Following the successful launch of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris collection last year, the watchmaker has extended the Polaris line with a special new creation: the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date (limited edition).
Produced in a limited series of 800 pieces, the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date combines the Manufacture’s high-watchmaking expertise with contemporary proportions, vintage design motifs, and several important aesthetic changes.
New Watch, Classic Appeal
Drawing inspiration from the 1970 Polaris II, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date features a new hand-lacquered, blue double-gradient dial with sun-rayed, grained and opaline finish, unique to this special model.
The central disc and main dial now each incorporate a shimmering, colour-change effect – from deep turquoise to a brilliant shade of royal blue. The blue rubber Clous de Paris strap, also unique to the model, is colour-matched to the inner bezel, which, like the original Memovox Polaris and Polaris II, rotates for added functionality.
Keeping with the signature look of the Polaris collection, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date is instantly recognizable thanks to its elongated Arabic numerals, trapezoidal hour markers, and baton-style hands. These elements are each treated with Super-LumiNova to provide maximum legibility in low-light scenarios. For this application, the luminescent coating is vanilla-tinted, another nod to the famed Polaris watches of the 1960s and 1970s.
A Watch for Today
Still, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date is a fundamentally modern creation. Hewn from stainless steel, the case measures 42mm in diameter and has two prominent crowns – one to adjust the time, the other to control the rotating bezel. Incorporating brushed and hand-polished surfaces, the case’s graceful appearance belies its real-world sporting credentials, as the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date is water-resistant to 200 meters.
Inside, a self-winding mechanical movement delivers all the precision and craftsmanship one would expect from Jaeger-LeCoultre. The in-house Calibre 899A/1 faithfully keeps the seconds, minutes, hours, and date (displayed through a dedicated window at the three o’clock position) while offering a power reserve of 38 hours.
A Page From History
The movement is secured by a closed caseback, which has four special engravings, including a SCUBA diving insignia, the Jaeger-LeCoultre crest, and the phrase “1000 HOURS CONTROL”, denoting the assembled watch has undergone 1,000 hours of testing before leaving the Manufacture in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland. Finally, the words “Limited edition – One of 800” are inscribed near backing’s outer edge.
For more Collectables inspiration click here.