Jaeger LeCoultre Memovox

This is a gentleman's stainless steel Jaeger LeCoultre Memovox ref 855 in lovely original condition with mechanical alarm in perfect working order - sounding loud and crisp. This is the much rarer large or jumbo 37mm sized version of the Memovox and is an automatic with date function.

The Memovox range is a signature Jaeger-LeCoultre model and one of the icons of 20th century wristwatch design. Over the decades the Memovox has been styled with a variety of different case and dial designs. 

The is an example in a classic Memovox design with a relatively large case, measuring 37mm in diameter. The bold, linear dial has gently tapering indexes which are centrally set with black inserts; the straight baton hands are styled to match with centralised luminescent tips mirroring the luminescent panels set at each hour within the track for minutes/seconds. To the dial centre, the alarm setting disc is finished with a circular satin grain which gives the dial a two-tone appearance – in fact, as the track for minutes/seconds is chamfered inwards it creates the illusion of a 3-tone dial, the eye perceiving three different dial finishes as it catches the light. 

Two Jaeger-LeCoultre crowns are set to the case side, the upper is for winding the alarm barrel and setting the central disc to the alarm time, the lower crown can be used for manually winding the watch if it is completely out of power and also for hand-setting. There is provision for semi-quick date change – the date will change each day around midnight but can be manually advance when required by moving the hands repeatedly between

Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre K825 automatic movement, lever escapement, 17 jewels, compensation balance, 18,000 BPH, Kif-Flector shock absorber, silvered two tone dial,  the chapter ring with sunburst satin finish and applied indexes with black inserts, inner black ring for minutes/seconds with luminous indications at the hours, flat baton hands with blackened tips centred with luminescent panels, central circular satin finished rotating disc for alarm indication with luminescent triangular indicator, framed aperture for date, stainless steel circular case, polished chamfered bezel, satin finished case sides, two Jaeger-LeCoultre crowns, the upper crown for setting and winding alarm, lower crown for time set, two-part satin finished case back with screw-down securing bezel, case, dial, movement and crowns signed. I have traded one of my bubbleback with cash top up for this beauty

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Its original bracelet made by Gay Freres

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox calibers

1. The Memovox was first introduced by Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1950/51 with the manually wound Calibre 489. 

2. In 1956, the Caliber. 489 was replaced with the Calibre 815, making the Memovox the first automatically wound alarm wristwatch

3. With Caliber 825 Movement the most iconic Memovox movement, the Calibre 825, which is a cal. 815 with the addition of a date module. so-called "bumper" winding system and the hammer-based alarm