Jaeger-LeCoultre - Memovox exhibition at Artcuria Auction House in Paris on November 24, 2010
To mark the 60th anniversary of the Memovox, Jaeger-LeCoultre is associating with a major collector to present 40 historical Memovox watches. This exceptional exhibition will be held at Artcurial Auction House during the first appraisal days preceding the "Jaeger-LeCoultre Unique Auction" to be held in Paris in the autumn of 2011.
Jaeger-LeCoultre exhibits a private collection of 40 exceptional Memovox watches at Artcurial Auction House from November 24th to 28th, 2010.
The Memovox, meaning "voice of memory", is an iconic Jaeger-LeCoultre model introduced in 1950. It was powered by the first automatic movement in watchmaking history to be equipped with an alarm function: Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 815. Representing an extremely rare case, this legendary movement is still being produced 60 years after its creation, having been tirelessly improved and enhanced by the engineers and watchmakers of the Manufacture in order to meet the latest technological demands.
In aesthetic terms, the Memovox has been interpreted over the years in many different versions tailored to the trends of successive eras, in turn classic or sporty. It is a watch that remains highly sought-after among collectors.
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of this legendary model, Jaeger-LeCoultre will be exhibiting a fabulous collection at Artcurial Auction House, comprising 40 Memovox watches from the 1950s to the 1970s and acquired over several years by a French collector. Together, they undoubtedly form the most complete collection ever presented to the public.
Some inescapable models such as one of the first 1950 Memovox watches with "roller"-type lugs, the Memovox Parking (1958) or the famous Memovox Deep Sea (1959) and Polaris (1968) will be on show. The public will also be able to admire several extremely rare models, such as the Memovox Snow Drop featuring a blue dial (197), Memovox models produced in extremely small series (up to 100), as well as a stunning 1967 model with a brown and red dial. This represents a unique opportunity to discover all the forerunners of the contemporary Master Memovox and Master Memovox Internationale watches presented this year.
This exhibition will also give all collectors the chance of coming to present their Jaeger-LeCoultre watches and clocks during the appraisal days held in preparation for the "Jaeger-LeCoultre Unique Auction" to be organised by Artcurial in Paris at the end of 2011.
A major player in watchmaking history since 1833, Jaeger-LeCoultre is the first Manufacture to have been established in the Vallee de Joux. It played a pioneering role by uniting all watchmaking skills under one roof and made an indelible imprint on the sector by creating legendary watches such as the Reverso, the Duoplan, the Master Control, the Memovox Polaris, the Gyrotourbillon I and the Atmos clock.
Guided by time-honoured know-how and a constant quest for technical enhancements, the over 1,000 master-watchmakers, engineers and technicians craft each watch in harmony with the same pursuit of perfection. Each masterpiece, heir to more than 176 years of expertise, calls for the exercise of no less than 40 professions and benefits from cutting-edge technologies while being crafted in harmony with the noblest traditions of the Vallée de Joux. Building on a vast heritage encompassing over 1,000 calibres and almost 400 registered patents, Jaeger-LeCoultre remains the reference in high-end watchmaking.
Press Release
Open to the "normal" JLC - enthusiast ?
- I have read with interest of this featured, and apparently very promising exhibition. - Is there a chance for a just "regular & normal" JLC - lover ( & owner of some..) - and appreciative reader of your posts - to attend it ?
- What's the procedure for admission ( just selected / by invitation/ or hopefully also for the public), where to get tickets ?
As I might be in Paris around that time , this sounded like quite a nice treat ..
Info & comments welcome
HS
From what I understood, everybody can go and attend the exhibition.
Will ask for some more concrete informations, but there is no reason you can't visit this exhibition.
In case of any problem, just let me know.
Best,
Nicolas.
A nice "To Do" , then ..
( Also again thnx for this quick response & the kind offer for "vis-a-tergo"/support, if needed).
- Next I just will try for more specific info about the location etc.
And then - well, simply get on a plane to Paris for a day or two ..
-- November joys..
Kind regards, and thank you again, HS
Udpate on the acces to the event...
I've just been told that the best moment to go to this event is from Thursay, 25 the of November to the 27th, included.
Free access, and booking is not necessary.
Best,
Nicolas
Thnx again - Happily expecting access..
Kind thank you for making the further effort to even provide the "best days to come".
BTW - I had "googled" ARTCURIAL - Artcurial | Briest - Poulain - F. Tajan ( Auction House)
Hôtel Marcel Dassault, 7 rond-point des Champs Elysées, 75008 Paris, Frankreich
+33 1 42 99 20 20
- BUT: can/ could not find the info about this specific exhibition there ( nothing under watches or events)
SO I am happy that you kindly confirmed that in detail,
All set - and looking forward for this promising opportunity,
HS
AFAIK, and for the moment, no.
But who knows?
Next year will be an important year for JLC, as there are AT LEAST 2 events to celebrate:
The Reverso Anniversary.
The Auction entirely dedicated to Vintage JLCs.
Best,
Nicolas
Memovox - JLC and Favre Leuba
I wish I had the opportunity to go - it will undoubtedly be a fascinating experience.
I saw that on the booklet for Service Mundial JLC was mentioned together with Favre Leuba - was there a connection between the two companies at one point in time ?
It intrigues me, as I have a JLC myself and have inherited an old Favre Leuba from my father, so it would be interesting to find out that there is a lineage between the two companies.
Soren
JLC and Favre Leuba were the same group from 1969 to 1978
A little bit of looking back in the mirror:
Historically speaking, the two Jaeger and LeCoultre entities were consolidated in 1927 under a holding company called SAPIC (Société Anonyme de Participations Industrielles et Commerciales), HQ'd in Lausanne.
In 1934, SAPIC bought SH (Spécialités Horlogères, the distribution company that was selling the Jaeger and LeCoultre products since 1931 - the year of the REVERSO, SH being renamed 'Jaeger-LeCoultre' in 1938).
Therefore, as of 1934, SAPIC was a holding controlling both production and distribution subsidiaries of Jaeger LeCoultre watches.
HQ'd in Geneve at that time
In 1938, SAPIC bought a significant shareholding in both Vacheron & Constantin and Audemars Piguet (hence the massive use of JLC calibres in V&C and AP watches from that day onwards).
So, from 1938, SAPIC was JLC +share of V&C +share of AP (6 years earlier, LeCoultre has had a go at buying a financially distressed PP - which ultimately was bought by the Sterns, so this 'group' logic was not something new).
in 1964, V&C exited the SAPIC group.
in 1969, Favre Leuba (Georges Favre) bought Jaeger LeCoultre / SAPIC, renaming it SAPHIR Group, HQ'd in Zoug (Société Anonyme de Participations Horlogères et Industrielles Réunies).
Georges Favre took the reins of the group. Therefore, in 1969, Jaeger LeCoultre and Favre Leuba actually became sister companies, owned by George Favre / Favre Leuba.
This is evidenced by shared distribution, as illustrated below on this store display:
and again in this brochure from 1973 showing both JLC and FL 'extreme' watches (the Bathy 50 is afairly unique watch and a very rare bird indeed)
This was also the time when Favre Leuba did use some of JLC trademark concepts (which it owned the rights to market obviously), such as the first recreation of the Reverso under the Favre Leuba name (model name: sandow), years before the Reverso was actually reborn under its Jaeger LeCoultre name in the late 1980's:
or a true 70's memovox, dubbed Memoraider, housing an evolution of the JLC calibre 916 (exclusive to Favre Leuba: JLC 917):
in 1978, George Favre sold Jaeger LeCoultre to the VDO group, later becoming Mannesmann then Vodaphone-VDO, which in turn sold its horology division (then called LMH -Les Manufactures Horlogers) to Richemont in 2000.
And the rest is history....
So, as you can see, the history of Favre Leuba and Jaeger LeCOultre is very intricate from 1969 to at least 1978 (not mentioning also the 1930's when Favre Leuba was a retailer of the original reverso, especially in India where FL was a prominent distributor of horology and jewellery).
It is therefore not abnormal to see the 2 names associated with the servicing of this Polaris in the early 1970's (since the 2 brands shared a common structure for sales and after-sales)
Thanks for the history lesson
I learn so much from you Clavi. Thank you, this is really interesting stuff.
Best,
respo
from 1938, SAPIC was JLC +share of V&C +share of AP
This would indeed create a "need"
Nicolas, you finally letting them show your collection?!