Soon to be auctioned: LeCoultre Polaris Memodate.

Oct 23, 2019,05:59 AM
 


A Lecoultre Polaris Reference E 859 " Memodate " will soon be auctioned by Phillips. 

It is the opportunity to remind some facts. 

The Polaris E 859 certainly is a rare watch, with only 50 prototypes made in 1963 ( not issued, just prototypes ), 500 watches made in 1965 with this dial: 

The Polaris, which belonged to the Curator of the Jaeger Lecoultre Heritage Gallery.


The Polaris 1965: 


And, perhaps, 1214 watches made from 1967 to 1970 with this dial: 


If I said " perhaps ", it is because the Manufacture stated that 1150 Polaris E 859 were produced in 1968, 55 in 1970, and only 9 watches in 1967. 

The two years which let me perplex are 1970 ( I didn't see even one ), and 1967 with the estimation of only 9 pieces. 

Indeed, I saw two E 859 from 1967 in the metal, and, in pictures, 7 others. I think it is highly improbable that I saw 100 % of the Polaris made in 1967... There may be a bit more!

Still, the 1967 is probably the rarest of the Polaris ever made. 

That's for the rarity. Now, some words about the dial... 

The Polaris " Memodate " certainly is the rarest, prototypes apart as I only saw one. The one to be auctioned is the fourth I saw... Only four... 

Here are the four of them: 

Credit picture: Jglydon:


Credit Antiquorum:


Credit Phillips:


And the fourth, which is the one to soon be auctioned: 


Exactly the same watch ( with the same case number ) which was auctioned some years ago by Christies: 


Do all the Polaris 1965 and 1968 come with some wording on the alarm disc? No. Only the Lecoultre. Never the Jaeger Lecoultre. 

Example of a Jaeger Lecoultre Polaris 1965. 


A Jaeger Lecoultre Polaris 1968. 


The Lecoultre Polaris 1965 and 1968: 


And to end in beauty, a Jaeger Lecoultre Polaris 1967: 


So, to make it clear, only on the Lecoultre Polaris you will find a wording, most of the time " Memovox " and only in a very cases, " Memodate ", and the mention " Memodate " will only be seen on the 1967 version. Another interesting point, the case numbers are very close: 1, 099, 785, 1, 099, 714, and 1, 099, 761.The fourth one, I don't know ( Jglydon's one ).

Hence the interest of this Polaris 1967. I am curious to see if this specificity will be reflected by the outcome of this auction... 

Best,

Nicolas


More posts: Jaeger LeCoultreMemovoxPolaris 1965Polaris 1968

  login to reply

Comments: view entire thread

 

Some polaris love. New and old.

 
 By: Bill : October 23rd, 2019-06:07
...  

Pleasure. [nt]

 
 By: amanico : October 23rd, 2019-07:36

No. Not this time. [nt]

 
 By: amanico : October 23rd, 2019-08:01

Here is my full set, for the record. ;)

 
 By: amanico : October 23rd, 2019-10:45
...  

Probably the most authentic one existed

 
 By: Gelato Monster : October 23rd, 2019-13:17
Amazing

Too kind. Thanks, G.M. [nt]

 
 By: amanico : October 23rd, 2019-13:35

Thanks for pointing out these details.

 
 By: Reuven Malter : October 23rd, 2019-11:55
The best thing is the box though. It really helps presenting the watch because you can just put your watch into your box, open the box and make a presentation worthy of the JLC museum.

Couldn’t agree more [nt]

 
 By: aperna : October 27th, 2019-04:33

Memodate Polaris

 
 By: julienbroucaret : April 4th, 2023-15:58
Hello there, I am new on the forum, my name is Julien, I am french, living in Paris. I bought a Memovox Polaris 68 about a year ago, this watch was in good position on my wishlist ! Paradoxically I started to read more and take information on it after the...  

Hunt it on the Bay.

 
 By: amanico : April 5th, 2023-15:52

Here is the set...

 
 By: amanico : April 5th, 2023-15:55
...