Hands-on – Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Automatic – The Entry-Level to JLC’s new Sports Collection
Jaeger-LeCoultre takes a decidedly elegant plunge into the sports watch arena with the 2018 Polaris Collection. Reviewed here in detail, the five new members of the Polaris family are clearly descendants of the legendary Memovox Polaris model of 1968, revisited with just the right mix of vintage styling and contemporary tweaks. The Polaris Automatic is the simplest, smallest (41mm) and most contemporary looking model in the collection offering time only indications and an attractive entry-level price. For those of you who suffer from ‘datewindowphobia’, you will be pleased to discover that there is no such thing on this model allowing for an unobstructed, uninterrupted view of the dial. Smart enough to wear to the office yet rugged and sporty enough for 100-metre dives, the Polaris Automatic is as versatile as they come with a great history to boot.
Well, at the end of a week that has focused on Panerai watches, the votes are in. In a recent Instagram poll, 66 per cent of you said that the Luminor is their preferred collection. About the same split could be seen in the comments on various posts. There’s little mystery as to why it wins. It’s all about that ingenious crown guard, that beefs up the cushion case and gives the Luminor its iconic, recognisable presence on the wrist. It could also have something to do with the sheer volume of movie and celebrity appearances the Luminor pulls each year. It’s a heavyweight fighter in the watch world and, given Panerai’s relatively diminutive size as a company compared to the big box brands, it punches well above its weight. To round out the week’s mini-series which compared them in the same video, then split out into two individual reviews, we have a Luminor Marina 8 Days Acciaio PAM 00590 in front of the lens now.
Here at Time+Tide we receive a lot – and I mean A LOT – of emails from young brands directing us to their new watch launching on Kickstarter. The humble platform that began as a way for up-and-coming designers to tender their ideas – and, if they were good enough, have them brought to life – now crowded by cookie-cutter designs, each touting the same old story. Sorting the good from the less good can be a massive task. However, every now and then, through the fog of “industry disruptors” and “affordable luxury”, shine a few gems that, at least we think, are worthy of a second take. Here are five examples from the sportier end of the Kickstarter spectrum. Laventure Marine The Laventure Marine can more than boast about its Swiss-made designation, with more than 90 per cent of the watch produced in Switzerland. With a 200m water-resistant case inspired by dive watches of the 1960s, namely the Patek Philippe Nautilus, this is a sports watch made for exploring. And it’s good-looking to boot, with a stunning array of colourful dial options – blue, green or brown – and a nicely decorated ETA 2824-2 movement inside. 1670 CHF. Moduco…
If you know a little bit about how the world of watches works, you’ll likely know that it’s a space dominated by a few big groups (namely Richemont, Swatch and LVMH), each with their own stable of brands. SIHH is a show dominated by Richemont brands — big names like Cartier, IWC and Montblanc. But they’re not the only show in town at the Salon. Some larger independent brands, such as Richard Mille, show as well, as do a a select group of smaller names. These smaller names — low in production numbers but high in quality, innovation and prestige — congregate in the Carré des Horlogers, an opulent cul-de-sac, populated by some of the most exceptional (and expensive) watches at a fair all about exceptional (and expensive) watches. Who better to show us around than Andrew and sometime contributor and full-time indie-lover Justin Mastine-Frost. Over to you, Justin …
