WATCH REVIEW Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Memovox

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Memovox
Overview

Let’s start with the external aspect of this Jaeger-LeCoultre.

The characteristics of the Master Control line are gathered: integrally polished case, thin lugs and silver dial with applied markers.
The literature is discreet – which is quite pleasant – and the mention Memovox only appears on the rotating disk.
The whole is sober and elegant.

While watching it closely, everything is about successful cosmetics changes comparing this Master Memovox to its predecessor, the Master Réveil.
The new spear-shaped hands match now with the size of the multifaceted markers and are more present than the traditional Dauphine hands.
The blue-stained steel second hand presents a nice contrast, while the date’s aperture slims down by standing out on two levels.

The alarm fuction

The crown at 4 o’clock is aimed at the setting of the hours and minutes and at the manual winding of the movement if necessary.
Good surprise compared to the Master Reveil: a stop second allows now a more accurate setting of the time.

The crown at 2 o’clock is used to wind on the alarm, set it thanks to the internal rotating disk, as well as for changing the date.

Another good surprise: this new generation of Memovox is equipped with a quick date.

While testing this timepiece, it appears that the precise setting of the alarm ringing, in order to get an effect close to the minute, requires a little practice.
But then, you will be rewarded for your efforts: the ringing is present, neither too powerful nor too strident, not risking becoming the cause of divorce or discharge.

A new movement: Caliber Jaeger-LeCoultre 956

The 956 automatic Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber, developed for the Polaris, henceforth equips also this Memovox.

You will appreciate in particular the presence of a brake on the hammer of the alarm: it avoids the small inopportune reminders that happened with the previous movement, within the 30 minutes following the alarm, at every movement of the wrist…

The manufacture label “1000 Hours control” by Jaeger-LeCoultre guarantees the reliability of this caliber.

A regret nevertheless: the full back, necessary as a sound box in order to ensure the good tone of the ringing, does not allow seeing the alarm working.

Daily use

The new 40 mm diameter (previously 39 mm), compared to the unchanged 14 mm thickness, gives a more proportionate aspect to this watch.

And yet its presence around the wrist, while wearing a suit and a shirt, suits without any problem.

The double crown, reminder of the Compressor cases, gives a more technical side to this well civilized watch.

We can maybe regret the combination dial/hand that does not always allow an instinctive legibility of the time.

Another regret: the luminescent material is not applied enough in order to ease the night-time use – all in all, quite common for an alarm clock …

The black crocodile leather strap suits the soberness of the whole. Its thickness and the bend of its profile perfectly frame the height of the lugs.
The folding buckle, set on a classical strap, eases the setting and secures the use.