Jaeger-LeCoultre

1950 - 2020... Jaeger Lecoultre is celebrating the 70th birthday of its icon, the Memovox. For that significant birthday, the Manufacture decided to unveil two models, the Master Control Memovox, and the Master Control Memovox Timer. Let's first start wit...  

I like the timer. The standard Memovox doesn't feel different enough from the 2010 revision to feel new or warrant a replacement. As for the date, I have no objections other than the use of a contrasting date disc. A blue metallic disc would have been mor... 

It is really eye catching... Best, Tim. Nicolas

I used to love JLC but in the last few years their releases really disappointed me.

It is so so beautiful in such a way that a date really ruins the harmony. Some watch are not as beautiful and in harmony as this, thus addition of date is not very disturbing. honestly for me the date make the Memovox Bleu Timer incongruous. Thank you Nic... 

The Memovox Timer looks great ! The timer function is such a clever addition. If I'm not mistaken, it's "just" a simple matter of having the proper indications on the inner dial and on the hours' hand; Nothing specific to this on the caliber... The date w... 

As you will see in the JLC video here: www.youtube.com k The timer area (with numbers) is tight to the inner ring with the triangle. The red JL logo is on the hour hand and therefore moves with the hour hand to indicate the remaining time to the a... 

Thanks a lot Nicolas for the info. I really like the watch, first time with a JLC novelty since years… Just two questions, for which you may have the answer(s) : - you posted two different versions of the memovox timer : one with the JLC brand written on ... 

you can't set the timer independently from the alarm: when you use the crown to rotate the inner dial, the triangle moves and the timer numbers move too since both are on this inner dial. Then it is a matter on how you set the alarm: either at a fixed tim... 

What's your opinion about the JLC logo at 12 o'clock? Even on JLC website, some pictures show the logo and others don't... I'm wondering if we can still impact the final version regarding this logo... And what about the "automatique" wording at 6 ? Lastly... 

As for a PPRO edition without date, I am in!

Just a bit of a shame on case size, but given that the rest of the new Master Control line is 40mm it's no great surprise. Definitely a case of needing to see them in the flesh! Intrigued by the second one - is the inner setting a count down - the other n... 

It looks like all the functionality is identical to the regular Memovox. Using the stock photo as an example, 10:10 is slightly less than 8 hours away from a 6:00 alarm, so the red JL indicator attached to the hour hand is positioned as such. I think the ... 

so, well In the past, I had a Memovox Master Control, so it was 10 years ago but I don't see much difference from the current model. Regarding the Timer version. The case is good, I would have preferred smaller and thiner but that's ok. I don't like the d... 

sorry JLC, I'm out

Does anybody know if these models have quick date set? Or do we still have to hack it like my MCC? 😇

Here is the first. ...  

...isn't very good. I know, I know...picky. But it's a precision instrument. Don't they have access to graphic designers at these companies?

...for instance, in 'MEMOVOX' (on the non-limited version) there are large spaces between the O—V—O. This happens when someone types out the word and uses the default from whatever application they are using (MS Word, for instance). If this spacing occurs... 

and the M A and T in Automatique? JLC never uses Memovox are two words. I know I am being picky but it's what I got/get paid to do.

...also please forgive the typo above. I am a good designer but a terrible typist : )

Ha ha, I too get paid to do this and that kerning is certainly tight!

...that's the point, it's inconsistent. 99.9% don't care either way so I'm beating a dead horse.

Not sure I could justify it alongside my classic Master Memovox, but boy, is it cool-looking! ...  

...you can see that a lot of work went into that date window...lots of detail. Whether you like it or not, they didn't skimp on that part : )

I really wish they'd done a color-matched date wheel for the blue dial, though. I think the date window works much better on my silver-dialed reference, my only complaint being that it's not aligned with the hour indices. (Too close to the center of the d... 

I was in the JLC boutique this evening and they forwarded me some pics of the timer. Glad to share Photos all credit JLC ...  

My apologies. Only when I read your post did I realize I might have “stealing your scoop” so to speak which is absolutely unintentional. Just was ebthousiastic about the watch and your post and when I received those pictures all I wanted was to contribute... 

I do like it, visually. And the alarm and countdown combination is really very practical. Neither are something most of us think much about when we think about mechanical watches.

something new and exciting instead of reissues, or tributes to former watches. Surely someone at JLC can come up with a fresh, new idea and put it into motion.

Can’t wait to see real life photos, although I regret without a local boutique (AD’s yes) I won’t be able to see one in the metal.

Like with the master line update, slightly improved case and modernized dials, but lacking innovation and boldness, let alone a modernized crown. If JLC thinks that following the Rolex model of minimal design iteration is a plus (mais sans power reserve u... 

...and many more inventive variations on the regular Reverso. I've always wondered whether they just got slaughtered in sales with those lines, or whether some higher-up at Richmont stepped in and decreed "Thou shalt not innovate!" JLC is one of my favori... 

Squadra, Master Compressor, Gran' Sport, or other Reversos. It would appear that the policy became "if we're going to due something innovative, it's going to be in precious metal (or exotic materials) and cost > $30,000 US." Interesting way to differentia... 

as the years went by, the prices began to rise which did not help the demand either. Still a highly underappreciated and undervalued model amongst current chronographs in terms of originality and design architecture 😉

living in Paris, we both have the JLC flagship store and the Patek "salon". I dress casually and I can tell you that the JLC people have always been very very professional, being for a clasp, an engraving or a "standard-price" watch. Giving me calls whene... 

as for the Patek salon, I must say they have mostly been gracious to me except for one bad incident that was rectified. But I will also say that I have seen others being treated less graciously in the Patek boutique whereas I have never seen that in the J... 

g

The Duometres, Extreme Labs, and Gyros all offered novel or sophisticated horological content, and were very appropriately offered at a higher price point than JLC's more "plebeian" Master, Reverso, and Rondez-Vous lines. On the other hand, what the brand... 

which is that innovation and design is still appreciated to a certain extent, just not from established houses such as AP, JLC, Patek, Rolex, etc... Just look at the Independents such as MB&F, DeBethune, etc...Yes they are niche but most if not all seem t... 

That said, given the cost of things like De Bethune, MB & F, Voutilainen, etc., one might argue that the Swiss mid-market segment on the whole has abandoned any degree of daring as far as design is concerned - especially in comparison to the market of a c... 

and Bvlgari has been coming out with a few interesting pieces recently as well. All of these are well under 50k. Omega seems to also be moving forward with tech in material and construction, at least much more than Rolex or the like. Let's just hope JLC h... 

though even there, the Octo Finissimo range arguably represents the refinement of design language established by (and purchased with) Genta over a decade ago. You're very right to point out that technically, Omega continues to advance its offerings, while... 

Omega has great tech now, a great leap from the ETA ebauche days. Bulgari too. I hope JLC gets hoisted from Richmond and also Madame Manure soon

Yes yes yes...there is a void now, as if they are telling us in a typical lazy European style, we want to work less and get pissed drunk after work now, no more innovations!

The brand has lost it’s footing. It is an old master who has gone blind, and lost his walking stick, trying to find his way around a dark big castle. Has gone deaf too.

Less madness and more refinement in case finish and style. I thought over it a while. The new polaris is exquisitely finished. While some may say it is not a true dive watch, it is not meant to be, but a tribute to an old style. I find myself thinking abo... 

I can’t wait for new polaris models. If there is one with a proper screw down crown - count me in!

I find the Memovox Timer an ingenious watch. The Alarm and Timer functions are essentially one and the same. But I think the price level of the watch will be a challenge given current situation. Not sure who are they aiming it at?

Bravo to the team.

I don’t suspect it will be the Rattrapante first up.

the new memovox is nice, bit too expensive

First, the watches on their own are very nice: well done,good quality and all in all honest higher horology level. But then I saw the asking price and it left me speechless. I have almost never seen a price tag so less in correlation to the horological co... 

It's not a revolution but the thinner case (3mm) compared to the 2010 generation memovox (and boutique edition from 2016) is something I look forward to. For a watch with a complication that is "visible", I think the transparent caseback is an interesting... 

Especially the Timer! Sound and alarm-function is great, love the look of the Memovox Timer, but I personally guess that IRL...I would finally pick up the new Master Control Calendar (ref 4148420) as my number one choice as of now. The future...no one kno... 

Still love that E 855!

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The only advantage was the speed and the scheduling and the Dom Pérignon ! ohh and the little gifts they gave you every time ;-)

Ano “I had a model of the Concorde but never flew in the real one” Nuevo ...  

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😂😂

Nicolas you've seen better but that's a new line here 😅 ...  

Perfect case shape and size, wonderful patina, and a perfectly matching ostrich honey strap. I would prefer it than the new ones Thanks for sharing. René

Or maybe a smaller, Purists version? Mmm...

I don't like the middle matte silver business I just don't like the dial at all... I love the new annual Chrono tho!