Comments:
First thought on the Jaeger Lecoultre Polaris Mariner Date and Mariner Memovox.
Jaeger Lecoultre comes back to the Polaris with two new models, the Polaris Mariner Date and the Polaris Mariner Memovox.
Polaris, Mariner, two names which have their roots in Jaeger Lecoultre rich history. If you know the Polaris by heart, as it is one of the most popular watch from the Manufacture, the Mariner belongs to a family, the Master Mariner, born in the late Fifties and which gave birth to a model which is appreciated by the Jaeger Lecoultre fans, the Master Mariner Deep Sea.
You could also think that this name was used to enhance the link to the sea, with the blue dial and the improved water resistance of these two watches, which are now 300 meters.
Historically, the Polaris Mariner Memovox is the fourth opus of this watch. Born in 1962 / 1963 as a prototype, the definitive Polaris was issued in 1965 with a glossy black dial with luminous dots but without luminous indices. The Polaris we better know was issued in 1967 with its long triangular luminous indices.
Then in 1970, Jaeger Lecoultre reinvented the Polaris, with an oval round case, under the reference E 870, which came with three dials, a grey, a blue and and a red.
We had to wait till 2008 to see the Tribute To Polaris with two dials, one from the 1965 edition, the other from 1967 / 1968.
In 2018, Jaeger Lecoultre unveiled a new line of Polaris, with and without date, with a chronograph world time and chronograph only, the Geographique World Time and a Polaris Memovox 50th Anniversary, in a limited edition, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this icon.
So, what are the characteristics of these 2 watches?
They both respect the ISO 64-25 Norms, which means that they fulfill the different points:
- An unidirectional bezel,
- Differentiated hour and minute hands,
- A running indicator,
- A water resistance of 100 meters minimum.
- And a good visibility in the dark.
Here, not only Jaeger Lecoultre respects the ISO norms, they also go farther.
Indeed, the water resistance is improved to 300 meters instead of 200 meters for the Vintage, the Tribute and the 50th Anniversary, an orange security ring which informs you that the bezel is not secured, a screw-in crown ( the bezel, not the the time nor the alarm ) and some different luminova for the minute and hour hands.
The crown dedicated to the bezel on the Polaris Mariner Date:
And on the Polaris Mariner Memovox:
Two other features are present on these watches are the line on the bezel, between 0 and 15 and, of course, the see through case back showing the Cal 899 ( Mariner Date ) and the Cal 956 ( Mariner Memovox ).
Polaris Mariner Date:
Polaris Mariner Memovox:
Jaeger Lcoultre reworked the Cal 899 with the same improvement than for the Master Control Date, with an enhanced power reserve of 70 hours, and the Cal 956 with a new architecture for the peripheral gong and hammer. As you can see, the rotors are in tungsten.
The Cal 899
The Cal 956:
The size? 42 mm for both of them, 15, 6 mm high for the Polaris Mariner Memovox, and 13, 9 mm high for the Polaris Mariner Date.In the reality, the watch looks less bigger, due to the fact that the sapphire is 2, 3 mm high and the case back 2 mm thick.
The smoked blue dials are very nice looking, on both of them.
Here, none of them are limited editions.
They are both mounted on a bracelet. No strap option for the moment.
Polaris Mariner Date:
Polaris Mariner Memovox:
The price? 9100 Euros without VAT for the Mariner Date, and 14, 500 Euros without VAT for the Mariner Memovox ( 17, 200 Euros VAT included ).
Of course we'll come back to these 2 watches as soon as I can take some decent pictures of them.
Best,
Nicolas
Good looking watches.
Price positioning is however questionable.
My favorite from the Polaris line is still the very basic no-date version on a leather strap.
I agree ... big fan of JLC and their abilities but the local pricing of these pieces will be prohibitive at best
Thanks for your review Nicolas
Quite elegant
My only minor concern is that a regular dive-watch bezel also protects the crystal from shocks and dings, while this box sapphire is quite exposed. I almost cracked the sapphire of my luminor on a dive boat a few years back after my son's dive tank hit my wrist! That being said I don't think they are chasing submariner owners so probably not a big deal.
True that. Even if it never happened to me, that can happen. Now you can also crack your sapphire if you bang it... [nt]
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I like these a lot
They seem to have addressed the issues I had with the previous version of the Polaris Date that stopped me buying one, the faux patina and the poor power reserve and added a display back that I wanted....now the downside seems to be that they have in effect put it beyond my price range with the mandatory bracelet I wouldn’t use.
Can’t wait to try one on and see the dial colour though
I still have to see it, too. But if the dial is as appealing as the one of the Polaris Geographique WT, then it is a very cool one. [nt]
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Tired, old and inappropriate movements let
this whole approach down.
So, JLC finally make an ISO 6425 grade dive watch, Great.
But forgetting the somewhat ridiculous 'alarm' dive watch, with the creaky 40 something PR...... this was a missed opportunity to apply a proper sports watch movement to the more sensible 2 crown version - we all know the 899 is not - in the form of Autotractor or another new movement a la AP 43xx.
and tungsten rotors, seriously?
R
On the Cal 899, theere were some improvements and a PR of 70 Hours. On the Cal 956, a longer PR would be welcome, I agree. [nt]
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PR is one thing, 899 balance power is not competitive for sports role
Remember these days 
www.watchprosite.com
www.watchprosite.com
Encouragingly, Autotractor's balance power was nearly as high as Rolex. Unfortunately Cal 899 has a weeny little balance wheel.
This link has an interesting discussion around this.
I agree regarding the Autotractor...
It is a BEAST of a machine and allows for a second timezone option, if desired. I think JLC skipped it recently due to its thickness, but with a watch like the Polaris Mariner, it could easily have housed it.
Orange Detail
I really like these apart from being (in my eyes) rather overpriced, according to the website orange bar on rehaut controlling crown disappears when you screw in the crown to ensure you are not going to forget screwing in the crown (that reminds of older Master Compressor crown system) for calculating decompression stops, considering you calculate decompression stops on the go you would have to unscrew the crown underwater to set the appropriate decompression time based on you calculations, bezel that you cannot operate underwater is rather useless from divers point of view (not like anyone dives with these kind of watches).
I agree on the price of the Polaris Mariner Memovox. As for the bezel crown I find it quite interesting, though. [nt]
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I assumed the orange is just a warning that the bezel is not locked, not that you can't use them under water? [nt]
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If you can use the bezel underwater then it is superb, most brands are rather ambiguous about rotating inner bezel underwater. [nt]
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Nice looking watches. Would I purchase?
No, but they do look nice.
Look forward to your live photos and personal thoughts after you get to handle them.
Thanks, Michael. I will write my review once I see them in the flesh, no doubt about that. [nt]
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Great summary of the Polaris.
The dials are sublime & the specs (water resistance) are good.
Size is appropriate (even though maybe too large for my wrist). The date is in the right sweet spot for case thickness. The memovox ideally could be a bit thinner; But understandable given the added complication.
I really like these dials, much less the price ( of the Memovox ). [nt]
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Yes, for that extra pop of orange on the dial...
You must pony up the extra green $$$.
Great review of two nice watches but it was time for JLC to update the 956 with the new Mariner
Also, the prices seem a little steep.
Agreed on the price, as for the Cal 956, I guess they will go step by step. [nt]
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Terrific review. Thank you!
I view this as sort of an odd choice for JLC. It’s essentially the Polaris with greater technical ability (depth). I’m not sure there are too many in the market looking for this sort of thing from JLC.
My preference would be for them to create an elegant, thin, sexy sport watch to compete with RO, Nautilus/Aquanaut. They certainly have the technical capability to do this (ultra thin movements, varied and well executed complications).
This is the genre that is hot right now, for good reason, and their current JLC line up has too many watches on straps, and the sport watches that are generally quite thick despite the fact that JLC is perceived as a luxury, High horology maker.
They need to try to capture some of the magic that AP and Patek have in the luxe sport watch segment, and that means thinner cases and more refined look and feel.
My preference would be for them to create an elegant, thin, sexy sport watch to compete with RO, Nautilus/Aquanaut. They certainly have the technical capability to do this (ultra thin movements, varied and well executed complications).
This is the genre that is hot right now, for good reason, and their current JLC line up has too many watches on straps, and the sport watches that are generally quite thick despite the fact that JLC is perceived as a luxury, High horology maker.
They need to try to capture some of the magic that AP and Patek have in the luxe sport watch segment, and that means thinner cases and more refined look and feel.