From diver's alarm watch to sporty collection
The line has its origins in the Memovox, the family of watches with which Jaeger-LeCoultre established the mechanical alarm on the wrist. The 1968 diver's version combined this alarm function with an internal rotating bezel operated via a second crown and a multi-layered caseback that transmitted the alarm even under water. This construction made the watch a sought-after piece among collectors and provided the design language on which today's collection is based. This remains recognisable in the three crowns of earlier models, the boldly rimmed cases and the dials with their characteristic gradient from the centre to the edge, which brings together sunray brushing, grained and opaline finishes on a single dial.
The Polaris in today's range
The current models mostly range between 40 and 42 millimetres in case diameter and are made in stainless steel as well as pink gold. The range extends from the simple three-hand watch with date to the chronograph and versions with a perpetual calendar. Water resistance is 50 to 100 metres depending on the model, and the dial is protected by sapphire crystal. Straps and bracelets come in calfskin, alligator leather, rubber and stainless steel, with many references interchangeable via a quick-change system. The Polaris thus covers the area in which Jaeger-LeCoultre otherwise keeps a low profile: A watch with a manufacture movement that can be worn with a suit just as well as with casual clothing.
