DaMctosh
556
An unexpected find
Been away for a while and missed a bit of the action here.
First off, congratulations to Nicolas for his fantastic find. The Polaris is indeed a rare one and being the great guy he is, he has been rightfully blessed with great buddies. Fantastic addition, Vlad, and thanks for sharing that with us!
Back to my unexpected find, I was not looking to buy anything (really, that's what I keep telling my other half) but recently I came across an unusual JLC. I gotta say that at first I hesitated as it was not what I was looking for (again, not that I was looking for anything really!).
To add further to my hesitation, I’m pretty much a vintage virgin - especially when you compare with multi-medal vintage Olympians Nico, Blomman and Clavi. But it was - gasp, a complete set and new old stock. Who could resists such a package.
Anyways, I know - where are the pics, stop talking already. I'll get on with it and stop being an old fart telling a long story.
When something's meant to be yours, it somehow ends up in your hands.
And so, let me let the pictures do the talking.
Starting with the highly anticipated delivery and careful yet rapid box opening.
Opening it, the black case. Excellent condition. So far so good. Getting closer!
OK, a bit of a tease before I show you the watch, look at the inside of the box!
Look at the papers!
Alright, before you cuss me, finally, here’s the watch…
OK, OK the other side you say
Wait a second, is that a JLC??
A closer look.
It doesn’t have JLC anywhere on the dial! What's all this stuff on the dial?
This was part of the reason for my hesitation – this was a watch commissioned by the Western Reserve Life Insurance company.
Notice that the unique 3-6-9-12 and other hour applied markers are moved into the inner dial and the hour and minute hands are accordingly shortened. I was concerned this would look really crossed-eyed but it somehow is balanced.
Look at the condition of the dial and the hands (apologies that’s as macro as I can go with my point and shoot). Also the fine lines on the gold plated bezel between the hour notches.
Okay the signed crowns, familiar caseback and stamped strap give some assurance this is a JLC (ha, like there was any doubt!)
The strap is in unused time-capsule like condition, amazing.
The buckle detail for the OCD ones out there.
But have you noticed it appears like there is no alarm?
Actually, the entire inner dial rotates and the top of the balance scale points to the alarm time. In the pic below, the alarm is set for 9am/pm.
Funnily, unlike other JLC compressors I've handled, this one does not give a perceptible ‘click’ when you rotate the alarm disk to the current time. But the alarm works fine and is quite clear and loud. Time keeping so far without a time trial appears to be running more than 5s slow a day.
A few more other details below. Here you see the pristine carbon paper for the guarantee booklet. ‘Open’ papers!
The instruction manual and the booklet describing some of JLC’s firsts.
OK, that’s it for now.
Apologies for the small pics as lord knows I’ve tried many times to use the picture loader with no success whatsoever. And my Mac crashed while trying to do this so it's been a really test of perseverance.
Hope you enjoyed this little pictorial as much I did when I took the pictures.
Damien
Available on the marketplace
An unexpected find
Been away for a while and missed a bit of the action here. First off, congratulations to Nicolas for his fantastic find. The Polaris is indeed a rare one and being the great guy he is, he has been rightfully blessed with great buddies. Fantastic addition,...
That is funny. I saw a few Memos like this one, and always had doubts.
As often when you don't know a watch, and that you can source some objective informations about it. Interesting catch, my friend. With the box and the papers from the same era, that is certainly a time capsule. Enjoy! Is this a gold filled case? Best, Nic...
Thanks Nicolas!
I suspect it was really put aside all this time, rather than repackaged. I definitely had my doubts but overall it was a fun acquisition, although of course not on a Geophysics/Polaris 65 scale but one to help scratch a small itch :). It's nice to have a ...
Would Richemont be able to verify the piece? This is very interesting and
Educational to learn the history behind it. Cheers PAt
It's a JLC
Hi Patrick, I don't think it would be necessary to verify it. This looks to be just a specially commissioned dial for a corporate customer, not unlike all the LEs for the retailers. But I dont think you'll see this today for a smallish company like WRL. A...
Such a dial can exist, Damien.
Do you remember the Memovox made for Ford? Best, Nicolas
I don't recall the Ford one
Hi Nicolas, I think these special corporate dials were more common back in the day when the manufactures were more receptive to such requests to move more pieces. Today, it'll be rare for the brands to do it for a non-Fortune 500 company unless it's an AD...
Here is the Memovox Ford. ( Pic found on the net, sorry for not being able to credit it )
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/535/fordmemoref93863.jpg ...
Here is the link to the best resources on the net for JLC
The Ford Memovox was presented on the best web site for both vintage and modern JLC. http://jlc.watchprosite.com/show-forumpost/fi-2/pi-3969446/ti-633041/s--152/ Best,
Greg B. I should have remembered him.
A gentleman whthout any contender when it comes to Vintage Lecoultre! Thanks, Marv. Best, Nicolas
Marv, thanks for this link
I somehow missed this treasure trove of pics and info. GregB sure has some nice ones.
Thanks Nicolas
I like this piece - the dial, bezel and the lugs. I think either I don't spend enough time here (unlike what my wife says) or I'm got oldtimers' diseases, I don't recall that mega- Memo thread. BTW, maybe you should put this piece on your hunt list, it's ...
Interesting find, Damien
As Nicolas, I have been very doubtful about this version. Is this the original box for this watch? Never seen this mix of JLC and LC marking on box, hangtag and strap. But more importantly - never seen a Memovox with the date window at 4:30. Would be inte...
A great find, all original
This is a great find of an unusual, specially-commissionned Memovox. I have seen two other examples of this version before, but none in such a good condition and with the complete package. Really great 'ugly ducking', congrats to Damien :-) (it would be i...
Thanks Clavi!
You're right about it being an ugly duckling. I wasn't sure I could live with the balance scale and about being a quasi member of the Balanced Program Club. Really appreciate the additional info. Was hoping that you, Blomman and Nicolas would chime in. Th...
Thanks Blomman!
Yes like you I had my doubts. I also did not recall any special dials without the JLC or LC name, or with the hour markers moved to the inner dial. But sometimes you gotta go with your gut when you don't have all the information. Think I lucked out here. ...
Additional information
Damien, I hope that you don't mind if I complete the post with additional photos that are worth being shared. The name of the AD from which the box came: Sidney Mobell, in San Francisco http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b207/marv_fr_77/Memovox/78efb0cc64a...
No worries Marv
I thought about posting that price tag but it may seem a little painful! The line about "the growth potential provided by the stock market" is probably true if you compare an investment in the Dow at the time to a purchase of this piece at $250. Thanks fo...
wow, great find, Damien...
... so sorry missed your post earlier, just doing catch up with some previous posts here and find yours. congrats, it is not easy to come by with such complete and nice package, luck is surely a must! will you be attending our upcoming GTG next week? brin...