Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Mariner, c. 2019

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

Jaeger-LeCoultre has a rich history of tool watch innovation. The Reverso? Actually a tool watch. (No, seriously — the whole reversible schtick was so that polo players wouldn’t crack their glass watch crystals mid-game.) The Memovox Polaris? A water-resistant alarm watch that would let you know, audibly, when it was time to begin your ascent. The contemporary Polaris Date pays homage to the latter watch but does away with the alarm bit — which, let’s face it, your iPhone can handle just fine, thank you very much. Retaining the compressor-style case of its namesake as well as the cool, internal bezel, it adds a thoroughly modern, in-house movement to the mix for a watch rich in details and heritage. This particular Polaris Date, a Reference Q9068670, dates to circa 2019. Housed in a 42mm stainless steel case with a sapphire crystal, dual, signed crowns, and a polished bezel, it features a sunburst and matte black dial with applied luminous ‘Arabic’ and ‘wedge’ indices, an inner, fully graduated timing bezel, a lumed ‘sword’ handset, and a handy date wheel at 3:00. Powered by the Jaeger-LeCoultre manufacture calibre 899/1 with a 38-hour power reserve, it comes paired to a signed, black rubber strap with a signed, stainless steel pin buckle deployant clasp. Accompanied by some of its factory goodies, it’s both an excellent tool watch, and a fine timepiece from one of Switzerland’s most storied houses. Don’t let this one slip through your fingers!