Jaeger-LeCoultre

After having the Navy Seals Alarm for six months, here are my personal thoughts about the watch. 

  

Design: The design is fantastic! J Big, tough and raw, but yet beautiful and elegant… A clear connection to the watches it evolves from!

 

Colour: To combine the crispy white with the none glossy black, plus the grey titanium is a brilliant move of JLC. Then add the small but MC characteristic red details and you have a great looking lady!

 

 

Shape: Big – 44mm. Two compressor crowns feels natural, one would feel a little empty on such a big watch. The alternative would be to enlarge the crown like IWC’s Big Pilot. And of course, with only one crown it would be difficult to set the alarm ;-)

The slightly rounded crystal and outer bezel – so beautiful! Similar to the Reveil and MC.  

I really love that the most of the details are three dimensional, not only painted. Both on the dial and the outer bezel. It gives the watch more depth and character. The weak spot of all JLC’s MC diving watches, except the Pro Geo I think is the side at 9 o’clock. A big empty space where noting really happens. If you compare with for example Panerai’s Luminor Marina or Radomir, they also have noting there but it still not just an empty space.

Shape of the hands are perfect to this watch and I love that the centre of hour and minute hands are black so that the second hand is undisturbed!

 

 

 

Strap: Strap colour, well black feels natural in this case, especially with the Navy Seals connection. The black and grey nato strap that comes with the watch is not really my taste, I would preferred a one colour strap. But I have to confess that I am not a big fan of nato straps at all, so I not sure it would have helped. The leather strap that comes along is really nice, and the buckle as well. A more square shape than the classic folding clasp. The strap is built up at the lugs so to wear the NSA doesn’t feel as free as for example the Polaris to wear.  Feels more like an AP Royal Oak, or similar. I am considering the black bracelet but haven’t got there yet.

 

 

Function: Well it’s a memovox, do I need to say more? J The sound is wonderful, very clear, I think its a little higher tone then the Polaris, not stronger but higher (but it might also be my imagination). The JLC logo is on the alarm disk vs crystal, well it has been discussed here at the forum, and I won’t put more fuel on that flame… But the fact that the logo is placed on the alarm disk has the effect on me that I don’t play with the alarm as much as I do with other memovoxes during the day. I like when the logo is centred under the 12. And that brings us to the next problem; it is really hard to set the alarm perfect on 6 o’clock, often it moves a little bit when you push in the crown. The quick set of date is a really, really good feature. Especially if you don’t wear the watch every day. I thing many of us have experienced that when you haven’t worn your memovox for a couple of weeks it’s really a hustle to set the date. The outer bezel is great! I really like that it distinct in the settings. Perfectly aligned with the dial index. Compared with Rolex Sea-Dweller it’s a dream J On the Rolex SD the “clicks” are not as distinct and often the bezels index doesn’t align perfectly with the dials index.

 

 

Over all: A fantastic watch! J Slightly bigger than what I normally prefer (38-42mm). Thanks to the titanium it doesn’t weigh your arm down, it feels light in compared with its size. A steady strap, I prefer this one much more than the tropical on the Polaris. The problem with the tropical strap I think is that it’s too soft, especially for a heavy one as the Polaris 65 PL. Perfect would be a not built up but steady strap. I like that the titanium is not that easy to scratch, but the ceramic bezel on the other hand is fairly easy to… Both the jagged bezel and the rubber coated crowns are very comfortable to grip and play with J 

An easy choice when you are out of office! But maybe not the first choice when you put your suit on … I will give the NSA 8 out of 10 stars in my book!

 

 

If you like this watch please read Nicolas outstanding review:

Review-JLC: 1959 / 2009, from the Deep Sea Alarm to the Navy Seals Alarm

 

Hope you enjoyed!

 

Best

 

Blomman

Thanks for sharing. I really love the texture of that bezel.

 

-P

Yes the bezel is great looking!

 

Best

 

Blomman

Here's another look for the NSA   .   .   .   on titanium bracelet.

Simply incredible build quality and wear comfort with this bracelet.  I also love the look of the black leather strap and "articulated rubber" bracelet, but the all titanium look stole the show for me.

Needless to say, the watch is fabulous too.  Legibility is outstanding and that's important to my 54 year old eyes.  The lume is fantastic also.  It's the first JLC sport watch I've owned (and first JLC in quite a few years).  JLC nailed the design on this one.

Here's a wrist shot.  It's a big watch but wears well and doesn't shout "look at me" on the wrist. 

 

Enjoy!

Dan

   

Great wrist shot, and these divers really look great on the titanium bracelets. You are right, the bracelet is very well crafted and very comfortable to wear.  I want to try the articulated rubber bracelet, too.

Best,

respo

 

Love the titanium bracelet!

 

Gives the watch a whole new character, me like!!! J

I have been thinking about the articulated rubber bracelet, but now I might have to reconsider…

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

Best

 

Blomman

I too love Titanium Bracelets very much. Those designs will be damn good and extra ordinary. Recently I saw excellent collections at  XXXXXXXXX.

Edited: As per our forum rules, please do not post links to commercial websites.

Thanks.

Nicolas

This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-03-26 00:29:06

You covered it all in a very thorough and balanced way.  It is good to have your thoughts after now having lived with the watch for a while. 

I agree with yo about the 9 o'clock side of the divers.  These are thick watches and you really notice it on that side of the watch.  The Extreme World Chrono and Alarm as well as the Pro Geo dealt with this well, I think, and the compressor keys on the 3 o'clock side of all of these watches actually help to lessen the appearance of the thickness of each watch. 

Thanks for writing up this review and for the terrific photos of your awesome NSA.

Cheers,

respo 

For your kind words. You agree with me about the 9o’clock side? Finally! I have been mentioning this to several of my friends but they have refused to see the problem…

 

Best

 

Blomman

I received mine last Tuesday!

I have the curious feeling to havel always owned this watch, maybe because of its roots...

What a post, my friend!

I think it is the real way to honestly speak about a watch, after having spent some time with.

No watch is perfect, indeed, and it is all about personal preferences.

Some would paareicate a smaller case, others a bigger case, thicker, slimmer...



I really like the design of this watch, with its powerful and very legible dial.

The 2 big compressor crowns offer a balance look, and enhance the sportivity and the strength of this watch.

To me, it is a true Memovox, and a very nice compressor.

And, cherry on the cake...The dial is black!



Thanks a lot for this report, Blomman.

Best,

Nicolas

The agony of waiting is finally over! J

 

Yes, it’s a little bit of deja vu feeling about the watch… So familiar but not quite the same… Love it!

 

Well, we all have different preferences – love to read yours six month from now! J

 

Best my friend

 

Blomman

I would have a big problem to say which is my favourite among my latest cathes, as I love them all a lot.



But I will post soon something which pleases me a lot, although not specially spectacular...

Best,

Nicolas

Best

Blomman

Congratulations my friend.....

enjoy it....

cheers

And, without surprise, I'm very happy with this Diving Alarm!

Best,

Nicolas

not expecting this one my friend.....

with your projects on your way....

enjoy it....

cheers

I have some surprises up my sleeves my friend....

but you have to wait for a couple of weeks....

you will be happy for me...



cheers

Waiting for some more weeks???

Are you kidding?

How do you want me to wait till there?



Best,

Nicolas

You will have to wait my friend....

something that I have told you.....

and something that I have not....

it is more difficult for me as I cannot wear.....



cheers

Thank you blomman for this well balanced review! This is the kind of report/review I believe in. Written by someone who knows his stuff and is not on anybodies roll. And who also does not miss to point out flaws in case there are any. Thank you very much!

Had the chance to try the NSA on and I liked it a lot. It is fine to hear that the impression has lasted for you after half a year.

HAGWE!
Martin

Yes after six month I am still in love with the watch – it’s a keeper! J

 

HAGWE!

 

Blomman

thank you, I enjoyed reading it.
And congratulations on a lovely watch - I think it is superb.

I have acouple of questions:

The ones I have come across have a bit of "play" in the bezellike the clicks dont hold it completely in place - have you had this experience.

Im curious to know how you see it in comparison with your MC Memovox which I know you are very fond of (like me).

Best Regards

Christian

No I haven’t experienced any “play” in the bezel. But I am a little bit worried that the ceramic won’t hold if I by mistake would bang the watch in to sometime…

 

To compare the NSA with the MC memovox – well that is a great topic for a new thread J

I think if I would try to answer short it would not give any of the watches the respect they deserve… I will have to come back to you on that one!

 

Best

 

Blomman

I would love read such a comparing post I understand a short answer is not easy... The Mc Memovox is a great watch that has lived a bit in the shadow of the Amvox 1 (quite underservingly IMO)

Best
Christian

For me the MC memovox will always be one of the brightest stars in the watch heaven!

One day I will try to explain…

 

Best

 

Blomman

Its a brilliant watch for many reasons and still my preferred watch in my diverse collection for a number of reasons...

As Nicolas is saying it is gaining interest since it is discontinued and its heritage from the Polaris (wich has gained a big and well deserved attention after the release of the MC Memovox), also I believe it has played a significant role for JLC and the entire MC line - but these interesting aspects of this watch are not why I love it - It is purely on its own merits that I love this very wearble watch - despite its quirks and shortcomings

Christian

Some photos of yours..?

 

Best

 

Blomman

I was planning to do a 5 year review of it before it leaves for le sentier for its maintantence but Im a bit hung up at the moment so it will have to wait a bit

Christian