Around the mid century, as lifestyle paces moved faster and faster, top Swiss firms needed a way to enhance the experiences of their now frequently traveling top clients and to help him better organize and govern his most precious possession - his time. The engineers at Jaeger-LeCoultre rose to the occasion by creating an alarm wristwatch in 1951.
The watches featured a fully mechanical alarm system. To pull off this difficult task, Jaeger-LeCoultre equipped these watches with significant inner alarm gearing and even an additional stem and crown, making elements of second movement that worked seamlessly in conjunction with the normal timing portion.
The LeCoultre wristwatch featured in today's offering is an original example of one of these watches. The gold-filled case has a distinctive horn lug design. The alarm dial is original and in good condition.
Our watchmaker has freshly cleaned and oiled the watch. Included with the purchase is a full one-year warranty on the movement and all of its functions, and a new timing certificate, and a copy of the repair manual for this model detailing the movement parts and their operation.
Manufacturer: Jaeger-LeCoultre
Country of origin: Switzerland, made for the U.S. market
Serial no.: 971,740
Year built: c. 1953
Model: "Memovox"
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Alarm (Reveil), Sweep Seconds
Designed for: Men
Case material: 10K yellow gold filled
Case markings (outside): LeCoultre, 10K Gold Filled
Case markings (inside): Cased and Timed in U.S.A by LeCoultre, 10K Gold Filled, 8733005
Case condition: Excellent with spots of wear to the bottom of the lugs
Dimensions: 32mm diameter (excluding crowns), 40mm long lug tip-to-tip
Dial: Silver with gold baton indexes and radial Arabic numerals at the primary hours, inner revolving alarm disk, inner minute track in blue, 100% original, good condition with toning
Hands: Original, luminous tipped gold batons, blue steel sweep seconds hand
Movement type: Jaeger-LeCoultre, Cal. 814, rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, self-compensating flat balance spring
Movement markings: LeCoultre Co. Seventeen Jewels, Swiss, Unadjusted, 814
Jewels: 17 rubies
Band: Crocodile, fully stitched, padded, brand new and unworn
Width between lugs: 18mm
Serviced: Yes, cleaned and oiled.
Warranty: 1-year warranty. Please email [email protected] for details.
Box/Papers: BOX - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity box; PAPERS - Vintage period LeCoultre instruction and guarantee booklet; New timing certificate
Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee
