amanico
[JLC Moderator]
402887
Some points I agree and disagree.
The screw in crown for the bezel: I van understand that if you use it ten times a day, it can be tiring. Now, the idea to avoid that the bezel turns by accident is not that bad, for a diver.
I agree with you on the lack of a diving extension on the bracelet. It would have been great to have it. you have a point.
As for the quick change system for the bracelet, I never was confident with such a system.
I agree for the movement. It is good to have some technical improvements on the Cal 899, but for a sports watch, an auto tractor or a new movement would be very welcome. You have a point.
Tungsten rotor? I have no problem with that, but not at that price...
Best and thanks for your very interesting feedback.
Best,
Nicolas
First thought on the Jaeger Lecoultre Polaris Mariner Date and Mariner Memovox.
Jaeger Lecoultre comes back to the Polaris with two new models, the Polaris Mariner Date and the Polaris Mariner Memovox. Polaris, Mariner, two names which have their roots in Jaeger Lecoultre rich history. If you know the Polaris by heart, as it is one o...
Good looking watches.
Price positioning is however questionable. My favorite from the Polaris line is still the very basic no-date version on a leather strap.
I agree ... big fan of JLC and their abilities but the local pricing of these pieces will be prohibitive at best
Thanks for your review Nicolas
Quite elegant
My only minor concern is that a regular dive-watch bezel also protects the crystal from shocks and dings, while this box sapphire is quite exposed. I almost cracked the sapphire of my luminor on a dive boat a few years back after my son's dive tank hit my...
I like these a lot
They seem to have addressed the issues I had with the previous version of the Polaris Date that stopped me buying one, the faux patina and the poor power reserve and added a display back that I wanted....now the downside seems to be that they have in effe...
Tired, old and inappropriate movements let
this whole approach down. So, JLC finally make an ISO 6425 grade dive watch, Great. But forgetting the somewhat ridiculous 'alarm' dive watch, with the creaky 40 something PR...... this was a missed opportunity to apply a proper sports watch movement to t...
PR is one thing, 899 balance power is not competitive for sports role
Remember these days www.watchprosite.com Encouragingly, Autotractor's balance power was nearly as high as Rolex. Unfortunately Cal 899 has a weeny little balance wheel. This link has an interesting discussion around this.
I agree regarding the Autotractor...
It is a BEAST of a machine and allows for a second timezone option, if desired. I think JLC skipped it recently due to its thickness, but with a watch like the Polaris Mariner, it could easily have housed it.
Orange Detail
I really like these apart from being (in my eyes) rather overpriced, according to the website orange bar on rehaut controlling crown disappears when you screw in the crown to ensure you are not going to forget screwing in the crown (that reminds of older ...
Nice looking watches. Would I purchase?
No, but they do look nice. Look forward to your live photos and personal thoughts after you get to handle them.
Great summary of the Polaris.
The dials are sublime & the specs (water resistance) are good. Size is appropriate (even though maybe too large for my wrist). The date is in the right sweet spot for case thickness. The memovox ideally could be a bit thinner; But understandable given...
Yes, for that extra pop of orange on the dial...
You must pony up the extra green $$$.
Great review of two nice watches but it was time for JLC to update the 956 with the new Mariner
Also, the prices seem a little steep.
Terrific review. Thank you!
I view this as sort of an odd choice for JLC. It’s essentially the Polaris with greater technical ability (depth). I’m not sure there are too many in the market looking for this sort of thing from JLC. My preference would be for them to create an elegant,...
The TRUE question is to know if the Nautilus, Aquanaut and Royal Oak are TRUE sports watches. I don't think so, personally. Honestly, you put another name than Patek or AP on the dial of the RO or Nautilus and...
I am not sure they will be hot cakes everybody wants to eat... And at what price!!! You have more horological content with a Polaris than with a Nautilus or a RO. Well, it is just my opinion. Best, Nicolas
You are probably right, but I for one would be keen to have something sleek and sporty looking from JLC
Not like a RO styled copy like then Lauretto but something a bit more original.
Wonderful write up!
I truly enjoyed reading this thread and the pictures are beautiful. I like this watch. Thank you!
Funny....purely coincidentally took my Polaris out of the bank vault today .....
...... I actually quite like the Mariner Memovox. It has to have the three crowns. Love three crowns. Cheers, HSTE ...
Love these! IMHO, a really tight and refined update to the polaris line like the updates to the master control series
I really like the orange accents, lumed second hand, and the way the box crystal plays with the interior bezel. I don't even think the price for the date version is out of line, that's submarinerish pricing but you can actually get one and you're getting ...
Great looking diver's watch, no doubt about it. for the mariner date, I'd get it over any modern sub anytime (except for that shiny bracelet which i'm not keen of).
For the memovox, it is a modern approach from JLC, can't blame them to move forward in design. JLC does not have to keep relying on past design. But the pricing is too ambitious, especially that it is not a limited edition. So i think for many fans who ar...
FAIL - the more I find out the more disappointed I get
I know no serious diver uses just a watch etc etc but ISO or not, Useless bezel - screw crown is a showstopper. I use my diving bezels 5-10x a day. Having to unscrew/rescrew a crown to do this is ridiculous. As mentioned above you cannot do this underwate...
Some points I agree and disagree.
The screw in crown for the bezel: I van understand that if you use it ten times a day, it can be tiring. Now, the idea to avoid that the bezel turns by accident is not that bad, for a diver. I agree with you on the lack of a diving extension on the bracel...
Sadly this formula could have been launched 15 years ago
And then developed. Instead we got Polaris inspired AMVOX abomination that Lambert allowed Metrailler to deface along with the sidetrack of ‘compressor’ overwrought horrors. We had to wait till at least 2008 to get a proper Polaris facsimile. Fine. Good j...
Сaliber 899 with silicon escapement?
The photo shows that the anchor and anchor wheel are made of silicon.
Silicon escapement and pallet, yes. Here is the link on my review.
www.watchprosite.com
On a pure 'LOOKS' level...
I LOOOOOVE the alarm diver.... for me it would have to be that model, go all the way. BUT... big but.... The price is quite outrageous... with resale on JLC being so painful... who wants to throw down 17k new?? Additionally, I have read enough posts about...
In a conversation with Mr.Christian Laurent(Ancien Responsable de l'Atelier des Complications Horlogères chez @jaegerlecoultre) at Sihh 2019...
he told me that the cal 956 is considered as one of the most robust and reliable movements ever prodused by JLC.
Thank you for the review..
...love the orange accents and the treatment of the blue dial. Lume looks very good indeed. Need to see them live and others have thoroughly dissected the movement and pricing position. Very sharp looking watches...