Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date Blue Review

amanico · 2019-09-02T03:16:29Z

Explore the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date Blue, a 2019 novelty. Amanico reviews its design, Calibre 899/1 movement, and collector reception.

amanico

WPS member · Jaeger-LeCoultre forum

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Amanico provides an insightful look at the 2019 Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date in blue, a significant update to the Polaris line introduced in 2018. His detailed comparison highlights the new dial's aesthetic impact and technical specifications, offering collectors a valuable perspective on this contemporary sports watch. This article helps new readers understand the evolution and design philosophy behind JLC's modern Polaris collection.

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2018. Jaeger Lecoultre decides to give birth to a new line of watches, the Polaris. First were introduced the Polaris Automatic, the Polaris Chronograph, the Polaris World Time Chronograph, the Polaris Memovox 50th anniversary, The Polaris Date, and a bit later the same year, the Polaris World Time Geographic.

The 2018 Polaris Date:

In 2019, Jaeger Lecoultre offers a new version of the Polaris Date. A new version, I should rather say a new dial. Those of us who loved the smoke blue dial of the Polaris World Time Geographic will be happy to see that it is also used in the Polaris Date, adding some coolness to the former black dialed model. The internal bezel is matching with a satined blue hue.

Black or Blue, it will be up to you to decide which one sings louder to you.

The rest is identical to the former model, the dimensions of the case ( 42 mm ), the same thickness, 13, 1 mm for the Date, which is thinner than the 15, 95 mm of the Polaris Memovox 50th Anniversary, and the movement, the Calibre 899/1, beating at 28, 800 vibrations per hour and offering a quite short power reserve of 38 hours.

Picture of the Cal 899/1:

The other common points are the vanilla hue of the indices and hands, the three different finishings for the dial and bezel ( soleillé for the center of the dial, grained for the outer dial, and opaline for the bezel ), the solid case back, and the rubber strap matching with the color of the dial, in both cases ( blue for the new one, black for the former ).

Here are some live pictures I could take at the Manufacture:

Now, the question is the same: When I see the Polaris Date, I see a Polaris with its alarm. I have hard time considering that the Polaris Date can be so close to the original model but without an... Alarm. While I have no problem liking the Polaris World Time Geographic as it clearly is a fiction.

Other than that, this smoke blue dial is a pure marvel.

I don't know about you, but I am be curious to read your opinion on that point.

Best,

Nicolas

Key Points from the Discussion

The Polaris line, while aesthetically pleasing, struggles with a weak conceptual link to its historical namesake, the Memovox, leading to a loss of creative identity compared to the original vision.
Introducing a Polaris Date without an alarm function, which is less expensive than the alarm model, might cannibalize sales of the iconic alarm version, despite the commercial appeal of a strong JLC sports line.
The Polaris Date's unique case design makes it sit flat and large, lacking a distinct 'sporty' or 'tool watch' feel, yet it embodies JLC's modest but impeccable style and functional self-confidence.
JLC has historically struggled to establish a consistent sports watch identity, failing with the Compressor line. The Polaris line, with its unique function, could be a fresh start if consistently developed.
For JLC to achieve broader brand recognition beyond the Reverso, it needs an iconic, instantly recognizable sports watch design to compete in the lucrative market, similar to the Royal Oak or Submariner.
The Polaris Date, particularly without the alarm function, is seen by some collectors as a missed opportunity to create a truly iconic piece that merges form and function, especially with the distracting date window.

The Discussion

Cpt Scarlet

Sep 2, 2019

It’s just the date window with the white background 🤬

jrwong23 (aka watchthebin)

Sep 2, 2019

Agree though that a Polaris should be a Memovox ideally It looks too close to a Polaris Memovox to be without an alarm function Thanks for your pics Nico ! Cheers Robin

watchme

Sep 2, 2019

and would have preferred to see the date with a black or deep blue disc with vanilla font (for better blending). Now, I just wish JLC would do the Polaris Geographic with a dial like this and world-wide distribution, not boutique-only. -Dean

jlux

Sep 2, 2019

This is like Panerai with 3 ATM or IWC Ingenieur without iron core cage (we have seen this). I do not really get the marketing idea behind these decisions : watches like this are not purchased by the average customer but mostly by collectors that are knowledgeable and passionate about the history of the watches.

Mr.Gatsby

Sep 2, 2019

And hard to imagine it without an alarm.

Sebi

Sep 2, 2019

However, there is just little sense in that model to begin with. The whole idea to get a product line based on the name & essence of an historical model is just a failure. And it was already showing with the geophysic product line. There was the tribute. fine. And then a product line. Watches were top, but only two of them. How can you keep on pushing products from a line you tied to an historical model « philosophy »? Its tough because you have all these expectations from people. Can you break

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