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amanico
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The Master Mariner Deep Sea: An original, strong and charmful Diving watch.

After a loooong wait of 13 months, my Master Mariner Deep Sea is back from the Service Center!

Since it was a long time we didn't speak about it, I know have several excellent reasons to post this thread.

For those of you who want to know more about the watch, here is a link on the review I made:

jlc.watchprosite.com

The Master Mariner Deep Sea is certainly one of the most original Vintage JLC diving watch.

This is the only Vintage JLC Diver ( or almost if we consider the " Baby Panerai " WR to 1 000 meters ) to be build on a cushion 37 mm case, and one of the few " non Alarm " one.

The case is a Super Compressor one, too, with the 2 famous big crowns you can find on the Super Compressor watches, like the Polaris, the Longines Diver, the Universal Genève Polerouter Sub, the Droz, the Bulova, the Sandoz, and so on...

All is in the review I made.

Back to my recently serviced MM Deep Sea, the work done by the JLC Service Center is outstanding.

Here a picture to show the condition of the watch before sending it to the Service Center:



And now, some pictures of my MM Deep Sea AFTER:





Due to the long time, but also to its new condition ( or almost new ), I rediscover it, I fall in love with it, once again.

JLC changed the plexy, the crowns, serviced the movement, and did the " soleillé " polish of the case.

The MM Deep Sea is a chunky watch, despite its modest size.

The ratio size / thickness is not pleading in favor of the elegance, at the contrary of a Deep Sea Alarm, for example, but it gives a lot of strength and personality to the watch.

The 2 big crowns enhance this feeling.





Let's see all these details in the ...detail:

First of all, the soleillé finish is only reserved to the top of the case, the side being polished.



As you'll notice, the apertures for the crown are almost rough, very angular, like the side of the case.

The dimension of the crowns is really impressive, too:



The plexy is between the chimney and the dome, which makes echo to the case in a very coherent way:



I didn't take pictures of the round screw in polished case back, as there is nothing special to say nor to see.

The dial is interesting.

Legible, as every Diving watch should be, it is particular, compared to the Deep Sea Alarm or the Polaris.

The internal bezel is the " apanage " of the super compressor cases, and looks very nice on the MM Deep Sea.



Tritium indexes each 5 minutes, larger at 6 / 9 and 12, luminous tritium hands, applied " JL " Logo, and some painted writings are completing a very balanced, almost sober, and appealing design of the dial, which perfeclty serves the legibility of the watch.

Another nice detail is that the black matt dial is also grained - which is a common point with the Deep Sea Alarm and the Polaris - as you can see on these 2 following macros:





Now, let's have a look at the inside of the case back, just to admire the Cal K 883, and the " Super Compressor Signature ".

The Cal K 883 is a nicely decored automatic movement, with a engraved JL Logo on the rotor, beating at 19800 alternances per hour.





If the decoration is appealing to the eye, it is basically finished, though , as you can see on these macros:



If you play with the light, this movement can even be charming, with its circular Geneva Stripes:



The first purpose of this movement is to be accurate, which it is, as a dign descendant of the Cal 880 / 881 ( this last one being a chonometre calibre ).

What contributes to make this watch so special is the interior of the case back...Which bears the Super Compressor Logo, the patents, and the " millesime " of the watch, in this case 10 - 67.



Let's focus on it:



Which made me realize that I may have commited a mistake on my former posts about the Master Mariner Deep Sea, as I thought it was released in 1968.

The inside part of the case back gives me an objective answer...I was wrong.

In conclusion, but you already got it, I appreciate a lot this original Diving watch from the " Grande Maison ".

Original by the shape of its case, by the blend of qualities contrasting with the rough angles of the case, the dial is timeless, sweet, and legible.

It completes in a very nice way a Vintage Diving Collection, and makes an amazing trio, with the Deep Sea Alarm and the Polaris.

The only question is: Isn't it a bit too small?

The Wrist shot gives an undisputable answer:



To discover, or to rediscover, without moderation!

Best to All.

Nicolas