The Polaris line of watches is one ofJaeger-LeCoultre’smost iconic designs that has remained as a favorite amongst watch aficionados for many decades. The history of JLC Polaris can be traced back to 1959 when the watch brand introduced its first self-winding Memovox movement. It was followed up by the Memovox Polaris in 1968 that had an internal rotating bezel along with an alarm for divers to time their dives. Drawing on that heritage, JLC has come up with a new Polaris Mariner collection that is comprised of two watches – the Polaris Mariner Date and the Polaris Mariner Memovox. Both watches feature the same design and are near-identical to each other. One might find it a little difficult to differentiate between the two. The difference between the two vintage-inspired timepieces is that the Polaris Mariner Memovox gets the signature alarm function and 3 crowns on the right side of the case as opposed to 2 on the Polaris Mariner Date. The third crown is for adjusting the alarm.
In terms of design, both watches get a 42mm stainless case and a deep blue dial with subtle orange highlights. The Polaris Mariner Date is powered by the JLC Caliber 899, while the JLC Caliber 956 can be found inside the Polaris Mariner Memovox. The movement inside the two watches can be seen from the sapphire crystal casebacks. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Mariner Memovox retains the signature ‘school bell’ sound from the original and is audible even deep underwater. Both the watches are also water-resistant to 300 meters. The two models also get identical triple-row link bracelet in stainless steel polished and matte finish to match the steel case. The Polaris Mariner Date, as you may have already guessed, is simpler off the two and carries a price tag of $11,000. The Polaris Mariner Memovox retails for $17,600.
