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Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox 'Tribute to Deep Sea' (Ref. Q2028440) "USA Edition", 2014 — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox 'Tribute to Deep Sea' (Ref. Q2028440) "USA Edition", 2014

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Jaeger-LeCoultre (maker)
Date
2014
Country of origin
United States
Object type
Wristwatch
Stock no.
JLCMTDS
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (JLCMTDS)
Catalogue title (original)
2014 Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox 'Tribute to Deep Sea' (Ref. Q2028440) "USA Edition" W/ Box & Papers (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number JLCMTDS), this is a wristwatch by Jaeger-LeCoultre, made in United States, dated 2014. The Atlas places it in the Contemporary Horology period (2010 – Present) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

Jaeger-LeCoultre has been one of the leading watch manufacturers and more impressively watch movement manufacturers since the early 1900s, though their dignified roots date all the way back to 1844. Jaeger-LeCoultre or "JLC" for short, produced some of the most important movements for other manufacturers including Patek Philippe, Cartier, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin. JLC created a multitude of its own extraordinary watches throughout the company's tenure as one of the leading Swiss watchmaking houses. The Memovox is one of Jaeger-LeCoultre's most iconic and well-performing line of watches, and though the Memovox wasn't the first alarm watch created, JLC innovated the wristwatch alarm function with their dual case back design which greatly increased sound resonance. With the success of the classic Memovox design and the increased demand for utility-driven timepieces, JLC realized there was room for even more innovation. 1959 Jaeger-LeCoultre unveiled the Deep Sea Alarm ref. E857, the world's first dive-rated timepiece with an alarm function. This unique timekeeping creation was only in production for two years with an estimated 950 pieces made with two distinct dial variations, one for the US market, and one for the European market, either of which is highly desired by vintage collectors. The Memovox 'Tribute to Deep Sea' is a faithful, yet tastefully updated recreation of the original design limited to 359 Pieces in the US edition, like the example presented here, and 959 for the European edition. The 'Tribute to Deep Sea' is fitted with the robust automatic caliber 956 movement, which features a 48-hour power reserve and an alarm function that is loud enough to be heard underwater. Stock # JLCMTDS Brand Jaeger-LeCoultre Style Memovox 'Tribute to Deep Sea' Model Q2028440 Serial 27XXXXX / No. 09X/359 Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Matte Black "USA Edition" Millimeters 40.5 Strap JLC Woven Rubber Tropic Strap CASE & BRACELET The excellent case appears to remain unpolished with crisp factory brushing present on the case sides and gentle signs of use present throughout. The bezel insert exhibits no visible signs of use and features lumed triangle markers at 12, 3, 6, & 9 o'clock. The original acrylic crystal exhibits some gentle signs of use. The crown located at 2 o'clock winds and sets the alarm function, while the crown located at 4 o'clock functions the setting of the time. The case back exhibits minimal wear with the factory engravings remaining in excellent condition. The watch comes on its original Jaeger-LeCoultre woven rubber tropic black strap with the original unsigned stainless steel tang buckle. DIAL & HANDS The matte black and silver "USA Edition" dial is flawless. The hands are flawless. ACCESSORIES The watch comes as a complete set with its original inner and outer boxes, the Certificate of Guarantee, booklets, and hang tag.

Historical context

Contemporary Horology (2010 – Present)

Silicon components, connected watches, optical-lattice research clocks and a thriving independent scene.

Smartwatches became the world's best-selling watches, while mechanical watchmaking focuses on craft, innovation (silicon components, new escapements) and independent makers.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Mechanical Renaissance

Atlas type guide

Dive and water-resistant watches

Keeping water and dust out of a wristwatch was a long-standing challenge. Rolex's screw-down Oyster case (1926) and Omega's Marine (1932) were landmarks; in the early 1950s Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms and Rolex's Submariner defined the professional dive watch with rotating bezels for timing dives, luminous dials and high water resistance. The ISO 6425 standard (1982) later codified what a 'diver's watch' must do.

Dive watches became icons of post-war design and exploration, and their evolution — helium escape valves, ceramic bezels, saturation-diving depth ratings — records the history of underwater work.

What to look for

  • Unidirectional or bidirectional rotating bezel with minute markings.
  • Screw-down crown and case back; depth rating printed on the dial.
  • Luminous hands and markers (radium before c. 1960, tritium c. 1960–1998, then Super-LumiNova).
  • Reference numbers on the case between the lugs or inside the back.

Dating clues

  • Screw-down Oyster cases: from 1926.
  • Professional dive watches: from 1953.
  • Tritium 'T' marks on dials: c. 1960–1998.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

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