SOLD-Jaeger-leCoultre Memovox E875 Speedbeat

Jaeger leCoultre is known as the watchmakers watchmaker. They build magnificent movements and still are suppliers of the biggest brands of haute horology. They also designed true icons. The Reverso and the Memovox. What we have here for you is the Jaeger leCoultre Memovox with an automatic movement. The condition is like new.

Next to the Reverso , the Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox is one of their most iconic vintage watches. This forward-thinking complication came to popularity in the 1960s with the development of the automatic caliber 825 bumper movement. However, the example you see here features the automatic caliber 916, which has a higher frequency at 28,000 A/h. This "Speed Beat" is in exceptional condition, and has a gorgeous dial and case. This is one hell of an alarm “clock.”

History:

The first alarm watch was actually designed and brought to market by the American watch company Vulcain. It was called the Cricket. When the Le Locle manufacture Vulcain invented the first distinctly audible wristalarm in 1947 and brought it to market, it excited attention with this world premiere. Back then the manufacture movement Cricket (Calibre Vulcain 120) used the natural resonance technique of the cricket: By installing a second caseback a resonance membrane was created, which for the first time mechanically generated a very loud and long lasting alarm sound. This led to the name of the watch: "Cricket".

The Vulcain Cricket was also known as "The President's Watch", because it was worn by many US Presidents - including Truman, Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson and Nixon - who appreciated it because of its useful additional complication.

The first Jaeger leCoultre alarm watches were designed in the late 1950s and they called these watches the “Wrist Alarm”. Shortly thereafter, the company introduced the "Memovox" (a combination of the Latin "memo," or memory, and "vox," or voice) brand, and this has continued since then. The Memovox had an very interesting combination of innovation and design. As a collector one can start only collecting Jaeger leCoultre Memovox watches. Since there are so many different variations in cases and dials as well as movements. You can choose such a lot cool watches. In stainless steel or in precious metals but also the dials are really nice. You have silver dials but also tuxedo dials and blueish dial and many other beautiful options you can choose.

From the innovation perspective Jaeger-LeCoultre choose for the Memovox to separate the power reserve for the timekeeping and alarm functions. The Memovox movements have always had a separate mainspring for the alarm. In hand-wound Memovox models, the alarm spring is wound using the upper (2:00) crown, which also sets the 12-hour alarm disc and activates the alarm.

In 1956, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced Calibre 815, an automatic alarm movement, in the world's first automatic alarm watch. Due to the fact that the alarm hammer hit a protuberance from the case back, these first movements were bumper type, only swinging about 110°. Like manual Memovox movements, a second barrel was used for the alarm function.

In 1969, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced an improved movement, Calibre 916. Known as "Speedbeat", it featured 28,800 A/h oscillation for greater accuracy and resistance to motion. Additionally, the winding rotor rotated completely around a wide hole, allowing the case back protuberance to be struck at the center. All versions of Calibre 916 feature a date window.

CASE:This watch is in exceptional condition. and has almost no signs of wear. The bracelet is slightly later, but has maintained its shape.

DIAL:The dial is nearly flawless, the hands have some little loss of paint. The lume is slightly worn but is complete on the handset.

MOVEMENT: Underneath that is the 916 automatic movement, originally made by Jaeger-LeCoultre. The alarm function is in working order and is still loud.

BRACELET: The bracelet is made by N.S.A. who also made bracelets for brands such as Breitling. It has an extendable folding clasp which is signed with the same JLC logo which you can see on the dial at 9 o’clock.