Jaeger-LeCoultre

Vintage Jaeger Lecoultre ( Jaeger / Lecoultre / Jaeger Lecoultre ) diving watches are not that many.

Indeed, there are 11 or 12 watches, and among them, only 7 or 8 different references, as you had several versions in the same reference ( Deep Sea Alarm / Polaris I and II ).

The time frame is very narrow, too, from the Deep Sea Alarm in 1959 to the Polaris II, circa 1975.

You will also have to keep in mind that the production is quite small, for each of these references, the most popular model being produced in less than 2000 pièces. We are far from the Rolex / Omega / Blancpain production numbers!

Nonetheless, Jaeger Lecoultre made some cult diving watches.

One of the theme which gave me a lot of work. Almost ten years to find most of them, as I only miss the Polaris II Red, and the Lecoultre 100 Feet.

A passion I developped through the years, which represents one of my favourite themes.

Let's see all of them, in a chronologic way.

1/ Deep Sea Alarm: 1959 / 1962.

1061 pièces were made:

500 in 1959,

220 in 1960,

340 in 1961,

1 in 1962.

The most " common " of them, if I may say so, with such a low production, is the US model, ref 8184. The European version, released in 1960, had the reference E 857. A guess estimate makes me think that only a quarter of the whole Deep Sea Alarm production was European, for the following reasons:

> The european came one year after the US version.

> The US was also produced in 1960 / 1961 and 1962.

> The US market was much more important for diving watches, at that time.

> The collectors markets quite never offer the european version for sale, while, from time to time, you can find the US.

The DSA US:

 

 

The DSA Europe:

 

 

The case is 39, 5 mm big, water resistant to 500 feet ( 155 meters ). The movement is the Cal 815, a Cal 825 WITHOUT date. Fixed bezel.

The Deep Sea Alarm is the FIRST diving Watch with an alarm.

2/ Polaris Ref E 859: 1965 / 1970.

As soon as 1962, Jaeger Lecoultre started to work on the next diving Watch. The prototype was born in 1963, according to the Manufacture, and 50 pièces were made.

The definitive Watch comes in 1965, with a laquered gilt dial, matte alarm disc. This version was produced in 500 pièces.

Two years after, the Polaris received a different dial, with long luminous and triangular indexes and a all matte dial. It was produced in 1214 pièces, till 1970. ( 9 pièces in 1967 / 1150 in 1968 / 55 in 1970 )

So, the total production of Polaris watches is 1714 pièces, plus 50 prototypes.

There were Lecoultre and Jaeger Lecoutlre versions ( Lecoultre for the US market / Jaeger Lecoultre for the European ). Both versions are the same, by the way, except:

- The signature on the dial, of course,

- On the Lecoultre dials, the mention " Memovox " is written on the alarm disc, which doesn't exist on the JLC versions. The word " Automatic " is in italic, on the Lecoultre version, not on the Jaeger Lecoultre.

The Lecoultre 65 and 68:

 

The Jaeger Lecoultre 1965 and 1968. ( JLC Polaris 1965 Credit Picture Antiquorum )

 

Baton hands for the 1968 version, baton or dauphine for the 1965 ( both baton and dauphine being correct for the 1965 ).

The case is Super Compressor, 42 mm big, 200 meters water resistant.

Case back with 16 holes on the 1968. Not always on the 1965.

Polaris 1965:

 

3 gridwork crowns.

Cal 825: alarm, automatic, date.

An advice: When you are hunting a Polaris 1965, ask to open the case back: There is a date Inside, and it should be 1965. There were too many Polaris 65 re assembled with a 1968 case back and dial from 1965.

While you are at it, check that the signature on the movement matches with the signature on the dial. A Lecoultre dial should have a Lecoultre movement, and a Jaeger Lecoultre dial, a Jaeger Lecoultre movement.

3/ Master Mariner Dolphin or Voguematic, Ref E 22059: 1967 / 1969 ).

 

Called Dolphin in the US Catalog, or Voguematic in the European one, the reference E 22059 is the first and only one vintage diving Watch for ladies, from the Manufacture.

501 pièces were produced.

A superb dial, with tritium indexes, a very fragile bezel, which is a pure scratch magnet, and a small case ( 30 mm ) are the main characteristics of this charming Watch. The case is water resistant to 100 meters.

Another detail, the movement, which is one of the few outsourced used by the Manufacture, the Cal 833, signed Jaeger Lecoultre, but most probably an ETA.

4/ Master Mariner Deep Sea Ref E 558: 1967 / 1971.

1531 pièces were issued during its short production. Called Master Mariner Plongeur in France, it had a more poetic name in the US: Barracuda Deep Sea.

Its case is super compressor, water resistant to 200 meters. 2 crowns, with a gridwork on the top. The case is polished on its side, and receives a sunburst finish on the top.

 

 

The Watch is 36 x 37 mm big, cushion shaped.

Inside, the movement is the Cal 883.

The dial can be signed Jaeger Lecoultre or Lecoultre. No différences, though, at the exception of the signature, of course.

A curious specimen, seen at the Heritage Gallery, but not documented, with a Cal 164 ( probably outsourced ) :

5/ Shark Diving Chronograph, Ref E 2643: From 1969 to circa 1972.

 

 

Here, I have no informations about the number of pièces made.

This is the only vintage diving chronograph from the brand, signed Lecoultre or Jaeger Lecoultre, with the same dial.

The hands are blackened at the top.

The case is the same than the Breguet Type XX. Water resistant to 130 meters, it is 40 mm big.

The crown has a gridwork decoration on its top.

The movement is the Cal 13 VZH, which is a Valjoux 72.

A very interesting detail is that this chronograph had 3 different bezels: World Time, Telemeter and Minutes. ( Credit picture: Jean Luc )

6/ Polaris E 870 so called Polaris II, or Memovox Diver. 1971 / 1975.

The first prototype was featured in a catalog from 1970.

1120 watches were produced, with three different dials: Blue, the most famous, but also grey, or red. Signed Lecoultre or Jaeger Lecoultre, with only one difference:

On the Lecoultre dials, the alarm disc bears the HPG mention, while on the Jaeger Lecoultre, you will read GT.

 

 

 

The case is 43 mm big, with an eggshell case back. 2 signed crowns. It is water resistant to 200 meters.

This is the only vintage JLC diving Watch to have a sapphire glass.

The movement is the Cal 916, which houses a rotor, not a bumper as with the Cal 815 / 825. The HPG reveals the 28 800 alternances per hour ( HPG standing for High Precision Guaranteed ).

7/ Jaeger 20 ATM. French Market. 1970.

 

The only one, in this list, made by the Jaeger Factory in Levallois, France, close to Paris.

It is difficult to know how many were made, but let's guess a few hundreds.

The case is 37 mm big, entirely polished. The dial has a strong aesthetics, as well ad the hands. Especially the big Arrow minute hand and the " Traffic Light " second hand you could also find in some other vintage diving watches such as the Seiko.

The plastic bezel is turning, and the plexy is spectacularly domed.

Inside, an ETA 2783 is beating.

8/ Lecoultre 100 ATM.

I have almost no information on this one, which shares the same 36 mm case than several others called " Mini Panerai " due to its shape.

Here we are in the early Seventies, I guess, and I think that it houses an outsourced movement, too.

Several dials were used.

Here is one of them, found on the net several years ago ( Don't know who to credit for. )

 

 

 

So you see, building a collection around this theme is not an easy challenge.

Indeed, some pièces are tough to find, such as the Jaeger 20 ATM, or the Lecoultre 100 ATM, others are starting to be highly appreciated, such as, for example, the Polaris 1968 or the Dep Sea Alarm US, while some are almost impossible to find and reached a crazy value, as it is the case for the Polaris 1965 or the elusive Deep Sea Alarm US.

Some still have their journey to go into the collectors' heart, such as the Shark and the Polaris II. It is a matter of time, so if you find one, don't hesitate too much.

Hoping that you will have as much pleasure to do the journey as I had to write this article,

Best,

Nicolas

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