Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 13, 2016

LOT 9

JAEGER LECOULTRE REF. E-859 POLARIS STEEL Jaeger-LeCoultre, Automatic, case No. 1116977. Made in 1968. Fine, center seconds, self-winding, stainless steel wristwatch with mechanical alarm, date and 2 crowns. Accompanied by a Jaeger Lecoultre extract from the archives.

CHF 8,000 - 12,000

HKD 64,000 - 96,000 / USD 8,000 - 12,000

Sold: CHF 15,000

Two-body, solid, polished, snap-on case back, the crown at 2 o'clock activates the central revolving alarm dial, the one at 4 o'clock is for time-setting and winding. Black with luminous indexes, outer disc with minute divisions and Arabic quarters, concentric revolving alarm dial. Luminous steel baton hands. Cal. K 825, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring, bumper rotor.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image

Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 3-9

Good

Scratched

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-6-01

Good

Slightly oxidized

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 42 mm. THICKNESS 17 mm. Property of the Original Owner 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 total production of the Polaris model is believed to be fewer than 1714 units, manufactured between 1965 and 1970.