It was only last year that the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris collection launched in Geneva. And the Polaris line is already being extended with this special limited edition Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date. With an initial offering only in North America, this limited edition timepiece is now available throughout the world. With only a series of 800 made, the Polaris Date is striking with its contemporary proportions and vintage design elements — both pushing the Polaris further while paying homage to its aesthetic legacy.
Key Specs
Size: 42mm
Case: Stainless Steel
Caliber: 899A/1 – Automatic
Power Reserve: 38 Hours
Functions: Hour/Minute/Second, date, rotating inner bezel
Water Resistance: 200m
We were able to get our hands on a Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date Limited Edition for an up-close look at this rebirth of the legend and the Jaeger-LeCoultre craftsmanship.
Sporty Elegance
This watch yearns to go out and have a bit of fun. With 200m water resistance and the blue rubber àclous de paris strap — color-matched to the inner bezel — both help its functionality. The aforementioned bezel — like the original Memovox Polaris and Polaris II that came before it — rotates adding another layer of functionality. Designed for the man of action as comfortable out in nature as they are out on the town, the Polaris Date Limited Edition can go anywhere. While the case is sleek with brushed and hand-polished surfaces, it has true sporting credentials that shouldn’t be forgotten with its good looks.
Rich Legacy
The Polaris Date Limited Edition draws inspiration from the 1970 Polaris II and the famous Polaris Memovox’s design. The Polaris Memovox was truly incredible for its time with a 42mm diameter — at the time 35mm was closer to the standard. It also featured a very recognizable dial with trapezoidal indexes and numerals as well as three levels of finishing to mark three different concentric circles in the dial, from which today’s Polaris Date Limited Edition draws direct inspiration. The Memovox remains synonymous with adventure and technical innovation and this limited edition timepiece continues that legacy. Above all else, this is still a Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece. Known for its artistry, refinement and mastery of timepieces, Jaeger-LeCoultre stands out as an excellent Swiss watchmaker and the Polaris Date Limited Edition is no exception.
Mesmerizing Dial
The dial of any watch is the centerpiece, but the dial of the Polaris Date Limited Edition is a showstopper. The hand-lacquered, double-gradient finish is unique to this special edition. The central disc and main dial each incorporate a shimmering, color-change effect moving from deep turquoise to a brilliant shade of royal blue. In keeping with the signature Polaris look, it sports elongated Arabic numerals, large trapezoidal hour markers and beefy hour and minute hands. Super-LumiNova coats the important elements to provide readability in low-light situations — the luminescent coating is vanilla-tinted in another nod to the ’70s design history.
Precision Movement
Under the dial, a self-winding mechanical movement delivers all the precision you expect from Jaeger-LeCoultre. The in-house Calibre 899A/1 keeps the seconds, minutes, hours and date with doggedly faithful accuracy. The Polaris Date Limited Edition also boasts a 38-hour power reserve that will keep it ticking. It’s all held together by the caseback, which is adorned with four special engravings, a SCUBA diving insignia, the Jaeger-LeCoultre crest, and the phrase “1000 Hours Control” — denoting the watch has undergone testing of the movement before and after being cased up as well as on the fully assembled watch beyond official timing tests before leaving the manufacturer in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland. And of course, the words “Limited edition – One of 800” is inscribed near backing’s outer edge.
