Jaeger-LeCoultre

Here, we are somewhere between the end of the Sixities ( 1968 ) and the Seventies.

This was the end of the Cal 825 Life, which was used in an awesome Memovox, the Ref E E 861 which becomes the Ref E 873 when the same watch will be " motorised " by the Cal 916.

The E 861 was in production from 1969 to 1971 and produced in 3150 pieces.

- The E 861 ( 1970 ).





The shape of the case is somewhere between the round and the ovale, curious, but not unpleasant at all, once you get used to it.

Then came, in 1969, and for more than 10 years, a totally new movement, based on a different concept.

It is the end of the bumper automatic movement, and the reign of the full rotor could start.

It has a bi directional rotor, beating at 28 800 vibrations per hour, with the same power reserve for the time and the Alarm ( respectively 45 hours and 20 seconds ).

Still, no quick set of the date, but a real modern movement.

The Cal 916:



Here are these watches housing the Cal 916.

- E 877, so called Snowdrop.

The Black Dial:





The Blue Dial:





While both the blue and the black dial share the same one piece round case, bezel, crowns and case back, they are really different.

Not only the color, but also the whole design of the dial make these watches looking very different.

The funny thing is that you fix narrow 20 mm large the strap under the case back, where the very short lugs ( do we still have to call them lugs, by the way? ) are hidden.

The narrow strap is not compromising the round shape of the case, it magnifies it.

Funny and Funky.

- The E 871 and 872, so called TV Screen.

It is not only, as we could think at a first and quick glimpse, a matter of bezel ( the E 872 doesn't have bezel, by the way ), it is also a matter of shape of the case.

On the E 872, the case is longer, while it is more squared on the E 871.

The E 871 came with 2 different colors, too:

Ruthenium / orange:





The 2d Chromatic variation ( White silver / Blue ) :





Interestingly, this last model comes with its box and papers, which is the opportunity to precise that the boxes for the Vintage Memovoxes were blue for the Sixties, and became brown from 1968/69 till the end of the Seventies.



The E 871 was in the catalog from 1970 to 1978, and 4940 pieces were produces, both colors included, while the E 872 had a 4 years life ( 1970 - 1974 ) for 3543 pieces made.

Here are some pictures of the E 872, which came in different colors:









- A bit less funky, the Ref E 876 has to be mentionned. Here, no snowdrop, no TV screen, no eggshell, but a cushion shaped case:





2545 E 876 were made between 1971 and 1975.

The example shown above kept its original blue dial, while some others faded to ... brown, curiously.

- At this time, there was also some place for more conventionnal cases, I mean round one, with no exhuberant dials, and reasonnably sized at 37 mm. It is now time to end this chapter with the E 875, which, once again, came with different dials:

White:





Blue:





And the very popular blue and white:



For all these variations, only the color of the dial is concerned.

Indeed, all the other details are shared for this reference:

JL Logo at 9, applied indexes ( Ebene for the white, though ), baton hands.

The E 875 was quite massively produced during its 9 years life ( 1972 - 1981 ), as 7331 watches were made, all dials included.

The final advice would be to NOT JUDGE these funky watches before seeing them in the flesh, as they are not really photogenic, but very charmful.

All an era!

This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-12-20 00:30:58 This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-12-23 23:03:43

...Nicolas, and do you maybe know the production number of the blue/black Snowdrop's too?

Thanks,
Zsolt

But I was not told how many blue or black were made, among the E 877 Snowdrop production...

Best.

Nicolas.

Thank you for the informative post!

The E 875 looks so beautiful and not out of place even today.

My favourite is the last one pictured, very very charming.

Best,

Goh

The blue and white is certainly spectacular, but I wonder if the silver or the all blue is not more resisting to time, though.

Best, Goh.

Nicolas.

But I still can't take the bracelet though. It somehow do not match them, not funky enough I guess.

Thanks Nic.

cheers

PAt

Aesthetically, that is another matter, as it will depend on everyone's taste, indeed.

Best, Patrick.

Nicolas.

Ahh, another Monday:
- have already been looking forward,
Thanks, Nicolas for this nice start into the week !

Very enjoyable pics - I was specifically intrigued by all blues and blue& whites.
(well not to forget the unconventional orange in the E871),
Refreshingly young, but with touches of class.

Best,
HS

That is superbly writtten, HS.

We still have to keep in mind that these watches have to be seen in the flesh before any definitive judgement.

I mean the funkiest of them, as they are not very photogenic, but seeing them in the real is a nice surprise.

Best,

Nicolas.

the perfect choice of word. thanks again for sharing. I've grown very fond of unconventionally shaped cases and happily boisterous dials--especially ones originating from the 60s. The ones posted are especially attractive! Don't get me wrong--one should own a sober watch first--but watches such as these certainly have a place.

Thanks again for sharing,
Jason

These were not my first choice, but it is difficult to not fall for them.

They are so atypical!

Best, and thanks for your input.

Nicolas.

... great post again, Nico!.. all these Funky times in Cal. 916 are very appealing to me, they are timeless. another feature i found all these watches is that they actually match with bracelet very well than that in leather strap (i think Goh will have no objection to second me!).

by the way, would like to supplement one more Funky shape to your thread. hope you don't mind

stefan

Stefan, I am building a reference post from all these posts, and I think it will be very interesting to try to gather all these singing beauties.

Another Ref I'm hunting, to complete my Memovox Collection.

All the best, my friend.

Nicolas.

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Food for thought, food fo thought.

Very nice pictures.

Does the report end here or is there more to come?

Best regards,

George

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saw a few at Romain Rea while I was in your lovely city...very interesting pieces...

thank you posting!

It seems that so many different Memos were produced that they cover everybody's taste....

Best,

Nicolas.

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You will find in love with!

Best, my friend.

Nicolas.

I love my 872 and now because of your post I know definitively how many
were produced and during which years they were produced.
N

Isn't it great to " re trace " the history of the watch you have on your wrist?

Best,

Nicolas.

That is what comes to mind when seeing these Memos!

 

But what maybe not comes to mind is how very comfortable on the wrist they are!

 

 

This weekend I had the chance to try the E 877, the Snowdrop on my wirst.

 

Ah, what a pleasure!

 

 

Thank you for letting me trying that one, Nico!

 

 

You know me, I want them all…

 

So in this group the E 877 would be my next target.

 

 

Mr Moderator, again thank you for a very interesting and informative post!

 

Mist this Monday (for good reasons) and already looking forward to next Monday!

 

 

 

Best, my friend

 

Blomman

You want the E 877 because you have all the others!



As I want the E 861...

All the best, my friend.

Nicolas.

Still missing the E 876...! And the E 877! + some others thats not shown here...

 

 

 

Best, my friend

 

Blomman