Jaeger-LeCoultre

The MASTER MEMOVOX Coming Back!



I'm sure that many of us will be happy to hear such good news.

JLC discontinued the last emanation of the Memovox, the Master Reveil, in 2005, which let all the fans of this watch a bit " orphan ".

An Historical summary:

From 1950, till 2005, this icon received several faces and different shapes.

Dressy:



Sporty:





Funky:





After the Tribute To Polaris in 2008, and the Navy Seals Alarm, in 2009, JLC will now play the card of an elegant, sober simplicity.

It is, aesthetically speaking, very close to the beloved and cherished Master Reveil, but some improvements have been made:

- The Caliber is not the Cal 918 anymore, but the now well known Cal 956, housed in the Tribute To Polaris and Navy Seals Alarm, so please refer to the following link to have informations about this movement:

jlc.watchprosite.com

- The dial is certainly the closest detail shared with the former Master Reveil:

The former Master Reveil:





The New Memovox:





As you can see, the thin triangular indexes with the small luminous dots, the indexes, the Alarm disk ( with the exception of the Alarm triangle, which loos smaller on the new version ), the minutes indexes, the big second heated blue hand are exactly the same on both of these versions.

The difference?

Look at the minute and hour hand:

On the Master Reveil, we have classic Dauphine Hands, while on the new Memovox, they are thinner, longer, and narrower at the axis.

The luminous material on these hands doesn't have the same shape, too.

All these differences have to be confirmed, of course, as the watch in pictures is a prototype, but we can already say that the latest Meovox will keep the understated elegance of the previous models, and better, it will enhance it a bit!

- The Case Back:

I'm happy to see a solid case back on this latest Memovox, as it shows a superb engraving, which reminds the Géophysic / Géomatic Logo.





To me, it is nicer than the previous Master Reveil one:



Even if this Logo is more linked to a Chronomètre than to an Alarm, but it was first reissued on the Master Compressor...Memovox!

Here the Geophysic / Géomatic IGY Logo:



- The most important evolution on the new Memovox is its case:

For this watch, JLC opted for the new Master Home Time case, which has thinner lugs, and which is bigger than the Master Reveil ( 40 mm, instead of 38 mm ).

These 2 mm enhance, IMO, the Beauty and the charm of the Memovox, as the proportions are even better balanced, as the watch keeps the same ( from what I saw ) thickness.

The Master Reveil:



The New Memovox:





Now, a close up on the lugs of these 2 models, which reveals another nice detail:

The latest Memovox:





The Master Reveil:



The lugs are sweater on the new model, less curved, too.

Did you notice the bezel on the new model?

It has been totally re designed, to be flatter, and better integrated between the case and the sapphire!

- On the wrist, it is only pleasure:

A big presence, still elegant and dressy, well centered, very comfortable to wear, even if I hope that on the definitive watch JLC will opt for a simple buckle, instead of the folding buckle.

This watch is really ambivalent: Perfect with a suit, you can also wear it in a more casual way, it will always be elegant.

Here are some outside pics I was lucky enough to take during my trip at the " Grande Maison ":







With a deep blue crocodile strap, it is perfect!

Conclusion:

With this new well thought Memovox, JLC has sublimated an Icon.

The aesthetical improvements are subtle, but real.

The choice of the Cal 956 is logical and good.

It was worth a 5 years wait, don't you think?

Let's welcome it warmly, as it deserve.



Best to All.

Nicolas

PS I would like to thank a lot my contact at JLC, and all the JLC Team to have let me play with this watch, and to have allow me to take Live Pics of it. This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-11-30 06:31:04 This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-11-30 06:31:47 This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-12-03 08:26:57 This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2009-12-03 10:06:55

taken to the virgin peak along with the extreme lab?

It was my first JLC back in 1987.

Looking forward to see it soon

Thanks Nico.

Asi

A nice return in the Past.

But in a modern way.

I think this is not the only surprise the Grande Maison will offer this year...

Best, my friend.

Nicolas

I'm in love with this kind of JLC. Here's my vintage memovox
Thanks

Love that logo at 9!

Nikolaj

Never saw this one before. Very nice dial color and layout!

Cheers!

That's the problem with the Memovoxes, Charles...

There are so many beautiful ones which were made.

Yours is grogeous, as well as your pic.

Best!

Nicolas

I really like the new style lugs and bezel. Also the crowns on the new model seem smaller than on the previous, which I can only approve of!

I cannot wait to see how the 40mm will look and feel. I have a feeling that with the case changes it could be even more comfortable than the old style...

Thanks for the reveal - and for finally allowing me to sleep calmly again after your teasing, cliffhanging "half-picture" post!!

Nikolaj

But this watch deserved such a teasing, don't you think?

I'm really happy to see it back again, improved with some great details.

I think it will be a hit, if I judge from the first reactions, here.

Best, my firend.

Nicolas

I myself was betting on a re-invention of the Geo-matic based on the case back engraving.

I certainly seems that you managed to create quite a hype for this watch with this little photo (or maybe the watch did it itself??)

It is definitely good to see this model back! Can't wait to see it live

Nikolaj

There are some other nice surprises which are waiting for us...

Best,

Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-12-01 08:11:40

looking forward to it though!

But just really unfortunate that it is an automatic!
Well mon ami, might you have any news of a remontage manuel novelty for me in exchange?
LOl!

Cheers
Stephen

No message body

of another beautiful JLC...!!

So my first original guess from your teasing was correct.....I did hope it was going to be an alarm piece..!!

Pity it has a solid back as that was nice on the last one but you can't have everything in life.

Cheers,

Andy.

We had only one Memo which used a sapphire case back, the one from the 90ies, housing a MANUAL Alarm movement.

Here, this is an AUTOMATIC movement, hence, you'd see nothing which would deserved to be shown, IMO.

So, I prefer a solid case back, with a nice engraving...



Best, my friend.

Nicolas

I still just love to see movements as they just look like living things..!!  Having said that the only piece I have with a display back is the Grande Sun Moon....no display on the 292 so I can't even admire the swans neck but i know it's in there..!!

Best my friend,

Andy.

Nice case on this new version. It reminds me a bit of this oldtimer:

(sorry for the poor quality picture) 

(and yes, this one is a hand-wound ! )

 

 

On the version you show us here in Le Sentier, we can see that it differs in some points from the watch that was published in the press releases (and from the black dialed boutique edition that I had the chance to see some time ago). Maybe this one was a proto and the final one will be different, or the press release show a version that is not exactly the same than the one which was put in production.

The difference I can note:

- "yours" has a fairly small alarm pointer, and the pointer doesn't reach the alarm chapter  (which is a slight defect I would say, but I believe the regular production will have this fixed), whereas the press file shows a similar combo than the old master reveil (longer triangle, touching the chapter)

- "yours" has a rounded-angles date window, as opposed to a more classic edgey rectangular window (which i also prefer)

- "yours" has 2 matching crowns, while the one in pressfile has an 'inverted DeepSea Alarm' configuration (one conic crown)

Let's see what the definitive version looks like, but whatever the combination of these small elements, it will look good !

 

 

 

The press release version says "Memovox" on the dial, while Nicolas' prototype says "Reveil"

Nevertheless, I want one....and I want it NOW...;-)

Claus

So the name of the watch could have changed...

Nothing is definitive, till the SIHH.

Let's see!

Best,

Nicolas

So things can change till the next SIHH.

The name, for example.

On the proto, it is called Reveil, while I guess that it will rather be Memovox.

I also guess that some improvements will be made on the definitive version, as you pointed out some of them.

The Black version seems to be full of promises, too.



Are you conisdering it?

Best,

Nicolas

I could consider it, sure as it is very nice and a "true" memovox.

But at the moment, I have to save on the watch budget and to focus on my 'old' watches
(I am very much into the triple dates at the moment...)

How I understand you....

An endless story, indeed.

I saw some very nice specimen, lately.

The lugs are to die for, and the dial is just sublime.

Good hunt!

Best,

Nicolas

when will it be officially launched, Nico?

by the way, very nice shots, like this one - new dial details and the solid caseback!

stefan

Ad the forst pieces are waited in June, if all works well...

Impatient, hey???



Best, my friend.

Nicolas