Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Watch collections Watch This Watch

Why is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date in a league of its own?

The 2018 Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date with an automatic mechanical movement is in a league of its own.

Why is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date in a league of its own?

The 2018 Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date with an automatic mechanical movement is in a league of its own.

Design language

To better understand the watch, one would first have to be aware of the design language of the original Polaris from 1968.

If you look at the two pictures below, you will begin to see the link between the original Polaris from 1968 and the new JLC Polaris Date from 2018.

1968originaljaeger Lecoultrememovoxpolaris 1
1968 original Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox Polaris
Copyright “©Jaeger-LeCoultre”. All rights reserved.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date
Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date Q9068670
Copyright “©Jaeger-LeCoultre”. All rights reserved.

Like the original, the Polaris Date uses the same design codes — Vanilla Super-LumiNova™, the triangle along with trapezoidal indices mixed with four Arabic numbers, a railway track for the minutes — and of-course features a date at three o’clock.

Furthermore, the case for the 2018 Polaris Date features a glass box where the crystal is raised from the case, thereby enhancing the vintage inspired look.

The original 1968 model had an engraving on the inner case back. And guess what, the new Polaris Date also features a closed caseback with an engraving of a SCUBA diver.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date also uses the JLC signature polished and brushed case and has the distinctive double crown: one for the time and one for the inner rotating bezel.

It comes on a rubber strap with a ‘Clous de Paris’ pattern.

Jaeger Lecoultrepolarisdate 1
Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date
Copyright “©Jaeger-LeCoultre”. All rights reserved.
Jaeger Lecoultrepolarisdate Q9068670 Back
Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date Q9068670 caseback
Copyright “©Jaeger-LeCoultre”. All rights reserved.

Where the Polaris sits within the current collection

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date (Q9068670) is also unique is another aspect.

If you look at the entire Polaris range (excluding the original Memovox from early 1950s that predates the Polaris) you will notice that there’s one time only watch (the Polaris Automatic), one Polaris Chronograph WT watch with multiple timezones and one plain Polaris Chronograph watch in steel. If you are confused you can check out the timeline here that we have covered on our website.

Do you see what I am driving at? A date function is missing. And behold, we have that here.

To accommodate that, the case size has been adjusted as well, and it sits between Polaris Automatic (at 41mm) & Chronograph WT (at 44mm) at 42mm.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date
Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date
Copyright “©Jaeger-LeCoultre”. All rights reserved.

Technical specifications

The 2018 Polaris Date has an automatic mechanical movement — Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 899/1 —that allows for a 38 hour power reserve (slightly less than the Polaris Automatic which is a bit of a downer I reckon).

It’s a daily wearable 42mm in size watch, in stainless steel.

It includes the functions of hours/minutes/seconds/date and a rotating inner bezel.

It has got an increased water resistance of 200m.

The black dial with sunrayed, grained and opaline finishes is to be seen in person to believe how elegant it looks.

There you have it. The JLC Polaris Date is indeed in a class of its own. In my opinion, and other collectors and enthusiasts I have interacted with, this is a very dressy looking sports watch, and the black dial with faux aged lume subtly helps manage this watch to combine both aspects.

Now the question that begs an answer is, Watch Ya Gonna Do About It?

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date
Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date Q9068670 SuperLumiNova
Copyright “©Jaeger-LeCoultre”. All rights reserved.

To find out more about this and other Jaeger-LeCoultre watches, visit the Jaeger-LeCoultre website here.

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