Jaeger-LeCoultre

We all know the strong link between the brand and alarm watches. This link has one name: Memovox. 

As often, I invite you to discover the historical background before analyzing the new Master Memovox Boutique Edition Blue.

I- THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT:

There are two important dates to keep in mind: 1950 and 1956. 

1950 is the birth of what we can call one of the icons from the brand, the Memovox, whose patent was pending on the 18th of October 1949, registered on the 31th of January 1952, as shown on the documents below:

 

 

 

So, in 1950, the first Memovox was born, under the reference 3150, with its typical tubular lugs in gold, 

 

Steel, 

 

Housing a manual winding movement, the Cal 489. 

 

Before you ask, the Memovox is certainly not the first alarm wristwatch, as this title belongs to Vulcain and its Cricket, born 4 years before. But we can say that the Jaeger Lecoultre is certainly one of the first alarm watches in the world. 

1956 is the second important date, as this is the year which saw the unveil of the first automatic Memovox, which doesn't mean that manual alarm movements were discontinued, by the way, as both manual and automatic movements co existed for some years. 

2 notorious examples: The Memovox Parking and World Time, ref 3161 and 3160, which were born in 1958 and produced for several years, were using manual winding movements. 

Parking Ref 3161:

 

International, Ref 3160:

 

 

Let's come back to 1956, now. The first automatic alarm movement is the Cal 815:

 

An automatic movement, WITHOUT date, while the same calibre existed with a date, under the reference 825. 

That being said, let's focus on the topic of the day, the Master Memovox Boutique Edition Blue, which celebrates, as you now understood it, not the first Blue dial on a Memovox, but the 50th anniversary of the automatic Memovox. 

You have to know, or to remind, that at the end of the 60's, Jaeger Lecoultre made some blue Memovoxes. 

Indeed, we had:

- The E 855 " Blue Scale " which is my favorite. In the late 60's catalogs, production unknown with that dial.

 

A bit later, from 1970 till the Mid 70's, The Memovoxes, and the blue ones, of course housed the Cal 916, a more modern automatic movement, with a rotor instead of the bumper, and a hi beat movement ( 28, 800 alternances per hour ).

The Cal 916: 

 

The Blue Memovoxes housing it: 

Ref E 872, made in 3543 pieces, all dial variations included, from 1970 to 1974.

E 873: Made in 1000 pieces, all dial variations included, from 1970 to 1972.

 

Lecoultre 3072: Here, I don't have the production, numbers, but I would say that this reference was released in the late 60's / early 70's.

 

E 875: The most produced Memovox with a Cal 916, as 7331 pieces saw the light, all dial variations included, between 1972 and 1981. 

 

E 876: 2545 pieces made between 1971 and 1975.

 

And the Ref E 870, also called Polaris II: In production from 1970 ( proto ) to 1975, in 1120 pieces. God and JLC only know how many were made with the blue dial. This reference was also available in grey and in red.

 
I didn't include the bi colored dials, blue on silver or white, for example, just those who have the alarm disc matching with the dial. Or where the Blue is the most important.

So we already have 7 different blue Memovox, made in circa 13 years. And since then, nothing till... 2016, at the exception of the Master Compressor Memovox platinum, which came, indeed, with a blue dial, in a limited edition of 250 pieces, in 2003, if my memory serves me well.

Let's discover the brand new Master Memovox Boutique Edition, now. 

II- THE MASTER MEMOVOX BOUTIQUE EDITION BLUE, 2016: 

The first question is to know if the Memovox Blue is a re edition of one of these vintage watches. 

The answer is easy: NOT REALLY. 

It is an homage paid to the vintage blue Memovox watches. With some elements of style taken from the past and the current collection. 

From the past, I would recognize the large indices, the minutes ring, the alarm ring of the E 877 called " Snowdrop " as well as the mention " Memovox automatic ", located above 6 o clock.

The E 877 Black: 

The hands look like those of the E 875 pictured above. 

And the blue is close to the E 872 dial, a tad darker. While the blue hue used for the minute ring recalls the tonality used for the E 870 ( Polaris II Blue ).

The case of the " Blue " is the same than the one of the Master Memovox, revisited and reintroduced in the catalog in 2010, strictly the same ( lugs, diameter, height, case back, crowns and bezel ). A case and a bezel which can be seen as a wink to the E 855, of course bigger and thicker.

The only difference will be found on the case back, is that it is mentioned " Limited Edition of 500 pieces ". 

So we can say, if we want to sum it in a few words, that the Memovox Blue 2016 is the Memovox  from 2010 with a blue dial which clearly took its inspiration from some vintage Memovox, but without falling in the " Tribute To " path.

The proof by the picture, featuring the Memovox Boutique Edition 2016 with its blue sisters:

That question being answered, let's now see some pictures and share some thoughts about this new Master Memovox. 

The dimensions are- you already got it- the same than the Master Memovox from 2009, with a 40 mm diameter and 14 mm high. The case is made in steel and polished. 

The automatic movement is the well known Cal 956 which was first housed under this reference in the... Tribute to Polaris in 2008, then in the Master Memovox in 2009, the Navy SEALs Alarm, and the Tribute to Deep Sea Alarm. It beats at the pace of 28800 alternances per hour and has a 45 hours power reserve for the time, and circa 20 seconds for the Alarm. 

The Cal 956 ( both sides ) :

The dial is the main change on this version of the Master Memovox. 

Compared to the 2009 Master Memovox, the minutes and alarm tracks are replaced by two rings. One white for the alarm, the other for the outer ring has a clearer blue hue than the rest of the dial, which almost matches with the Memovox Automatic mention above 6 o' clock  ( which is not evident on the official press release pictures, but which is what I saw in the flesh ). 

The Baton hands give a sportier look than the Dauphine used in the 2009 Master Memovox. In this dial configuration, Dauphine hands would be out of place. 

The big rectangular indices are filled with luminova, as well as the hands and the alarm triangle. 

You thought the dial was all blue, period? That is more complex. Jaeger Lecoultre treated in a different way the alarm disc and the outer dial. 

Indeed, the opaline outer dial receives a grained finishing, like the Tribute To Deep Sea Alarm, while the alarm disc has a sunburst decoration, in a different blue hue, providing a pleasant chromatic result and a nice play of light. 

Here is a close up to help you to better appreciate the outcome: 

Less under the radar than the Master Memovox from 2009, this Boutique Edition Blue plays on another register. 

The vintage fans will see some evocations from the past, those who are only interested in modern watches will certainly appreciate the cool factor of this latest version. Somehow, it makes me think about the " racing universe ". 

To add some extra coolness, Jaeger Lecoultre had the good idea to choose a Trieste strap, which is made in weaved black cotton on the top, leather under, and a blue stitching to match with the dial. 

Let's see some pictures, now. 

Credit Johann Sauty:

My pictures:

Looking forward to reading your comments and thoughts on that Master Memovox Boutique Edition, 

Best.

Nicolas

More posts: Jaeger LeCoultreMaster CompressorMaster Compressor MemovoxMaster MemovoxMemovoxMemovox E 855Memovox E 872

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