Jaeger-LeCoultre

Before unveiling the 5 new Polaris from the 2018 collection, let me first summarize the journey of this iconic watch from Jaeger Lecoultre, as it will help us to better understand these new offers. Polaris and Jaeger Lecoultre. This is a long and old love...  

the new ones does nothing for me. Sorry.

Kinda like the Last Jedi, it promises much but under-delivered.8-)

Super impressed have been looking for a sports WT for a while.... I guess here we are!

JLC continues to innovate. Always pushing forward whilst acknowledging its past. Unlike yesterdays debaucles, where that other brand is just taking the piss by milking the same cow.

Any new development or innovation are welcome. I can’t wait! David

Really something to look foreword to = ）David

1st it was the deep sea alarm that inspired a whole new line of modern vintage looking dive watches. Now it’s the Polaris turn to inspire a whole new line of modern vintage looking dive watches. It will be interesting to see if the Polaris 2 will inspire ... 

The Polaris Worldtimer is the only one I am falling for.

In Fagliano is gorgeous . But why not white dial?

Perhaps Blue and Black is more subtle and fitting with the world time.

Polaris Chrono WT is better than Geophysics UT

Nevertheless, at first sight, the Polaris Automatic Blue Dial is my favourite. Best wishes Alkiro

the Polaris Automatic No-date is a BIG YES ! Blue has some ‘glitter-ness’ in pic, got to see in flesh but the Black dial is clearly a ‘go-to’ choice. i love the level of detail, the 2 different finishes on the hands & dial…just loving it ! though I’m not ... 

it's taken them some time to get back to the sport line but the wait has been worth it. it really made my day! looking forward to see these guys in the metal specially the World Timer (blue) and the 50th Anniversary. Thanks for the report Nico! Fernando

Sings most strongly to me. I like the fact that it is something new in the line-up and the design, together with the 41mm case definitely appeals. The Memovox is of course a winner but then that was to be expected. Not a single one in the 5 watch line-up,... 

Nothing in common with a Polaris. The Polaris automatic without date is way too big IMHO. That’s a pity. 3 mm too big. The blue one could have been really a killer

.....fantastic review. Truly an excellent review. I need some time to digest this......

I think TYO expressed it very well. Nobody ever blames Rolex of Omega for taking an iconic model and giving a new spin on it. I think the original and also Tribute versions of the Polaris are stunning watches. I think the "core" Polaris is possibly one of... 

And many others....

as for the watched themselves. Told you in the past how they treated me.... Can't ever forget that.

Bracelet, rubber and leather which make much more sense than the deep sea line that only comes with a leather strap for a dive watch. Well done JLC!

Are there prices available?

Thanks Nicolas, great overview of this new JLC offering Very ambitious to launch an entire new line, I really like it and they should find their audience for this sport chic line if the price is right Their prices are available on their webshop. Just a ti... 

.. other than that I‘ll have to see first in real, I suppose.. Maybe the 41mm automatic/black with a metal bracelet, maybe - and/or the simple, almost austere Piaris Date. Options enough, I would say JLC hit it quite well, diversity is the word, IMO.. Thx... 

.. while Prima Vista I was pretty much drawn toward the blue, meanwhile the more versatile, classical black is growing in me. - Finally I have already several blue watches, the most recent one the 2017 Blue Memovox.. So still some twisting & tweating of t... 

Personally, I think the Polaris Memovox LE is my favorite of this new sport watch line, but I do have some constructive comments on it. I think they should have used a super compressor case like the Tribute or at least a screw-down caseback. Further, I th... 

First off, thank you for this very complete article, it was a pelasure to read! I was aware of the Polaris but did not know all these details, I have to say I have to get used to the grained part of the dial, but I always appreciate particular and feature... 

The renders look like Fossil watches. Hope they look better in the metal. I think only the original Polaris homage has the JLC charm. But I guess they’re reaching out and trying new stuff. Hope the price is right too.

Nico, You asked for a choice. based on the original tribute to a submarine travelling under the polar ice cap. I would say JLC gave themselves a wide interpretation to include travel time, chronograph and alarm. All are associated with navigation underwat...  

Senility.... MTF

I understand why JLC are doing this. Putting a lot of the compressor series into a more classical case design. For me looking at these (might be different in real life) I don't see the chronograph or WT working very well. I realise an awful lot of you don... 

Thanks Nico. Feeling is mixed for me. But one point I fully agree with you is that, we can’t treat these watches as tribute to or reissue of the Polaris 1968, rather have to try them a new series of Polaris or even 2nd generation of Polaris I would say. S... 

My favorite being the 'real' Polaris, but I quite like the Automatic no-date, too.

I think the “base” 41mm black dial with brown strap is the one i will get. I was looking to sell my IWC pilot chrono and this is a perfect watch to replace it with! JLC is the best!!

For me, the anniversary piece sings the loudest. Thanks again.

I like the new line. Need more time to “digest” all the new options

... being announced today by our beloved brand. We thank you so much for explaining the differences between so many new models. I feel happy to know that JLC has decided to introduce this new line of watches, meaning we will have a new temptation from thi... 

... it would give me some peace of mind. In any case, the new model is already haunting me! You know how greedy I am!! Lol! Un abrazo mi amigo!! Disfruta el SIHH!! Abel

To me these ‘new’ watches feel like old watches. If you get my drift... I’m not excited. But who knows, maybe in the metal things could change.

newly designed bracelet. The existing one is too old fashioned (I mentioned this many times to JLC boutique personnel) and the new one is much more contemporary. Among these 5 models, the world timer and the memovox look attractive to me, partly because I... 

The artwork shows it too high versus the date window, on the right image Cazalea ...  

Thanks Cazalea

I needed something to compare, and my feelings are the same as earlier. I like the Polaris, the dial aesthetic is cool and the new indexes and hands talk to me. Do you have any sides pictures? Maybe a side by side one with your Polaris? In any case, thank... 

I'm sorry, JLC, but I don't see anything here that makes me scream, "I've gotta get me one of those!" I think JLC has played the "safe" card with these releases. Whereas the Compressors were bold, very sporty and gorgeous - and did include Polaris DNA in ... 

It is just the beginning of the adventure. I don't see Jaeger Lecoultre stopping the Polaris Family with these 5... Time will tell. All the best, my friend. Nicolas

Initially, the "simple" Polaris (no date, no alarm) made me wonder ... a Polaris without alarm ??? Then, with the addition of the chrono, chrono world time and date, it is clear that JLC is releasing a new line of sport watches "inspired" by the Polaris r... 

I love the collection. Felt that JLC was missing something from their sport watches and these offerings deliver in spades. Particularly like the no date automatic and the World timer with blue dial.

A "new" Sports line. Long time we have been waiting for this to happen! Not very surprising "news". Will have to digest this new line... Thank you for the great report, my friend! Best Blomman

And we have been waiting patiently. I really hope JLC delivers something truly new soon.

First thanks for the post. The master compressor line blew me away when it came out, unfortunately the model I loved the most wore a little to thick for me. I was hoping for a little more aggressive of a sport line.

First, let me thank you for the wonderful and extremely thoughtful presentation of the new watches. The sequential and side-by-side organization really helped me understand the new watches, and I'm sure this must have been a time-consuming article to writ... 

Thanks for your kind words, Brandon. No doubt that we'll discuss them quite often this year. Best, Nicolas

I would like to say that I like what i see, but I don't. Let's wait to se some live pics and see the watches in the flesh. Best. Vte

.... for me the choice is t he Polaris Worldtimer, surely (but i have in my collection the Master Memovox)

I was happy to see that JLC decided to modernize their design aesthetic (especially with the new Memovox) rather than simply produce another tribute. Obviously a necessary move to spawn a whole new line of watches. From this new Polaris family, my attenti... 

They really are far apart. In a similar but different way, I just got a LHD Pelagos on a whim, sick of waiting for a Seadweller (too slow out of the blocks). It gains 4s/w and is impressing me with its Ti build and bracelet tech, freesprung balance and si... 

I would like the Tribute version, but there is one killer negative point (which also stopped me from acquiring the Zenith PuristsPro watch): - the caseback cannot be secured with screws...this kills it for me and I do not get it at all. It has to be a scr... 

Your reply makes me intrigued. I will patiently await what's in store. Bonne soirée and in case you drop by ZH or Basel, please let me know. Would love to meet up, Alex

Excellent post, as always. The watches really nice, I think this is a good road for JLC.

There is some very nice design here. One question though: why no gyrolab? They could have standardised their movement with this component. Is it not beneficial? Thanks again for sharing these novelties. Best, É.

Any way my point is, that sports watch should have a more robust caliber 899 is a thin more delicate Yiannis.

... that this balance wheel could be fitted in any movement. Is that not true? Best, É.

I don't understand this watch. Indices and arabics with super luminova, with super compressor type internal rotating bezel (not aligned in all published pics...) yet not a super compressor case, and no screw down caseback let alone screw down crown(s). Me... 

We want more, and we probably will get more... Later. The price points of the Automatic, Date and Chronographs are quite good, too. Best, Nicolas

confusing and all over the place.

I have always been a fan of JLC but I am sorry there is no 'WOW' factor, however these five versions should attract consumers maybe of a younger generation. When will JLC launch something entirely new? I have always been waiting...

but I impulse purchased the 50th anniversary already...

I'm partial to the offerings that are closest to the original - the date and the memovox, but also find the world time is intriguing. As you mentioned, JLC played with Polaris DNA already in Master compressor, and reading this article actually made me thi... 

all of the new range is visible on the JLC website, with prices except the Polaris Date.....I have to access that page via the link on the email I got from JLC. And then when you get to the page the price is 'On Demand'.....even the limited edition has th... 

they have now updated the website with the Polaris Date price but it's still hard to find the watch without clicking on one of the 'View Collection' buttons

From the pictures the models may not seem to be as daring as the Master Compressor line but they look well made and a solid sports line. I very much like the small red touches of the WT. Offering the base model with and without a date is a smart move. And... 

It's nice to finally see a wide range of proposals (you know how I'm tired to see a lot of brands change the color of the dials and sell this for wonderful news)! Kudos to JLC. I have a question about the chrono world timer: I see a "line", like a hand th... 

.. Somehow this bar is a bit confusing, but now I understand its function. - Nevertheless I would have thought they would be able to find another way for rotating the disc (?) I have appended a macro pic from website: on the black dialled WT it is dark gr...  

Looks like you responded to almost all comments!

But for some reason they remind me of some of the divers Oris had released in recent years.

But on closer examination they are obviously different. Photo from watchtime. J ...  

I can understand, that some people might Not like these reinventions of old themes by JLC. I do like them . Until the geophysic 1958, i was interested in JLC, but there was no watch in their current collection, that I really wanted to buy. Since the intro...