As mid-century approached and 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. In response to this need the engineers at Jaeger-LeCoultre created 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.
This early example of an alarm was presented "For Champion Sales Management Performance - November-December 1955 - Henry Ford II." The dial has the Ford logo factory emblazoned at twelve. These were given out one time in 1955.
Its case presents in excellent condition. The back has previously been polished to have the engraving removed. The only gold wearthrough are pin pricks at a few lug corners and a few areas around the edge of the bezel. When writing this description we had not even noticed the wear around the bezel edge even while looking for wear until we looked through very magnified photos...it is much less noticeable than the photos suggest.
The special Ford dial was refinished in vintage times. Please inquire if you would like it freshly restored. It is done in an uncommon style - we have only owned one previous example like this. It has wide boy baton indices instead of the usual version that has dart indices.
One of our Master Watchmakers has disassembled it down to its last screw and fully serviced it. It is running strong and true, keeping time essentially on par with a new watch in our testing position.
For the finishing touch, we have equipped it with a new distressed leather vintage style strap making it ready for immediate enjoyment.
Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. warranty on the movement and its function, a custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity, 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.: 1,047,588
- Year sold: 1955
- Model: Memovox ref. 9386
- Functions: Hours, Minutes, Alarm (Reveil), Sweep Seconds
- Designed for: Men
- Case material: 10K yellow gold filled
- Case markings (outside): 10K Gold Filled Apex
- Case markings (inside): Cased and Timed in U.S.A by LeCoultre, 10K Gold Filled, 54010347. There are a number of hand-engraved watchmaker's marks showing a fairly extensive servicing history of the watch.
- Case condition: Its case presents in excellent condition. The back has previously been polished to have the engraving removed. The only gold wearthrough are pin pricks at a few lug corners and a few areas around the edge of the bezel. When writing this description we had not even noticed the wear around the bezel edge even while looking for wear until we looked the very magnified photos...it is much less noticeable than the photos suggest.
- Dimensions: 34mm diameter (excluding crowns), 42mm long lug tip-to-tip
- Dial: Silver outer dial with gold dart indexes and Arabic numerals for the primary hours, Ford logo at twelve, silver inner revolving alarm disk, inner minute track, restored in vintage times. Please inquire if you would like it freshly restored.
- Hands: Original, gold "lances", original blue steel counterweighted 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: Distressed leather vintage style strap, remborde, brand new and unworn
- Width between lugs: 18mm
- Serviced: One of our watchmakers has disassembled it down to its last screw, serviced it, and installed a new mainspring.
- Timing: Timed to precision on a state-of-the-art computerized system. It is running strong and true, keeping time essentially on par with a new watch in our testing position. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center.
- Warranty: 1-year international warranty. Please email [email protected] for details.
- Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; New timing certificate; Copy of LeCoultre repair manual for this model detailing the movement parts and their operation
- Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee
