Nick Kenyon
The Polaris collection was launched by Jaeger-LeCoultre last year to pay tribute to the dive watches produced by the brand in the '60s and '70s. Instantly recognisable with the super-compressor style case and internal bezel, the Polaris has been given a new look in the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date.What makes this new edition different can be seen immediately in the dial, with a blend of finishes and shades of blue that place it at home in the water. The dial has three separate sections: the centre featuring a sun-rayed finish that looks almost liquid in its shimmer, which heavily contrasts against the grained ring that holds the Super-LumiNova filled hour markers, which are surrounded by the internal rotating bezel.The 42mm steel case is both polished and brushed to highlight the dial, and houses the in-house Calibre 899A/1, a movement that offers a date function for desk diving, as well as 200m water resistance for scuba diving. The two crowns at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock allow control of the time setting and bezel adjustment, and are typical of the super-compressor cases of the 1960s. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date also features a navy blue rubber strap with a tactile Clous de Paris pattern.The closed caseback features a “Limited Edition One of 800” engraving to mark the limited production run, as well as “1000 HOURS CONTROL”, which is the length of time that Jaeger-LeCoultre performs quality control testing. It’s a watch that offers a lot in a simply designed package. A charming history, contemporary technology, and a size that gives you an option for the office or the open ocean.
24.08.19