Thoughts on JLC Polaris Memovox (2018 version)

Feb 03, 2019,13:20 PM
 

Dear Purists,

Recently I have been thinking about this watch a lot and doing a bit of internet research. It seems to me that the lume plots are a bit imprecise on the triangle alarm symbol and on the internal rotating bezel. Please see images below ... the first one from JLC's own website and the last two from Watchfinder video. So it doesn't seem to be the case of only one defective sample.

In your opinion, is this acceptable? This watch is more expensive than many ss Rolex, which manage to have better lume plots.

Thanks in advance and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Bezel Triangle (pic from JLC website)





Alarm triangle (pic from Watchfinder video)






Bezel triangle (pic from Watchfinder video)



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I would chalk this up to vintage authenticity.

 
 By: Bill : February 3rd, 2019-13:26
Makes the lume more hand made. I like simple flaws that are not distracting. Bill

I actually like your thinking

 
 By: Mr.Gatsby : February 3rd, 2019-23:42
And can’t agree more. Not to say the others in the other camp don’t have a point — they do too. But I reckon in the grand scheme of things, if you like the watch for what it is then this can be overlooked. I’m already losing sleep over other stuff, deffo ... 

Perhaps it's.....

 
 By: robsallnow : February 3rd, 2019-13:26
a tribute to tritium dials of the original

It would bother me... [nt]

 
 By: crown comfort : February 3rd, 2019-13:29

^^^ Thanks Bill and Robsallnow

 
 By: diracpoint : February 3rd, 2019-13:31
But how do we know when it is a tribute to the old world imprecision and when just shoddy workmanship?

For me it is unacceptable for a watch with a list price of almost $13k

 
 By: reintitan : February 3rd, 2019-13:36
JLC can do better. They have the know-how, training, people, experience, and tools to apply the lume with no flaws. If Seiko can do it with their robots, then surely the Maison can, too.

I‘m not so sure about robot work here... 😉

 
 By: MCG (Markus) : February 3rd, 2019-13:39
But the pricepoint is certainly an argument…👍🏻

The only excuse ...

 
 By: diracpoint : February 3rd, 2019-13:44
that I can think of is that those triangles don't have metal borders, so lume might overflow. Not sure how other manufacturers manage to do this.

Thanks amanico ...

 
 By: diracpoint : February 3rd, 2019-14:07
That's why I'm a bit sad to see this imprecision and have a suspicion that it is not really a tribute to the old days.

I'm not surprised. JLC (new?) focus is their high complications...

 
 By: remarque : February 3rd, 2019-13:45
In this linked interview with CEO Renier on monochrome watches website, she states she/JLC has no intention to introduce new lines (quel dommage), interest is only in "high" horology and more expensive pieces, as evidenced by this past SIHH2019, so worryi... 

Since they discontinued the master compressors

 
 By: ripper444 : February 3rd, 2019-14:01
The company has gone down hill in my opinion. I never liked the Polaris line and their lume has been pretty bad for a while. I remember getting my deepsea chrono on a sunny day. While driving home I went under a bridge and looked at the dial with the most... 

This way it looks more like a real Dirac point...

 
 By: ektaylor : February 3rd, 2019-15:43
With impurities.

Thats ...

 
 By: diracpoint : February 3rd, 2019-16:37
a more forgiving way to look at it for sure. I'll certainly use this reasoning if I cannot resist the allure of the alarm feature

Reprinted...

 
 By: myles721 : February 3rd, 2019-15:59
List Of Duoface Grievances: Watch 1: As soon as I looked it over at home saw a noticeable lume streak over the minute hand. Watch 2: 25 minutes fast. They adjusted it and then it just stopped working. Watch 3: also stopped working after about 10 days. I h... 

Sorry to hear your experience ...

 
 By: diracpoint : February 3rd, 2019-16:35
It seems to me that Rolex and Omega are setting the standards pretty high in terms of quality control, despite large production numbers!

Totally agree..

 
 By: myles721 : February 3rd, 2019-16:54
I’m not trying to be a jerk here.. I really wanted to own the watch...but for 13K there have to be some standards...Omega / Rolex have some automation and honestly it’s very hard for humans to approximate that quality in a workable business model.I’m sure... 

At Least!!!🤣🤣🤣

 
 By: myles721 : February 4th, 2019-04:01
Yes I know this seems to be a recurring issue with me (although in many ways it is an Achilles heel) but I expect no noticeable blemishes, reasonable accuracy (if not perfection) and a brand policy that stands behind their product. I experienced none of t... 

Not acceptable in my opinion ...

 
 By: Horology75 : February 3rd, 2019-17:50
If it bothers you then take it to the jlc retailer or boutique and ask for a replacement dial immediately

Watchfinder videos has shown these flaws as well.

 
 By: jomni1 : February 3rd, 2019-20:31
Rolex even had poorly painted GMT hands.

Most lumes from JLC are poorly applied, I love my modern memovox but under magnification

 
 By: drphileasfogg : February 3rd, 2019-23:11
The lume seemed to have be applied by a 5 year old. To the eye, it is OK. But I would have expect better...

I can apply lume almost that well and I'm 65

 
 By: cazalea : February 4th, 2019-07:49
not sure what that says about me, JLC and the child, but it's not rocket science! PS - don't tell the Atomic Energy Commission It's much harder to refill tiny hands though, that takes some effort and experience. This was my first attempt. Notice the 3 and...  

You can make a lucrative career doing Daytona dial lumes these days if your good.

 
 By: Bill : February 6th, 2019-16:06
Now a days I question perfect lume a lot more than a few years ago. Bill

+++1!!! [nt]

 
 By: amanico : February 6th, 2019-23:41

This is an interesting thread...

 
 By: myles721 : February 4th, 2019-04:16
In the end aren’t we all in search of excellence...at least for the time period in which the timepiece was created? Shouldn’t a watch maker want to sign each piece, smile and say I created something of excellence just for you? I would rather pay 3K more f... 

Being hand made has it's...

 
 By: watchme : February 4th, 2019-05:54
beautiful imperfections. If you want it "perfect," buy a mass-produced, machine-made watch, like Rolex or Omega. It doesn't bother me one bit. -Dean

+1. [nt]

 
 By: proestak : February 4th, 2019-06:46

Surprised

 
 By: logan2z : February 7th, 2019-19:52
I'm very surprised to see so many people in this thread making excuses for the brand. I'm a huge JLC fan, currently own three of their watches but would be appalled if I received a watch with that awful lume application. I find it extremely hard to believ... 

Thanks for this post!

 
 By: Greenwatch : February 8th, 2019-07:56
Upon visual inspection of my JLC Polaris Memovox, I can hardly see the imperfection of the luminous paint on the two triangles of this model. But if there is such issue, I am not bothered at all. Here’s a closer shot of the dial of said timepiece using my...  

Looks great ...

 
 By: diracpoint : February 8th, 2019-08:38
in your photo. For me, if I can't see it with bare eyes I'm not concerned at all. Perhaps the macro images exaggerated the problem. How is your experience with this watch ... timekeeping, lume etc? Very cool piece ... I am seriously considering one. Thank... 

It's a hark back to the good old days of mechanical alarm watch...

 
 By: Greenwatch : February 8th, 2019-15:54
Not that I was part of it but do recall seeing and hearing the alarm rang in someone’s wrist (most probably my Dad’s friends) while growing up in the early 70s. 😆 As to my experience, this watch hits the right buttons for me with its unique rotating bezel...  

Cool, this lume shot! [nt]

 
 By: amanico : February 8th, 2019-16:31

The luminous triangle on yours looks perfect as it should be

 
 By: reintitan : February 8th, 2019-20:20
Perhaps there is some variation on the dial lume application depending who was working on the cadran plunger that day?

I used a loupe from the boutique to check the two triangle markers.

 
 By: Greenwatch : February 9th, 2019-05:13
It was similar to the triangle marker as seen with the naked eyes. I honestly don’t know why JLC would post a picture with the poor triangle markers in the website. As to the performance, the watch is doing +1.5 spd using Toolwatch appp in my IPhone. Hope... 

Thank you!!

 
 By: diracpoint : February 9th, 2019-14:44
I like this watch because it reminds me of an old mechanical alarm clock when I was growing up.