Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Memovox
- a funny use, with a useful complication
- a good coherence in the enhancement of the product, while remaining in a historical continuity of the model
- the quick date and the stop second
- the setting of the alarm function that requires a little bit of training
- a readability that is not optimum
| Brand | Jaeger-LeCoultre |
| Model name | Master Memovox |
| Reference | Q1418430 |
| Case material | Steel |
| Case diameter (without crown) | 40 mm |
| Case diameter (crown included) | 43,05 mm |
| Movement type | Automatic |
| Caliber | JLC 956 |
| Base Caliber | JLC 956 |
| Functions | Alarm Date Hour Minute Second |
| Crystal | Sapphire glass |
| Power reserve | 45h |
| Transparent back | No |
| Lug width | 20,89 mm |
| Length from lug to lug | 47,06 mm |
| Case thickness | 14,19 mm |
| Strap material | Alligator |
| Clasp type | Deployment clasp |
| Clasp material | Steel |
| Total weight | 95 grammes |
| Retail price USA at October 12th, 2010 | $6,950.00 |
| Comfort (/15) | 14 |
| Movement (/20) | 14 |
| Movement Optimisation / Garnishment (/5) | 3.5 |
| Ease of handling and adjustment (/5) | 5 |
| Movement control proceeded by the Manufacture / horlogical awards (/3) | 2 |
| Power reserve (/2) | 1 |
| Complications (/5) | 2.5 |
| Finishing (/20) | 12 |
| Dial finishing (/6) | 5 |
| Case finishing (/6) | 3 |
| Quality of garnishment / caseback engraving quality (/2) | 2 |
| Crystal quality (/4) | 1 |
| Clasp finishing (inner and extern) (/2) | 1 |
| Functionality (/20) | 14 |
| Diurnal legibility (/5) | 3.5 |
| Night legibility (/4) | 3 |
| Water resistance (/3) | 0.5 |
| Strap : ease of size adjustment + ease of substitution (/4) | 3 |
| Clasp : quality and safety (/4) | 4 |
| Additional items (/10) | 4 |
| Limited edition (/3) | 0 |
| Watch delivered with several straps (/2) | 0 |
| Quality of the watch box (/1) | 1 |
| Portability with shirtsleeves buttoned (/2) | 2 |
| Goodies included (/1) | 0 |
| Understandability of the brochure (/1) | 1 |
| Value for money (/15) | 14 |
| When to wear it ? | At night, for the pleasure to be awakened by the ringing! |
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Memovox
Overview
Let’s start with the external aspect of this Jaeger-LeCoultre.
The characteristics of the Master Control line are gathered: integrally polished case, thin lugs and silver dial with applied markers.
The literature is discreet – which is quite pleasant – and the mention Memovox only appears on the rotating disk.
The whole is sober and elegant.
While watching it closely, everything is about successful cosmetics changes comparing this Master Memovox to its predecessor, the Master Réveil.
The new spear-shaped hands match now with the size of the multifaceted markers and are more present than the traditional Dauphine hands.
The blue-stained steel second hand presents a nice contrast, while the date’s aperture slims down by standing out on two levels.
The alarm fuction
The crown at 4 o’clock is aimed at the setting of the hours and minutes and at the manual winding of the movement if necessary.
Good surprise compared to the Master Reveil: a stop second allows now a more accurate setting of the time.
The crown at 2 o’clock is used to wind on the alarm, set it thanks to the internal rotating disk, as well as for changing the date.
Another good surprise: this new generation of Memovox is equipped with a quick date.
While testing this timepiece, it appears that the precise setting of the alarm ringing, in order to get an effect close to the minute, requires a little practice.
But then, you will be rewarded for your efforts: the ringing is present, neither too powerful nor too strident, not risking becoming the cause of divorce or discharge.
A new movement: Caliber Jaeger-LeCoultre 956
The 956 automatic Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber, developed for the Polaris, henceforth equips also this Memovox.
You will appreciate in particular the presence of a brake on the hammer of the alarm: it avoids the small inopportune reminders that happened with the previous movement, within the 30 minutes following the alarm, at every movement of the wrist…
The manufacture label “1000 Hours control” by Jaeger-LeCoultre guarantees the reliability of this caliber.
A regret nevertheless: the full back, necessary as a sound box in order to ensure the good tone of the ringing, does not allow seeing the alarm working.
Daily use
The new 40 mm diameter (previously 39 mm), compared to the unchanged 14 mm thickness, gives a more proportionate aspect to this watch.
And yet its presence around the wrist, while wearing a suit and a shirt, suits without any problem.
The double crown, reminder of the Compressor cases, gives a more technical side to this well civilized watch.
We can maybe regret the combination dial/hand that does not always allow an instinctive legibility of the time.
Another regret: the luminescent material is not applied enough in order to ease the night-time use – all in all, quite common for an alarm clock …
The black crocodile leather strap suits the soberness of the whole. Its thickness and the bend of its profile perfectly frame the height of the lugs.
The folding buckle, set on a classical strap, eases the setting and secures the use.
What to remember
The Sleeping Beauty has not aged, quite on the contrary…
And its wake up, under the shape of the Master Memovox, offers us a simple complication for a daily use and pleasure, under an advantageous design.