Jaeger-LeCoultre

amanico
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MEMOVOX SPEED BEAT, THE REVIEW

Memovox watches are very interesting watches, but the problem is that when you begin to pay some interest to them, you understand that you will open more doors than you will close.

From 1950 to the beginning of the 80ies, there were a lot of different versions which were made, with different dials, metals, and even sometimes funny complications ( The Memovox Parking! ), sometimes esoteric, like the WorldTime Memovox, which is not in fact a Worldtime, but a decorated dial with the names of the cities of the world.

You have the same different offers about the movements, from the caliber 489 which was housed in the very first Memovox, to the first automatic movement with alarm ( cal 815 without date ) and the Caliber 825, which is basically the same than the 815 but with a Date...

These firsts movements beat at a slow cadence: 18 000 vibrations per hour.

Then came the Speed Beat.

-Why this name?

Because the movement beat much faster than the previous one...at 28 800 vibrations per hour.

Here's a pic of the caliber of the Speed beat ( Cal 916 ).Sorry, don't know who to credit for this beautiful pic, so if some one knows, feel free to tell me!



So the Speed Beat was born in 1970, and lived a nice and rich life till 1981.

7731 pieces were made, all references included.

You have some variations of dials, metals and cases, too, some of them being really gorgeous ( I have in mind a Rose Gold version, just to die for ).

-Here's my pick, a bi colored dial, blue for the alarm disc and silver for the outer part of the dial.

Mine is from 1977, and as an anecdote, the listing price was, at this moment, around 670 CHF! ( Last known list price in 1980 was 695 CHF )



As we speak of the dial, here are some macros, to appreciate the characteristics of the Speed Beat...

The Deep Blue Alarm Disk:



Short applied indexes, with " Jaeger Lecoultre " painted at 12, and the applied JL Logo at 9.

Metal Triangle of the alarm.



I absolutely love this applied JL!

The Speed Beat does have other charming aspects you just have to pay some attention to discover and appreciate them as it deserves!

-This is a Timeless piece, with some very nice traditionnal codes of Horology.

Look at the shape of the case, at this blend of brushed / polished SS....

Brushed SS on the sides of the watch, polished on every other parts.





The watch has a 37mm diameter, and I'd say between 12 and 13mm thick, due to the huge plexy.

The absence of bezel gives a bigger look to the Speed Beat, like it's a 39/40mm watch!

SO, IMHO, the size is not good, but perfect, and the proportions too!

Here's a shot of the plexy, taken in a certain angle, to enhance its thickness, and its shape, more flat than domed.



On this last pic, you can also admire the perfect integration of the crown, with a very adequate size...Crowns which bear the JL signature.

-An impressive dressy but cool watch.

Maybe due to its deep blue alarm zone, and the outer silver dial, this watch is dressy and cool at the same time.

A great elegance and allure, indeed, as you can judge in the following pics:





We really can speak of Homogeneity, coherence...

Look at these pics, and admire the very nice shape of the lugs, the proportions, the perfcet balance of the whole watch ,from the case to the dial, including the crons, the plexy ,and this specific dial...All is here to give to this watch a strong, timeless, elegant ,and cool look.





-The Test of the wrist is, in these conditions, as mandatory as it is successful.

The watch nicely fill the wrist, dressy as here, or casual...This is absolutely not a problem, as you immediately feel that this young old lady will give you a lot of pleasure!



I'm more than happy to have finally found one of the Vintage Memovox I'm hunting, and I'm pretty sure that it won't be the last.

Let's not forget that Memovox are pure JLC DNA, as The Reverso is.

Just hope that in a very next future, JLC will reintroduce a Memovox in its catalogue, to give pleasure to all the fans of this mythic model.



Enjoy!
Best.
Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-08-10 02:49:55 This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-08-13 07:40:51