The famed Jaeger-LeCoultre “Memovox” (voice of memory) was introduced in 1950, quickly gaining traction as one of the most desirable and reliable alarm wristwatches on the market. A center disc with an arrow is operated by a second crown typically found at 2 o’clock, allowing the alarm function to be quickly and easily set. In an era where sports diving was gaining more and more popularity (indeed, advertisements of the era branded the E859 as “pour l’homme d’action” or “for the man of action”), Jaeger-LeCoultre’s response was to launch a unique, oversized, automatic waterproof divers' wristwatch with an alarm function.

Their goal was to offer both visual (inner bezel) and auditory (alarm) timers for robust diver safety. To do so, the firm created a patented case back, which optimized the alarm’s sound transmission under water. The outer case, with its 16 holes, allowed for the alarm tone to be heard and also felt on the wrist, while the inner case sealed and protected the movement. The watch featured three crowns, each with the cross hatch pattern characteristic of Super Compressor watches: the first for time setting, the second to rotate the inner bezel for dive timing, and the third to rotate the inner disc with arrow to set the alarm.

Known in the United States as the Polaris, and in the European market as the "Skin Diver Memovox", the reference E859 was made in 1714 total examples. This year, for the 50th anniversary of the model, Jaeger LeCoultre released a second modern re-interpretation of the Polaris (the first having launched in 2009) in recognition of its iconic status. Finding original vintage examples of the Polaris, in crisp, unrestored condition has become increasingly difficult due to their growing popularity. This American “LeCoultre”-signed model is well-preserved in unpolished condition, retaining all of its sharp edges and lines as delivered from the factory 50 years ago – a perfect watch for the connoisseur.