a first diving alarm watch sporting a non rotating bezel are all aspects that can build a strong love. Furthermore the look remains somewhat unique in the Jaeger-LeCoultre production.

The Tribute is quite faithful to the original watch in terms of look, except for the added millimetre of diameter. To be honest I would have largely preferred the watch with this millimetre less and offered to us in the original size. I would have much preferred it like that. But the watch is still fantastic and it is only because I know that it could have been one millimetre smaller than I think of it. I had to write it, it's done now so let's forget it!

The watch is incredibly glowing and readable at night. The Tribute to Polaris was nearly a light house but the Deep Sea is much more impressive. I can read time easily at night on the watch, but I can also use it light my night table clock, no kidding!

The watch is much easier on my wrist than the Tribute to Polaris. I know that some JLC collectors didn't order it because they found it too small and it is indeed a much smaller volume. The watch is not only smaller in diameter, but also thinner. In fact it will be easily worn under a shirt cuff. I chose to put a brown Bridge of Weir Aston Martin Amvox strap that I had special ordered for my Amvox1. I would not put a crocodile strap on it, at least not yet, as I see it as a casual watch that can extend its use from sport to dressed.

Instead of ordering a new strap I got new shoes that I found perfectly suited for the watch. The watch needs a vintage environment to be perfectly appreciated.

Maybe that would be the perfect year to attend the Goodwood Revival?  A DB mk3 would probably be the perfect car, no?

I'm glad that Jaeger-LeCoultre issued these Tribute models. It's a 110% success so far and I'm sure there's some room for a few more in the future. We'll see…..

And you, do you feel inspired by your Tribute to Deep Sea?

Dje