Jaeger-LeCoultre

blomman Mr Blue
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My personal thoughts about the TT Deep Sea Alarm

Guys, the long wait has begun…

It’s that time of the year again, we have read about the news from SIHH and Basel is just around the corner...

We dream about the new watches that was presented at SIHH and waiting for a chance to see them in the metal.

Sadly JLC don’t tour my country…

So I have to wait for report from you guys – BTW, thank you for all the reports, please keep them coming!

Many brands have showed a lot of different intriguing new models.

From JLC this year the two TT models really got my attention;

TT DSA (JLC/LC) and TT 1931 Reverso.

Is that because I am in to vintage watches I like them?

Without been able to see any of the watches in the metal yet…

Here are my personal thoughts on the TT Deep Sea Alarm

Photo, credit Nicolas.

I think the team that developed the new watches has done an incredible work!

Esthetical both the Jaeger LeCoultre and the LeCoultre version looks very close to the original!

Good or bad? From my point of view – it’s a goods thing!

Back in 2009 JLC launched a “in the spirit” watch already: the Navy Seal Alarm!

1959 – 2009, 50 years of evolution brought us the NSA.

So a TT version close to the original is exactly what I was wishing for!

The original Deep Sea Alarm is really hard to find information about.

AFAIK, the only document we have in the forum is the one Rafal shared with us last year.

Document, credit Rafal.

Document, credit Rafal.

Actually the watch itself is pretty hard to find…

According to Nicolas fantastic post about the TT DSA, only a total of 1061 was ever made.

I wonder how many have survived until today.

So it’s hard to know exactly how it should look like…

As we have seen here in the forum, original DSA with different type of hands, number fonts on inlays…

It must have been a very interesting project to develop the new TT.

I guess/hope JLC have more info in their archives then we have here in the forum!

One thing I am extra happy about is the size – is not too big!

The TT version is announced to be 1 mm bigger then the original, 40,5mm.

For me that is perfect! The NSA with a 44 mm diameter is too big for my taste.

Don’t get me wrong – I love my NSA, but it would get more wrist time if it was a bit smaller.

In photos the case looks stunning!

Top – TT, bottom – original.

Photo, credit Nicolas.

I hold my thumbs that the extra mm doesn’t bring the case out of proportions.

Like the IWC’s vintage collection…

I was so excited when I heard about the IWC re-edition, especially the Ingenieur but when I saw it in the metal I was so disappointed.

The case totally blown out of proportions.

Left the re-edition (web pic) and to the right the original.

Difficult to se in the picture, but when they enhanced the size the proportions doesn’t match anymore, IMO.

But the worst I think is that the sharp edged bezel of the original is rounded on the re-edition which makes it an entirely different watch, the case looks more like a Portofino then an Ingenieur to me.

To choose the pointed skeleton hands feels natural on the TT DSA, also to follow up with different bevelled unsigned crowns and diving motif on the case back.

Plexy – ah, sexy plexy!

Don’t know why, but form me pexy is a very important part of the watch!

Like on the TT Polaris, I can look at it all day long!

Photo, credit Pplater.

When it comes to the movement, Cal 956 without the date…

The Cal 956 has proven itself to be a very good and reliable movement.

It’s used in the two TT Polaris, the NSA and in the two versions of Master Memovox (regular and International).

Two things I really like about the Cal 956 is the quick date set function and that the alarm gong doesn’t make a lot of noise after the alarm has gone off.

This is the first time it will be used without the date.

In a perfect world, JLC would have developed a new bumper automatic!

I just love to hear and the feel the bumper go click, click…

That would probably be asking too much…

One thing I am very surprised about is the straps.

All photos I have seen on the prototypes shows the same straps as the TT Polaris.

The TT Polaris is a quite big and heavy watch, especially the PL version.

These straps are too soft/weak – I have replaced mine with custom made calf straps.

I use the TT Polaris strap on the original Polaris, the watch is lighter so the strap works great.

With all this said – I can’t wait until I have a chance to see the two TT DSA in the metal!

Photo, credit Nicolas.

While I/We wait – here is a document I found from sometimes between 1959-1962.

An interesting detail is the water resistance.

In Rafal’s LeCoultre document its stated 500 feel (ca 155 meters) while in this document it’s says 200 meters.

Was the Jaeger LeCoultre version more water resistant then the LeCoultre version?

Another detail – look at the number 8 and 10, both very flat.

And the bracelet?

Elastic link bracelet…

Hm, I think I prefer the Tropical..!

Best

Blomman