Manufacturer: Jaeger-LeCoultre Year: 1959 Reference No: E857 Movement No: 1'389'490 Case No: 775'234 Model Name: Memovox Deep Sea Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. K815, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle Dimensions: 39.5mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by Jaeger Lecoultre Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1959.
Catalogue Essay
The LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm was the first automatic diver's wristwatch with an alarm function, and it was historically significant and technologically revolutionary for the time. Its goal was to remind the diver to return to the surface before their oxygen ran out. It was introduced in 1959 and only lasted three years, with a total of 1,061 units built.
The watch came in two versions: one with a dial signed "LeCoultre" for the American market, and another with a dial signed "Jaeger-LeCoultre" for the European market like the present example. The watch is from 1959, the first year of manufacturing, and is in perfect working order. The dial has aged well, turning to warm cappuccino hazelnut brown tones. In 2011, Jaeger-LeCoultre released a homage line to the original Deep Sea Alarm model, with two iterations: one for the American market with 359 pieces and one for the European market with 959 pieces.
Presented in overall excellent condition the present "Deep Sea Alarm" represents both a historical moment in horology as well as deep diving history as its technological revolution and mechanical precision was sure to aid experienced divers in the most audacious diving expeditions.
Not all companies in the watchmaking field have been able to stand the test of time quite like Jaeger LeCoultre, also known as the "watchmaker's watchmaker." Founded in 1833 by Antoine LeCoultre and originally named LeCoutre, the firm provided watchmaking's top brands, such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet, the high-grade, unfinished mechanical movements with which they completed their watches.
In the early 1900s, Cartier's watch supplier Edmond Jaeger sought out LeCoultre's help in creating the world's thinnest watches. The collaboration resulted in the creation of Cartier's earliest Tank and Santos watches, all housed with LeCoultre movements. The duo decided to merge in 1937, and the firm officially became the Jaeger-LeCoultre brand by which collectors know and adore it today. Some of the firm's most significant and important timepieces include the Reverso, the Memovox, the Atmos clock and, among modern watches, their Master Complications.