In 1959, the Deep Sea Alarm Automatic (reference number E857), the world's first diver's watch with an alarm function was developed, containing the K815 caliber. At the same time the Memovox World Time was offered, with the time zones printed on the dial - it could therefore be used to calculate the time in other time zones.Īutomatic alarm wristwatch for divers The automatic winding of this watch had a pendulum, which rotated in an angle of about 110 °, It was limited by two springs and stored the energy in the barrel for the time function.įor the company's 125th anniversary, the Memovox Parking was sold in 1958, with the central alarm disc on the dial printed with markings to set the parking time. In 1956 Jaeger-LeCoultre launched the K815 caliber, the world's first automatic alarm wristwatch, the Memovox Automatic. The Memovoxes in North America were distributed by the company Vacheron-Constantin-LeCoultre, a subsidiary of Longines-Wittnauer. An exception were the case bottoms made of stainless steel, which were always engraved on the inside with LeCoultre on both European and US Memovox watches. Accordingly, the dials and case shapes used in the US models differ from the european ones. The calibers for the American market were encased in the USA in watch cases that were locally produced. From 1955 on, Memovoxes were also available equipped with the caliber K814 which had a date display.ĭue to the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, the Memovox models for the American market were printed and engraved with LeCoultre instead of Jaeger-LeCoultre until 1980. Memovox watches were also sold with Logo on the dial and bridge engraving by Cartier, Gübelin (here under the name Ipsovox), Dunhill and Van Cleef & Arpels. As a result, Memovox watches had two crowns for winding. The time and alarm function were separated by constructing two separate barrels which ensured that the power reserve of the clock was not reduced by triggering the alarm function. The K601 also referred to a later quartz movement by Jaeger-LeCoultre. These first Memovox models were equipped with the watch calibres K489, K489/1 or K601, which were wound manually. The company Vulcain had already produced the world's first alarm wristwatch named cricket in 1949. In 1951, Jaeger-LeCoultre's first alarm wristwatch was released under the name Memovox. memoria 'memory' and vox 'voice') refers to a model series of mechanical wristwatches with alarm function of the Swiss watch manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre. And with the 1950s-style case with 10K gold-filled bezel and claw lugs, this example is a catch for any lover of the miracle of mechanical alarms.Memovox ( portmanteau from lat. We see Memovoxes in good original condition from time to time, but finding a Memodate is a special treat. Pulling the same crown out allows you to rotate the inner dial, and align the triangle on the inner ring to set the time you desire the alarm to activate. Winding it (as you would a manual movement), charges a spring and holds it in tension until the alarm goes off. Operation of the alarm function is controlled through the top crown. The Memodate model ups the ante with the inclusion of a date function at 3:00, a wonderful addition to the classic piece that makes it all the more wearable day to day. With their unmistakable twin-crown case design and two-piece dials, the Memovox is a masterpiece of design that has in recent years attracted the attention of an ever-growing number of timepiece collectors. When it comes to vintage mechanical alarms, the Jaeger LeCoultre Memovox line is quite simply the most desirable of them all. Forget your electronic iPhone alarm, these things buzz and vibrate when they go off, all through the magic of mechanical watchmaking! Mechanical alarm watches are just about the coolest thing you can strap to your wrist.
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