Jaeger-LeCoultre

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Blomman

Is the first Master Compressor, and ALSO, a dign heir of the Polaris!

It will count in the JLC History, and you know what?

Since it is discontinued, Pepole is more and more interested in it...

As an Artist...



Best,

Nicolas

hi Blomman, you mentioned the sound is wonderful, very clear. hope to have a chance to listen it.

reason i asked is because after having my first Memovox, i am keen to hear the sound of other Memovox

very nice timepiece, congrats.

stefan

Well the sound of the NSA and the sound of the E875 Speed Beat are very difficult to compare. Modern memovoxes have a chime, almost like a bell, while the vintage memovoxes have a sharper hacking sound. Both equally wonderful but in different ways.

 

You should make a trip to your AD and make a “sound check” J

 

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Blomman

yes, one time i read somewhere, people said JLC had changed from hacking to bell sound since the Master Reveil model.

do you know about that too?

stefan

The Master Reveil and Master Memovox were the first memovoxes with the ringing sound.

But I might be wrong; I am not sure what happened during the mid 70ies to mid 90ties.

 

Actually, I would love to read a post about JLC watches during that period.

Was it mostly quartz watches back then or …?

 

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Blomman

i have been back-collecting old JLC catalogues. i just took out one JLC catalogue 1995/96 from y book shelf here, there is an interesting description about the history of its alarm watches which may offer us some hints what was happening during mid 70s to mid 90s. Here is the text:

"JAGER-LECOULTRE BECAME FAMOUS IN 1956 AS THE FIRST WATCHMAKER TO BRING OUT AN AUTOMATIC ALARM WRISTWATCH. THE MEMOVOX WAS WOUND BY A PIVOTED HAMMER-HEAD ARM THAT SWUNG BETWEEN TWO BUFFERS. IT WORK YOU UP WITH THE LOUD RATTLE OF A HAMMER BANGING INSIDE THE CASE. TODAY THE MEMOVOX IS A WATCH-COLLECTOR'S RARITY.

ALMOST 40 YEARS LATER, THE MANUFACTURE CAME OUT WITH ANOTHER ASTONISHING ALARM WRISTWATCH - THE MASTER REVEIL - WHICH IS FAR KINDER TO THE EAR THAN THE OLD MEMOVOX.

THE ALARM IS RUNG BY A TINY HAMMER VIBRATIING AGAINST AN ACOUSTIC GONG SUSPENDED INSIDE THE CASE. THE CLEAR, PLEASANT RING IS DISTINCTLY HEARD, YET UNOBTRUSIVE. METALLURGICAL AND ACOUSTIC RESEARCHERS DEVISED THE SPECIAL FORM OF THE GONG THAT GENERATES THE FULL SOUND-QUANLITY CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MASTER REVEIL."

it implies, JLC did not make any memovox during that period when quartz hit. but needs some other people to confirm this.

stefan

Thank you Stefan for the info. Maybe some time you could post some scans?

I only got the JLC books from 2000 when I bought my first JLC…

 

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Blomman

one day, i just thought i want to know more history of JLC, but find very hard to read proper sources, had a sudden idea in mind, i can go to get those catalogues as earlier as possible.

but in fact very hard to find, so far the earliest one is 1991 edition.

anyway, will post some scans soon.

thanks for your interest.

stefan

PM sent.

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Blomman

There was a gap of some 10 years between the discontinuation of the Memovox, and its reintroduction in the catalogue.

Good deduction, Stefan.

Best,

Nicolas

enjoy it.....

cheers

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Blomman

Great Pix too.  My favorite JLC diving watch.

Thanks

Drew

Yes it’s a great piece!

 

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Blomman

I was under the impression that it is the other way round, ceramic being harder and more brittle than steel and titanium...

Here's mine on the rubber bracelet. 

I got mine in Sept '09, probably about the same time as you did.  The rubber coated steel bracelet adds weight to the watch.  For a watch this tall and large, I think it needs the extra weight and the bracelet helps.

I love the watch.  Great lume and hands.  The look is very masculine.  The alarm sound is not as loud as AMVOX 1, but probably the loudest among the cal 956 based models.  The only time I wish it is louder is when I have a thick ski jacket on. 

Two other minor cons I can think of:

1. The markings around the alarm disc.  Not sure why JLC decided to break the hours up with 5 intervals instead of 4.  This makes it difficult to set the alarm at exactly 15/30/45 minutes past the hour.

2. That raised triangle on the bezel is a lint catcher.  

Blue

Well if you look closely at my photos you will see that I already have scratched the ceramic… L Maybe it not easy to brake, but to scratch, yes.

 

About dividing the hours in 5 instead of 4, yes you have a point! It is the same on most the vintage memovoxes, the Polaris for example..!

 

Love the bracelet, thanks for sharing!

 

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Blomman

With regard to the markings for the alarm disc, JLC did it right on the AMVOX 1:

Blue

Just want to add one more thank for this great review. I've really appreciated reading this type of review which is about personal experience with a watch.

Best,
Pascal

Happy you liked it!

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Blomman

Hope all is well, my friend.

So, is the NSA more and more in your mind?



Best,

Nicolas

...and it's good to be back. It's always a pleasure and a enjoyable moment to read posts from passionate people, which is is the essence of this forum!

That's true I was away from the forum for some time now, very busy with my job...and with some "peoples" that prevent me to buy a new watch
Things getting better, thanks for your message

Best,
Pascal

We have to work to fund our dreams...



Best, my friend.

Nicolas

On the Master Memovox, the Master Reveil, the MC Memovox and the Amvox I the hours are divided in four…

 

Is that a Panerai Luminor Marina in the corner of your photo?

 

Blue, it seems that we share the same taste in watches! J   

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

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Blomman

Blue

I got the PAM111, but she don’t get much wrist time anymore…

 

 

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Blomman

You mention it's really hard to set the alarm perfect, I know the recommended method for setting the alarm is to use the Alarm crown, but I also thought you could use the crown that sets the time, by winding the hour hands anti-clockwise.  When you do this the hour hand 'collects' the Alarm trangle as it passes over, and you can then keep winding until the hour & minute hands are at the time you want to set the Alarm.  you of course then need to re-set the hour/minute hands clockwise back to the correct time.

 

Wish I could explain this better - have I made sense ? my local AD showed me this method but I'm not 100% it works

Yes I know that method – it works, but then you have to reset the time several times a day…

But of course, it’s a good way to hit a perfect 6 o’clock.

 

Best

 

Blomman

however you have to also adjust the date....

cheers