Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Memovox Review

Hello, everybody !

Just thought to share 2 quick pics of a timepiece, we do not see here often..
I even would call it an underestimated model, still below the radar, in a way.. r
If you don't like to know a bit more about the tic-tac, you may go directly below to point 2,
with some pics...

1/ Background and Impressions:

the Master Compressor Memovox ( MCM) - a watch that was around rather shortly,
from about 2002/03 (first series) to 2007/08 ( second series); they are almost identical,
just that in series 1 the writing above 6 was Memovox Automatique, just below Jaeger LeCoultre,
and no applied JLC logo above.

For the second series, the writing in line three changed just into 'Memovox', below Jaeger Le Coultre
and the JLC logo as first line of signage was added and applied above..
Functionally they were identical, with the three compressor crowns: at 2 setting the alarm (winding & setting);
the moving alarm wheel is displayed in a quarter arc between 7:30 and 12:30, and the alarm arrow
stays fixed at 10, something one has to get used to, as in the beginning it appears to be a little oddity..)

The crown @4 sets the time and is for winding, whereas, the third crown, @ 10 is for moving
the bezel.

One more point here to mention:
Of note, the MCM has quite a lot of DNA of another famous diver, and in fact
- Nicolas wrote:
( ref: nice review "From Polaris to Polaris.. " from 2012, AFAIK)

".. the Master Compressor Memovox, can be seen as a modern Polaris..

The concept, an alarm with a date display, and, of course, water resistant,
is common to the Memovox Compressor and the Polaris.

The design, too, is very similar: The triangular luminous indexes and numbers, even if modernized,
are very close to the orignal ( Polaris) model, but with its own personality, due to the 3 compression crowns
and the large alarm window, replacing the inner alarm circle."

- thus, apart from the case, it's also the alarm, the moving bezel, plus the broader and
whitish indices and hands that remind on the Polaris, and even the Amvox 1, to some degree

How I rate and appreciate her ?
- I really like her as a pretty robust beater, including the compressor case, with the applied gold
planisphere compressor logo, as a certain hommage to the compressor case series, and to well known other models.

- Indeed, my experiences are very positive, nice solid feeling on the wrist, with a little bling because of the polished case
augmented by the crowns, with their color coding: white=locked position, red=open position/ movable.

AFAIK, the watch initially was not too popular, but meanwhile, after years of discontinuation
appears to have picked up in interest quite a bit and is spotted here and there..

While mine is from 2007/ 2nd series,( pics 3 & 4), our friend's Blomman's here in this forum
is from the 1st series (see also pic 1, ref: JLC)..

Still it presents with some nice flashiness, without being too bold or "showy", also nice to combine
with any outfit: jeans, Bermudas or dressed up a bit..

I must say, for me it offers a sportive look, accentuated by the 3 crowns, whereby the two @ 2 & 4 are the
special compressor crowns, where the crown locking system ( by turning clock-& counter-clockwise
between 2 colored marks in white and red) closes and opens that lock.
- - That crown system has been further developed, used and has also that "l'air de famille" with other compressor models,
which came later into the collection : Navy Seals Compressor MMV and other divers

So, now, after these lengthy dwellings ( for those a bit interested about its " standing" in the model history):

2/ some few pictures about the MCM:

With kind regards,
Best, hs
This message has been edited by hs111 on 2014-07-02 05:47:24