Jaeger Lecoultre Memovox E 855 Black and E 859 Polaris 1965. A side by side picture, and a question.
The reason behind this side by side picture is not only motivated by the pleasure to see these 2 beauties, but to see how similar and different they can be, and to try to find an answer to the following question: Did Jaeger Lecoultre use the dial of the P...
It's great to see them side-by-side and
yes, the dials have a lot in common. They do serve a very different purpose and will have a different wirst feel, but they are unmistakenly Memovoxes. The LeCoultre Polaris is my favourite. What a watch! CC
Great comparison shots JLC Memovox 1967 vs Polaris 1965
Hard to deny that they are very close but still look very different. Great pictures. Bill
I do not know all the tech in's and out's on these two but what I know: my wrist would be glad to grant them some space.
Top notch pictures of to fantastic watches my friend! Cheers, HSTE
Hmm, there is a robust "family resemblance" with these two
But I believe that it is the product of coincidence or a series by a single commissioned designer. Since even the most complete manufactures rarely employed full-time designers until the 1990s, I suspect that JLC may have found a Vallee de Joux artist tha...
Magali's signature was 'form over function'
It is sad IMHO that the only JLC 'designer' that will be remembered is MM. Likely because she was a young blond person and was quite exposed in the communication as such (yes, I said it, and if you look at the comments from admirers back in the days, comm...
Freelance watch designers were very common back then
This is exactly how most watches were designed during the mid-century period. Genta, Albert, Richard Arbib, and others worked almost exclusively on a project basis. And while JLC did not "style" the Ervin Piquerez-engineered Super Compressor case itself, ...
Cricket nautical and Polaris 1965 aren't really different, and the Vulcain certainly sets the precedent
I would even argue that Vulcain Cricket Nautical is much more innovative, in that it incorporates a design for decompression times - so, a purposed design for divers - while the 1965 polaris is pretty much just a regular memovox 855 housed in the Piquerez...
Both great watches & indeed some common DNA..You reminded me on my own E855 &..
.. the way and circumstances it came into my house - very special memories & ocassion in a loved city, when a now very good friend so kindly consulted me @ a certain Horology store & watchmaker.. With that E855 my Purist story began. ( well actually the T...
The dials have the same dimensions ...
And are interchangeable... Interesting point, Nicolas. I always thought the black E 855 was inspired to the Polaris 65 dial. But if the timeline you state is true, then most passable scenario would be. white E 855 White -> Polaris 65 -> E 855 Black. It ex...
That claim seems to b e totally foolish IMHO
Ordering 'special dials' was certainly not a thing back in 1968 with JLC (nor has it been much since). Plus, what would be the rationale. I claim BS on that story (as I suspect you do ! )
Well, the black dial for the E855 is just the same dial as the white E855... but in black
I don't see a connection between the 1965 polaris dial and the E855 black dial, at least no in this way... If you remember the 2010 exhibition of 40 memovoxes at Artcurial, there was a certified 1961 black E855 memovox with the JL at 12 (back serial numbe...
Not totally the same. Double indices at 9 and 6 o clock, no 6 and 9 applied hour markers, and I didn't pay attention to the black E 855 With the applied 12!
I just had a look at my pictures during the exhibition, I don't find it... You have it? Best, Nicolas
DIal of black and white E855 are the same, and they predate the 1965 Polaris
from your very own report of the Artcurial even in 2010, see the black 1961 E855: and also here, along with another 1961 white dial : ...
I have seen a pic of the watch...
But not in real. Hard to see that as real, but in the same time, hard to understand why one would make it up... Since the owner is not trying to sell the watch and would make more money on putting in a scrappy Polaris 68... I have tried to get the story c...