Item DetailsClockmakerSeller InformationShipping ReturnsThe 1stDibs Promise

About the Item

This timepiece is curated from Carlo Biagiolis private collection.

An alarm in your pocket

The word Memovox was invented by LeCoultre and is actually an amalgamation of two latin words. Memor, which means remembering and Vox, which means voice. This is a highly unusual alarm pocket watch with a leg at the back that allows it to stand as a desk clock too.

The 40mm two-piece gold-plated case is in lovely original condition. The dial is really great and features an outer rim in black enamel and gold paint, a matte silver ring with LeCoultre logo and applied indexes and lume. There is also an inner dial with the alarm function in gold circular-brushed finish. The watch has two crowns, one for setting time the other for setting the alarm. The watch has a manual wind movement, Calibre K820, which has been fully checked by our watchmaker. This cool Memovox It has its original leather case from the LeCoultre brand.

Specifications:

– LeCoutre Memovox
– Dates to the 1950s
– 40mm gold plated case
– Hammer alarm system
– Enamel and gold tri-tone dial
– Calibre K814 movement
– Original pouch with LeC logo
– Fully checked by our watchmaker
– Includes a handmade leather watch pouchCreator: Jaeger-LeCoultre (Clockmaker)Design: Reverso WatchDimensions: Height: 1.58 in (4 cm)Diameter: 1.78 in (4.5 cm)Style: Art Deco (Of the Period)Materials and Techniques: Enamel,Gold,PlatedPlace of Origin: SwitzerlandPeriod: 1950-1959Date of Manufacture: 1950Condition: GoodWear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor structural damages. Minor fading.Seller Location: Autonomous City Buenos Aires, ARReference Number: 1stDibs: LU7304235927752Shop All Jaeger-LeCoultre

Jaeger-LeCoultre

The exquisite art of watchmaking is on display in the distinctive designs of Jaeger-LeCoultre. The Swiss manufacturer is celebrated for its striking Art Decoera antique clocks, while its range of sumptuous luxury watches spans the gamut of modern design, each one a time capsule of its period.

Jaeger-LeCoultre was established in 1833 by watchmaker Antoine LeCoultre in the Valle de Joux of the Swiss mountains. LeCoultre was also an inventor who, in 1844, created the millionomtre. As the first instrument to measure thousandths of a millimeter with total accuracy, it refined the meticulous watchmaking process. By 1866, LeCoultre’s son, Elie LeCoultre, took over the business. He revolutionized watchmaking by bringing all 180 skills involved in the trade into one workshop: LeCoultre Cie Manufacture.

By 1903, the company had passed to Antoine LeCoultre’s grandson, Jacques-David LeCoultre. He created a signature line of ultra-thin watches in partnership with Edmond Jaeger, a French watchmaker who specialized in flat watch cases. In 1907, Louis Cartier signed a contract with Jaeger so that Cartier would have movements for its popular timepieces produced exclusively at LeCoultre in Switzerland. This era saw the debut of Cartiers Santos as well as its Tank watch.

Watchmakers at Jaeger-LeCoultre began to experiment with the Art Deco style that had encompassed the 1920s and the 1930s. At the time, there were many influences that led to the creation of Art Deco jewelry, while the cases of Art Deco clocks featured architectural details and saw an integration of materials such as brass, glass and marble. Iconic Jaeger-LeCoultre designs from this era include the 1928 Atmos clock and the Reverso watch. Stylish and practical, the coveted Reverso watch features a case that you can flip to protect the watch face.

During the 1950s and ’60s, Jaeger-LeCoultre watchmakers continued the manufacturers tradition of prioritizing practical reliability. In 1958, the company introduced the robust and durable Geophysic watch collection. The Memovox Polaris, an alarm-equipped dive watch one could wear underwater, followed in 1968.

The best-known timepiece in the company’s modern collection is the Master Control watch, unveiled in 1992. It symbolizes a return to the thin style and performance-first ethic of classic Jaeger-LeCoultre. In 2018, the watchmaker also launched the Polaris collection. Inspired by the original Memovox, the series features a sporty, elegant and contemporary look.

Find vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre wristwatches and pocket watches on 1stDibs.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “Lecoultre Memovox pocket and desk alarm watch 1950s”

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *