Inspired by the past
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris watches get into the spirit of sporty elegance
AT the recent Salon International De La Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva, there was a palpable air of excitement at the Jaeger-LeCoultre booth. Not just because of the launch of the latest timepieces, but because Hollywood star Benedict Cumberbatch was making an appearance at the booth.
Cumberbatch is the brand’s global ambassador and the British actor made his rounds at the booth examining the latest collections and attending the gala dinner in the evening.
Of course the real star(s) at Jaeger-LeCoultre was none other than the Polaris collection. Inspired by the iconic Memovox Polaris watch from 1968, the collection has an initial release of five models with one limited edition piece that pays tribute to the 50th anniversary of its namesake.
Taking on the spirit of the original iconic timepiece and applying it to the man of today, the collection comprises a three-hand automatic, a chronograph and a chronograph world time, as well as two models with a stronger vintage feel: the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date and the Jaeger LeCoultre Polaris Memovox.
In terms of design aesthetics, the look is contemporary – sporty but elegant. The dial combines a mixture of finishings on three concentric circles.
There’s a Memovox Polaris-inspired centre with a sunray finish, graining on the outer circle with the hours and minutes, and an opaline finish on the rotating inner bezel.
You’ll get great visibility in low light as the hands are large and filled with Super-LumiNova. In two of the models, the Super-LumiNova is in vintage vanilla as homage to the look of Tritium on the original Memovox Polaris.
While historically black, the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris comes with a black or ocean blue dial. There are new cases for this collection, one with a combination of brushed and hand-polished surfaces. The large crowns, inspired from the 1968 model, are redesigned for a better grip.
The back of three pieces show off the high watchmaking manufacture movements with an oscillating weight featuring the emblematic Jaeger-LeCoultre logo. There’s also a new three-link metal bracelet. For those who prefer straps, it’s interchangeable for both alligator and calfskin. As always, all mechanical movements are made in-house.