amanico
[JLC Moderator]
403194
A very nice Vintage Diving Watch: The Master Mariner Dolphin or Voguematic.
You all know at least one or two Vintage JLC Diving watches, such as The Polaris, the Deep Sea, and the Chronograph.
But did you know that JLC also released a Vintage Diving watch for Ladies?
Here you are.
As for some other watches from " La Grande Maison ", we are not really certain of its name.
Called Dolphin Deep Sea in the US Catalog, in Europe, another name was dedicated for this watch: Voguematic ( Swiss Cataolgue from 1967 ).
One thing is sure, its reference is E 22 059.
If we don't often see it, it is maybe because it is a really rare bird, as only 501 were made between 1967 and 1969.
Let's see this watch in the detail.
1/ The Case.
The first feeling when you see this watch in the flesh is that it is very small, and it is!
Although ...Once on the wrist:
Small, yes, but ridiculously small, no.
This Diving watch, like the others, can be worn on a 16 mm tropic strap, or on a bracelet, like shown on this picture ( US Catalog from 1969 ) :
The case is 30 mm " big ", and the distance between the lugs is 16 mm.
The relative thickness of this Vintage Diving watch for ladies ( around 9 / 10 mm ) makes it look a bit chunky. though.
The angular lugs " break " the overall sweetness of this round watch, too:
The lugs are very flat and large for a watch of this kind, and make me thing to those of the Shark Chronograph, in smaller, of course:
Compared to its modestly sized case, the " JL " signed non screw in crown looks big :
The Ref E 22 059 has a screw in slightly domed case back, which insures the watch a water resistance to 100 meters.
It has to be said that the whole Stainless Steel case is polished, no brushed parts, here.
The inside of the case back bears some informations:
- LeCoultre
- Swiss.
- Acier Inoxydable.
- The reference number of this model.
- The case number of the watch. 
2/ The movement:
The Cal 833 is a shock protected automatic movement, beating at 19 800 vibrations per hour, displaying a center second.
Do we need more when it comes to be a toolwatch?
It is a very small movement ( 14, 38 mm big, 4, 75 mm high ).
In fact, I wasn't used to see this kind of automatic movement in the JLC family, and I wonder if it is not one of those very few outsourced calibers used by " La Grande Maison ". 
A better look on these 2 following pictures
As you can judge by yourself, the level of finish and the decoration is not at the top, and we can say that it is inferior to what we use to see.
3/ The dial is the soul of this watch:
Under the domed plexy, surrounded by a classic diving bezel, you'll find a sober and very legible dial.
The sensual and very warm plexy: 
Big 15 minutes indexes, and smaller 5 minutes, both sharing the same shape, and both luminous:
The hands are sectored and have an uncommon large dimension, to enhance the legiblity.
As on some other Vintage JLC Diving watches ( but not exclusively JLC ), the tritium is applied on a white painted frame.
The close ups will reveal the rugged finish, which I like a lot, as it looks like the dial was made from a volcano stone: 
Conclusion:
Among the " Armada " of Vintage JLC diving watches for men, this model for Ladies is a bit isolated.
But it does have all a Diving watch must have: Legibility and reliability, without blingy details.
It is a real toolwatch, a small one, but a real one, definitely.
Isn't it worth including it in a Vintage JLC Collection?
My answer is a firm and massive ...YES!
Best to all.
Nicolas
