Jaeger LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph Q9028471 - Full Set

"LeCoultre & C" was founded in 1833 by Antoine LeCoultre, an inventor who established a workshop in the small village of Le Sentier in the Vallée de Joux. In 1903, Jacques-David LeCoultre, the heir to the founder, joined forces with French watchmaker Edmond Jaeger. This collaboration merged the superb Swiss craftsmanship of LeCoultre with the French style and design brilliance of Jaeger. The timepieces created through this partnership were so exceptional and ahead of their time that Cartier, the pioneer of modern wristwatches, signed an exclusive 15-year agreement to use their movements and cases. It wasn't until 1937 that the name Jaeger-LeCoultre was officially registered and used for the brand's products. Jaeger-LeCoultre has long been renowned in the world of horology for producing some of the most exquisite movements, chosen for their unparalleled quality by prestigious maisons like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin. Not without reason, the manufacture has earned the nickname "The Watchmaker of Watchmakers." In addition to providing movements for other luxury brands, Jaeger-LeCoultre has also made history with its own iconic models, such as the Reverso and Memovox. One model that may be less well-known to the general public but highly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs is the Polaris. To understand its legacy, we must first look back at its predecessor, the Deep Sea Alarm. Released in 1959, during the height of the deep-sea exploration craze and shortly after the launch of the Rolex Submariner and Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, the Deep Sea Alarm was Jaeger-LeCoultre's first dive watch and the first ever to feature an underwater alarm. In 1963, the Polaris was introduced, running until 1970. The watch featured a generously sized 42mm supercompressor case, kept the alarm function, and utilized three distinctive crowns on the right side to control the various watch functions. After over 40 years of being discontinued, the Polaris was reintroduced, and the success of its first two limited releases prompted Jaeger-LeCoultre to expand the collection. Among the new variations, one of the most notable is the chronograph version—featured here. Encased in a 42mm stainless steel case, this model houses Jaeger-LeCoultre's in-house automatic chronograph movement, caliber 751. Visible through the exhibition caseback, the movement is beautifully finished with Côtes de Genève stripes, even on the rotor. While this is a two-register chronograph, the layout was reimagined: rather than a traditional small seconds counter, Jaeger-LeCoultre has swapped it for an hour counter, offering a unique twist on the design. The black dial is a masterclass in craftsmanship, showcasing three distinct finishes. The rehaut, stamped with a tachymeter scale, and the center of the dial are matte black. The outer dial features a textured grané finish, while the chronograph counters have a circular motif reminiscent of vintage chronographs. This timepiece presents an opportunity to own a modern, robust, and generously sized chronograph from one of the most revered manufacturers in the industry, with a strikingly executed contemporary dial. The watch is in excellent condition and comes with its original box and warranty card.