I must admit I have a mild obsession with watches. Recently I’ve become enamoured with vintage watches from the 60’s, with their slim and understated profiles. While most of these watches are smaller than are currently fashionable, I think the look of many of these are timeless.

One that has particularly caught my attention is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox. It was the first wristwatch, released in 1956, with a alarm function. This mechanism, or complication, works by using a reverberating mallet inside the case powered by a wound spring. In the days before beeping quartz watches and cell phone alarms, I could imagine that this was quite useful. Here’s a video of the alarm being set and going off, and a video of the mechanism going off in the movement.

I especially love the thin rounded cases, the low profile crowns, the convex crystal, and the clean dials. There are two crowns, one to wind and set the watch, and the other to set the alarm. My favorite case is in rose gold, which give it a retro look.

There has been a revival in the interest for vintage watches recently, as seen by the resissue of some classic models. A cult favorite memovox, the 1968 Memovox Polaris, is very collectible today for its surprisingly modern appeal. Large stainless steel watches are popular today and rare in the 1960s - the Polaris has a large 42mm Stainless Steel case (vintages watches are usually 30-35mm and in gold cases). I feel that Jaeger LeCoultre has never developed the brand recognition in the market relative to the its famous history and high quality - a good condition memovox in gold seems to be undervalued at the moment.

Other posts on watches