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Jaeger Lecoultre - Deep Sea Vintage Chronograph... Tribute to incongruity ?
A diver with a chrono, an incongruity or a lovely combination ?
I really love divers and chronographs. Two différent worlds...
Some chronographs are waterproof but did a diver with a chrono make sens ? To dive, surely not for many reasons, but to dream, there is no limit.
Because of my grandfather, I have loved JLC for decades and this watch is a form of synthesis because he offered me a Jaeger vintage chrono bicompax and a Polaris 1968 : The Deep Sea Vintage Chrono has two sub dial and a diver look...
When this watch arrived in the catalog, it immediately caught my eye. While traveling in Hong Kong, I had made an appointment to see one, but when I arrived it had just been sold. A Rolex 114060 replaced it and this was the start of a long series. But this Deep Sea Vintage Chronograph stuck somewhere in my heart and my head.
What I like about this model is that it reappropriates the aesthetic codes of its ancestors.
A 40.5mm case, long lugs and fairly angular lines characteristic of vintage pieces. There is also its polished / brushed finish which further reinforces its retro side while strongly contributing to the perceived quality that emanates from it.
In addition, the chronograph pushers and the crown echo for me the three crowns of the Polaris.
I find it aesthetically very successful and I particularly like the fact that it uses the same codes as those of the Memovox Tribute to Deep Sea.
Admittedly, the fact that its bezel is not rotating constitutes a quirk for the diver that I am, but the pleasure that this watch gives by wearing it makes quickly forget this defect.
The dial is also magnificent. It takes again for my greatest happiness the triangular shape of the indexes of the 1959 Deep Sea, its grained texture as well as the old typeface for the automatic mention are superb. I particularly like the absence of a date and the bi-compax arrangement of the chronograph.
All these ingredients give the impression that this watch has survived a few decades, whereas it was only born a few years ago on the tablecloth of a restaurant.
Make way for photos :
Now, have to find a Tribute to Deep Sea... or two ;-)
Have a nice day everyone.
Best O
Super nice catch, my friend. You know how much I like this one. Thank you so much for this great review. Enjoy, O.
No message body
Yep.
And Yes I Know how much you like it
Moreover it is thanks to the dinner we shared and during which we talked about it that I started looking for it again.
It is also true that lately I had focused on Rolex, forgetting a little about my old loves ....
But old loves often come to the surface when you don't expect it ;-)
Moreover it is thanks to the dinner we shared and during which we talked about it that I started looking for it again.
It is also true that lately I had focused on Rolex, forgetting a little about my old loves ....
But old loves often come to the surface when you don't expect it ;-)
A great watch!
I was looking at the 3 dial model with the red indicator but it was sadly outside of my price range, in a way the perfect gentleman diving watch 
The 3 dial with the red indicator is also a charming watch. Hope you could afford it one day because it's a truly desirable watch !
Best O
fantastic text, i agree 100% with your opinions. Thank you very much for sharing!
No message body
Awesome look
I had pleasure of trying this few years ago, love the warm plexi and subtly aged indices and clean bicompax look without date.
Ok yes... a real pleasure to try and wear. You are absolutely right when you talk about the warm plexiglass, the warm indexes and the clean bicompax look without date.
Best O
....
I hope this has enabled Dr Mamadou to have had a small é........tion. At his venerable age it is increasingly rare 😂😂😂
Thanks...
I have loved this model for years without having had the opportunity to get my hands on it or to put it on my wrist.
It's a fact that I haven't (yet) caught the Black Dial Duometer ... but it's an offering to Dr Mamadou to bewitch some of their owners ....
;-))))
It's a fact that I haven't (yet) caught the Black Dial Duometer ... but it's an offering to Dr Mamadou to bewitch some of their owners ....
;-))))
Great choice as it is a super nice model. Dr Mamadou will need more motivation to help you with that elusive black dial Duometre 😉😂🤣
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Well then, if Dr Mamadou does not succeed, I have my team of Serbs who have solid arguments to convince ;-)
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Congrats 🎉🎉🎉
It's a very gorgeous iteration of the Deepsea lineup.
thanks for those awesome pics
Thanks... A really god iteration... Have to find the other pieces of the DS lineup.
Best O
Hello Alfihar! Great review of a watch in my collection
That I love so much.
You start your post asking:
A diver with a chrono, an incongruity or a lovely combination ?
I feel it is a lovely combination. It is a Tribute to a watch that never existed. A charming lovely timepiece.
As a sport diver myself not the watch I would choose from my collection for scuba diving as I don’t like to risk a good chronograph to the rigours of a dive session. I wouldn’t dare to use the pushers UW nor I feel I need to.
Also as you well say a fixed bezel is not useful in a diving watch.
Of course I know diving computers are the way to go since many years ago but as an oldtimer I love to have a watch on my wrist when diving but as much as I love this one it is the last one I would take in a dive.
I wish you’ll keep loving and enjoying yours so much!!
Thank you so much for sharing with us this review and your thoughts!
Cheers! Abel
Mine says hello!
Very nice catch indeed ! I realy like the vintage look of this watch ... Un supplément d' âme !
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Oh yes, I will enjoy mine !
I started my post with the question: "A diver with a chrono, an incongruity or a lovely combination ?" because for most of divers, a chrono or the date are useless functions.
It was only a form of provocation on my part (in the tone of humor) because I know that the response of diving purists to this question would have been that the chronograph function on a diving watch was nonsense.
As you said very well, it is at the very least risky to operate the push-buttons of a chrono underwater, not to mention that diving will inevitably alter the watch. Moreover, some surfaces are polished and therefore sensitive to impacts and scratches.
I totally agree with you when you write that it's a lovely combination, a Tribute to a watch that never existed and a charming lovely timepiece... But unlike the Deep Sea, of which two reissues called Tribute have been released, this model does not bear the Tribute name since it is a creation.
I also agree that diving computers have supplanted watches due to their reliability and convenience, and also that the pleasure of wearing a watch while diving remains.
I don't plan on using it for deep diving. On the other hand, it is likely that I will take it to see the sea, for one or more snorkeling sessions. It will change me from the sub, the sea-dweller and the deep sea.
I find the idea of using the watches in the environment for which they were designed to appeal to me. If I could get to space, I would buy a speedmaster and take it with me...One day ... who knows?
Best O
It was only a form of provocation on my part (in the tone of humor) because I know that the response of diving purists to this question would have been that the chronograph function on a diving watch was nonsense.
As you said very well, it is at the very least risky to operate the push-buttons of a chrono underwater, not to mention that diving will inevitably alter the watch. Moreover, some surfaces are polished and therefore sensitive to impacts and scratches.
I totally agree with you when you write that it's a lovely combination, a Tribute to a watch that never existed and a charming lovely timepiece... But unlike the Deep Sea, of which two reissues called Tribute have been released, this model does not bear the Tribute name since it is a creation.
I also agree that diving computers have supplanted watches due to their reliability and convenience, and also that the pleasure of wearing a watch while diving remains.
I don't plan on using it for deep diving. On the other hand, it is likely that I will take it to see the sea, for one or more snorkeling sessions. It will change me from the sub, the sea-dweller and the deep sea.
I find the idea of using the watches in the environment for which they were designed to appeal to me. If I could get to space, I would buy a speedmaster and take it with me...One day ... who knows?
Best O
Thank you O so much for your reply.
Yes I played also in tone of humor with the word Tribute as I also own the Polaris and Deep Sea US tributes as well and though missed getting the EU version which I like so much I feel this chrono stays in the same family as per its design.
I agree with your comments about this watch.
I personally don’t feel comfortable with taking any chrono, even those with screw blocking their pushers, into water.
But of course this is only a personal uncomfortable feeling which would accompany through all my dive time.
So as owner of several diving watches like those you mentions I prefer to go for them for this UW use.
Like you I also find appealing the using of watches in the environment they were designed too. Regrettably I only could use my diving watches for their purpose and I guess will never be able to wear my Speedys in space or pilot a plane with my IWC Big Pilot but I find both very enjoyable.
I feel you’ll find a Speedmaster a real pleasure even for use on earth. Remember it was designed for sport use (specially car racing) in the first place.
I enjoyed this watch talk so much O!!
Receive my best cordial regards!
Abel
I agree with your comments about this watch.
I personally don’t feel comfortable with taking any chrono, even those with screw blocking their pushers, into water.
But of course this is only a personal uncomfortable feeling which would accompany through all my dive time.
So as owner of several diving watches like those you mentions I prefer to go for them for this UW use.
Like you I also find appealing the using of watches in the environment they were designed too. Regrettably I only could use my diving watches for their purpose and I guess will never be able to wear my Speedys in space or pilot a plane with my IWC Big Pilot but I find both very enjoyable.
I feel you’ll find a Speedmaster a real pleasure even for use on earth. Remember it was designed for sport use (specially car racing) in the first place.
I enjoyed this watch talk so much O!!
Receive my best cordial regards!
Abel
I think we are looking in the same direction and that we share some tastes in terms
I also own a Polaris 68, as well as two Tribute to Polaris (68 and 65 steel) that I love, not to mention that I will try to find the Tribute to Deep Sea (Waiting to see if interesting opportunities arise).
While it is true that I understand your natural reluctance to use a chrono while diving, I think I will probably make a try with this one.
For watches and their environment, I have already used my divers underwater, my gut during travels and my chrono (No Speed at the moment but only a vintage Jaeger, an Amvox II which is top, a Dayto and there was a fantastic Duomètre that I'm trying to find) on tracks....
I must admit that going into space has always fascinated me and it is a fantasy.
Maybe one day I will nevertheless be tempted by a Speed ... for example, the Ed White is not initeressante, but I find its price too high ...
A diver, a Gmt and a chronograph constitute for me a trilogy that I particularly like.
Best O