Jaeger-LeCoultre

Some months ago, we spoke about what is certainly one of the nicest Memovox, the E 855 Black Dial:

Here's the link to the post:

jlc.watchprosite.com

After admiring the Memovox E 855 Black Dial, here are some other interesting white dialed variants:

Let's begin this trip in the Past with this lovely and special Memovox E 855 White dial.



Obviously, it is not as sophisticated as the Memovoxes which come with the long and thin " 5 minutes " indexes and with the Calypso hands, but it has a lot of charm, too, IMO.








Baton Hands, Applied Ebony Indexes, less dressy, maybe, more sporty, certainly:







It's a 37 mm case, which could be considered as the ideal size for a Memovox Vintage, at least for my average sized wrist.

A big pleasure to wear it, even if it was only for a few minutes, as I have to precise that IT IS NOT MINE, for those who would suspect me of a certain greediness..LOL.



Thanks to the Heritage Gallery to have let me spend some time with this Lovely Memovox.

In a more elegant presentation, with thinner and longer indexes, but quite the same hands ( Credit pics: World Of Time ) :







It is funny to see how a different layout can change the character of a watch!

Then, another early Memovox, so called " Wrist alarm ", which is the american name of the Memovox, which was made in the mid Fifties:



A lovely Memovox, housing the Cal 489, which was the first alarm movement used in a JLC Alarm Watch.

To be more precise and complete, the first Memovox is not the Wrist Alarm as shown here, but a Memovox which had Tubular Lugs.

Isn't it lovely with its round indexes surrounding the Alarm minute indexes?





The funny thing is that tthis is the first time I see this kind of Minute and Hour hands on a Memovox, which reminds me another of my favourite JLC Watch, which is also a Memovox, the Deep Sea Alarm ( 1959 - 1961 ).



When I looked a the hands of my D.S.A, I was wondering if the end of these hands was corrosed, or if it was a hint of long time gone Luminous material.

It seems that this Wrist Alarm gives me the answer, now...

Lovely, but quite small, as the case is only 33 or 34 mm, compared to the 37 mm of the E 855.

Some Memovox were not always so classicaly designed, nor systematically came with a round case.

Here are 2 well known examples:

The E 877 Snowdrop: ( Credit pic to Clavi ):



Between round and ovale, this special case needs time to be appreciated as it deserves.

A bit funky, terribly 70ies looking, but really interesting.

The movement used for this Snowdrop is the Cal 916, which is that reliable and well made that it was an excellent base for the Cal 918 used on the ...Memovox Compressor, and the Amvox I!

If you think that the E 877 is the Funkiest Memovox you've ever seen, wait a bit, I found something for you...









Let's say that this last one, with its thick, square and round case is not the most nicely inspired opus from JLC, but a good witness of the 70ies, indeed.

So, are you more white or black???





Best to All!

Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-07-19 01:21:18 This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-07-21 21:19:48

Thanks for the share Nicolas.
I like the strange cushion shape Memovox (E871)
Cheers, Milan

There are so many treasures to share, my friend.

And sometimes, weird ones, lie this E 871, indeed.

A reflect of the time, by the way.

Best,

Nicolas

Of course we see a lot of white (silver) Memovoxes around, so if you want one (and who doesn't) for a fair price the white colour would be obvious. And I think white looks great on a Memovox. But I do like black dials and I would rather have JLC make more black dials and not only for some special editions. Problem with black Memovoxes is that they are all (and I mean all) in hands of a certain person who names himself Amanico which means "Person who grabs all the black Memovoxes) in wristwatchworldlanguage LOL.

So really I'm not sure so I will stay on the safe side and like them both a lot. And hello how great does it looks when the make the alarm subdial in a different color. The one with gold/copper on silver is magnificient. I would like to see a vintage Memovox with silver dial and brown subdial for the alarm. Now is that to much to ask for?

Thanks for the post,

Best,

Starman

Thanks for translating the right meaning of my pseudo!



Would like a lot ot see a Vintage Memo with a brown dial...

Aaah yes, it may exist, with the Polaris 65...Some of them came with a tropical dial...

You see, I don't have them all...



Best, my friend.

Nicolas...Which means nothing in wristwatchwordtongue...

Best,

Nicolas

very interesting dial color. a think a black and a white dial are both needed depends on the wearer's emotions that day!!

In fact, even if I have a slight preference for the black dial, so elegant and powerful at the same time, the white has something understated which makes it very cool when you wear this watch...

Difficult to put in words, but the white dial is really classy, and strangely, in this configuration, the watch looks a bit bigger!

Best,

Nicolas

many thanks Nico, because of your great effort, i am getting to love JLC more and more especially for these vintage ones.

one thing i would like to ask: you know Omega has a very comprehensive and helpful archive database, does JLC also have similar data so that we can have self-refenceing and learn more from that?

cheers,

stefan 

... Jaeger-LeCoultre will respond to specific inquiries by collectors.

Try contacting your local AD, or go through JLC's website, under "Contacts" and then "Historical Collections".

Take care,

gatorcpa

No message body

If I contributed with my posts to make you love Vintage JLC watches, you made my day, my friend.

There are so many treasures to discover!

Or to love again...

As for JLC Database, Gatorcpa said it all, but you can also byy Zaf BASHA's book.

It is not an exhaustive book on JLC watches, but some parts of it are really brilliant ( Mark 11 or Future Matic, for instance are completely treated ).

An excellent approach on JLC Vintages!

Best,

Nicolas

hi Nico,

thanks for the reply. yes i had also bought Zaf's book whic is an excellent reference for those who like vintage JLC some time back.

i really hope JLC company can establish an archive database like Omega did so that fans of JLC can find reference of their JLC watches from there.

you know, to my impression Omega has very strong vintage watch market compared with JLC (may be wrong), not sure the exact reason, but i guess one of the key reasons is because Omeage has a very good database and relatively sysmatic referencing.

just thinking of this for some time - if this database is available from JLC, it could also help new watch market.

my 2-cent worth idea.

cheers,

stefan

I totally share your point of view, when you say that A Vintage Database would also help the new watch market.

When you see all the links between Past and Present, it is obvious!

Well, first, JLC opened in October 2007 the Heritage Gallery.

Before this opening, you could ( and still can ) contact JLC to identify your Vintage Watch.

BUT, to me, it is not enough, and I would love to see more, a Reference Book about Vintage Watches.

Zaf made a good job, but this is a first approach, which needs a Part II.

And certainly a Part III, IV, and V!



That's why it is important to see some Collectors or / and Vintage JLC lovers share their experiences, treasures, and knowledge.

And we are lucky to have them ,here!

Best,

Nicolas

hi Nic,

yes you are right, tin addition to if the sysmatic referencing is available, this forum would a very important platforum and source for helping us identify and learning knowledge of vintage and new watches,

stefan

And about Modern, too...

If you want to have a " best of " the Vintage and Modern JLC watches,, have an eye on the right part of your screen, the " new blog post "...

All the reviews are here!

But I agree, there is so much work to do, again...

Best,

nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-07-21 07:34:10

...to learn and appreciate watches.

as mine, i spend quite a lot of time here.

stefan

hi Graham,

interestingly you knew Zaf although you have never met him in person.

but why you said you have lost in touch with for 3 years?

as i know, he is now managing his website, you can email him or go to his wbsite?

stefan

thanks Graham for the reply.

i am glad to meet you and to see you still being with us in this forum.

take care my friend anyway.

stefan 

thanks Graham.

i now spend more time in this website than others as i also share what you have commented on other websites.

i really love to hear all the stories from all of you. i learnt a great deal from it not only the watches knowledage but other human life.

i am happy watches can bring all of us together, really can meet and chat in person one day.

cheers,

stefan

 

No message body

If you come by Paris, feel fre to send me a PM!

But we can also do better: Why not attending to our next European GTG???

Best,

Nicolas

No message body

Of course!

Best,

Nicolas

No message body

Hi Amanico,

Thanks for the thread! You have posted up some very nice examples! I love these classic pieces. It really is like wearing a piece of history. The truth is I do find it enhanting owning some of these 'time machines'. When I put mine on I wonder where this watch has gone and what past owners went through with their watches!

time-traveller (singapore)

P.S. I owe a picture here. Will post hopefully in a few days.