Jaeger-LeCoultre

amanico
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REVIEW OF A VERY NICE VINTAGE JLC DIVING WATCH: THE DEEP SEA ALARM.

The Memovox Deep Sea Alarm:



In 1959, the first Alarm Diving Watch was born, and it was given the name of Memovox Deep Sea, ref E 857 for Europe, and 8184 for the USA...

Here, the European Model:



And there, the American Version, the big difference being the dial, with a special writing, and the indexes:



The Movement is the Cal 815, which was produced in 1956, and first used in the Memovox, before being introduced in this Deep Sea.

This is an Automatic Caliber ( with this special Bumper which gives a lot of charm to the watch when you wear it, as you can hear and feel this matt sound when winding ), with of course, the Alarm, and the Central Second.



The Power Reserve is around 50 hours, 217 parts, and 17 Jewels.

It beats at 18 000 Vibrations Per Hour, and so, shares the same basis than the Cal 825, born some four years later, with this difference that the 825 has a date function, not the 815..

The case is an exemple of elegance, with a big size for the era ( 39mm ).

The lugs are much thinner than the famous Polaris, I'd even say ...slimmer.

Here a pic of the Polaris:



Here, The Deep Sea ...



2 crowns, only...Instead of the 3 of the Polaris.



A powerful, and very nice dial...

Well you noticed that this is the main difference between the European and the American Version.

The European is more sober, more discrete, and more useful, as the indexes are luminous, which is not the case for the American model...which is strange for a Diver watch!





The American dial has a bit stronger personnality, more..." macho ", should I say, with these prolonged indexes till the alarm disc.

A nice signature, too, with a stylized signature, and as all american models, just .." Le Coultre".

The last difference is about the absence of writing on the European dial, and in italics, Deep Sea Alarm Automatic, for the American model.





Here some macros of the dial, to enhance its strong personnality...

The triangle which is used as the Alarm indicator, which turns with the upper crown.

On this pic you'll see the finish of the dial, very patined, and with a lot of character!



The whole dial, with these thin hands, the specific indexes, and writings...

Indeed a dial which had a beautiful life, if you look at its texture!







With the time, the black matt dial fades to grey, which is just sublime!

Now, let's see the specific case back, with a very nice engraving of a Diver in action...





Please note that there were quite important differences about the hands and the Typo of the numbers on the bezel, from a model to another.

On the pic of the JLC Year Book I posted at the beginning of this topic, you have noticed than the hands were not the same.

In fact, these 2 kind of hands are correct.

Another particularity is the Typo of the numbers on the bezel...

The " 8 " of the Deep Sea of the Year Book is round, mine is squared, and once again, the 2 typos are correct, too.

The bezel is, AFAIK, always in metal, with an aluminium insert.

On mine, the bezel has been re done, but in a very respectfull way, compared to the original version, which doesn't resist, sadly, to the time.

You will also notice that the crowns are not the good one, on my Deep Sea, but I will arrange that, when I send my watch for a complete service.

The good crowns are thinner, and for the upper one, it is made in an " oignion " style.

A lovely, charming, stunning toolwatch:

As I previously said, this is not a big watch, as the case is 39mm only, which was a big size for the era, but much less than the 42mm of the Polaris.

The proportions are quite ideal...Not too big, a bit thick, but very well balanced.

The bezel is more narrow than on a Fifty Fathoms Mil Spec, and the dial is more important.

The bombed plexy is the final touch, indeed.

Here come the pics of the whole watch, now, to appreciate the volumes of this Deep Sea:









The amazing thing is that this watch, born in 1959, really has a timeless look, as a Rolex Submariner, or a JLC Polaris...which is the evidence of a perfect and well thougt design!

The combo ivory, white, grey black and yellow brown ( tritium ) is another gorgeous detail:



Wearing it is a great pleasure, as the watch falls nicely on the wrist, is very comfortable, and it is a permanent show...Visually, of course, but also acoustically, because of the Rotor Bumper, which makes a pleasant " CLONG " each time you move your wrist!

I had fun taking it in different situations to show you how distracting this watch is...





And under this angle, you get the feeling to have a Flying Saucer on your wrist, as the Domed Plexy is something very particular!



As to end with this review, I'd add that this Deep Sea is a paradox, and a rare bird.

A paradox, first, because this Diving watch doesn't have a turning bezel ( !!! ) nor always, luminous indexes ( only luminous indexes on the european model ) nor luminous hands ( with the exception of the European model, and the later American versions, which both received pointex skeleton hands).

But, you have another tool for diving experiences, the alarm, which is as useful as luminous indexes or rotating bezel...which gives you the vital information about the moment you need to come back to the surface, and it is water resistant to 100 meters, as a classic diving watch.

This is also a rare bird, as this model was made between 1959 and 1961 in only 1061 pieces.

Finding one nowadays, in a decent condition, and authentic is quite an impossible mission.

So if you have the opportunity to see one spotting the market, check it well, and if it's a good one, jump on it.

This watch really deserves some big interest, as it has always lived in the shadow of the Polaris, which came in prototype in 1963, but is as interesting as this last cult watch, IMO, even if less known.



( Boat by Kind Courtesy of my Daughter...LOL)

Best to all of you who were brave enough to read this review till the end...LOL.

Nicolas.
This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-09-08 06:13:50 This message has been edited by Dje on 2008-09-14 01:16:56

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