Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, May 08, 2010

LOT 439

LeCoultre Polaris 2nd generation ? 1968 Version LeCoultre, "Memovox Polaris", Case No. 1134255, Ref. E 859. Made in 1968. Fine, center seconds, water-resistant, selfwinding, stainless steel diver?s wristwatch with date, alarm and 2 crowns. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

CHF 12,000 - 17,000

USD 11,000 - 16,000 / EUR 8,000 - 12,000

Sold: CHF 20,400

C. Two-body, polished, inclined bezel, the crown at 2 activates the central revolving alarm dial, patented Piquerez Compressor system, 16 holes for sound emission. D. Black with luminous Arabic and baton indexes, inner revolving disk with minute divisions for the alarm, outer dot minute divisions with 5-minute/ seconds markers and Arabic quarters, aperture for the date. Luminous steel baton hands. M. Cal. K825, 14''', rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring, index regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 42 mm. Thickness 17 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Launched in 1965 as a successor to the Memovox DeepSea, the Polaris was Jaeger LeCoultre's response to the ever-increasing popularity of recreational scuba diving. Developed for the American market and designed in a massive 42 mm case, it featured an internal revolving bezel as well as an alarm function and a date. Equipped with the Jaeger caliber K825 that revolutionized the watch world a few years before as the world?s first automatic alarm watch, the Polaris offered divers reliability and endurance.The first generation was fitted with a plain full back and a dial with applied baton indexes, the second generation of 1968-70 were drilled for better sound emission and a dial with large luminous indexes. The first and second generations of the Polaris was made in a total of only 1714 pieces over a 5 year period between 1965 and 1970, this model is rare. Most were made for the American market, so the dials were usually signed only LeCoultre. For an example of a first generation Polaris see : Antiquorum, New York, March 10, 2010, lot 279.