New Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris models introduce new colours and a new complication for the line
Zach Blass- Jaeger-LeCoultre debuts three new Polaris configurations.
- The Polaris Geographic, a new model, marks the first time the collection includes JLC’s signature reinterpretation of a travel time complication.
- Ocean grey lacquered dials for the Polaris Date and Polaris Geographic, and a new green gradient for the Polaris Perpetual Calendar.
With much emphasis on the Reverso and Duomètre for recent Watches and Wonders fairs, the fan-favourite Polaris has not had as much time in the spotlight as of late, even though the Polaris Chronograph got a brand-new movement just last year. This is why it is great news to not only have new colourways for both the Polaris Date and Polaris Perpetual Calendar, but also an entirely new model: the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Geographic.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Geographic
With the new Geographic, JLC’s signature reinterpretation of a travel time complication is now available in a Polaris for the first time. Encased in stainless steel, 42mm in diameter and 11.54mm thick, the watch features a new ocean grey-lacquered dial with a second time zone aperture at the bottom. Rotate the crown at 10 o’clock, and you can jump between 24 major time zones, the time corresponding to a desired major city then displayed on the 6 o’clock-positioned sub-dial. With the addition of this complication, the rehaut, styled like a diver’s timing scale, is no longer rotatable as you would see in other Polaris models. That being said, I am far more likely to use a travel time complication than an inner bezel timing scale.
There is no date complication on the dial, but accompanying the travel time second time-zone display, there is a night/day indicator to convey AM/PM, as well as a power reserve indicator. In terms of straps, not only does it come with two, bundled, quick-release straps (a black rubber and blue-grey canvas), there’s also an interchangeable folding buckle that can be quickly affixed to either with ease. Inside the 100-metre water-resistant watch is JLC’s in-house automatic 939 calibre with 70 hours of power reserve.
| Brand | Jaeger-LeCoultre |
| Model | Polaris Geographic |
| Reference | Q9078640 |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (D) x 11.54mm (T) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire crystal front and back |
| Dial | Gradient ocean grey lacquer |
| Strap | Black rubber and blue-grey canvas, quick-release steel folding buckle |
| Movement | Calibre 939, in-house, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 70 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, second time zone, power reserve, day/night indicator |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | US$16,100 |
Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date
This new gradient ocean grey lacquer dial is also extended to a steel Polaris Date, which, to recap, is 42mm in diameter, 13.92mm thick, and 200 metres water-resistant. The dial effect is achieved (for both the Polaris Date and Geographic), through 35 coatings of lacquer. They each feature a sunburst-finished central medallion that then transitions beyond its borders into a grained finish that gradually darkens as you reach the outer edge of the dials. They each also have hands and large applied indices filled with SuperLuminova for visibility in darkness. The Polaris Date, however, keeps things simple with just the time and date – the latter expressed through a black-on-white disc at the 3 o’clock position.
While the Polaris Date is outfitted on an interchangeable black rubber strap with an interchangeable folding clasp, it is not bundled with another strap, so you will need to purchase another strap from Jaeger-LeCoultre before you can explore this functionality. Exhibited through the case back is the in-house automatic calibre 899 with 70 hours of power reserve.
| Brand | Jaeger-LeCoultre |
| Model | Polaris Date |
| Reference | Q9068650 |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (D) x 13.92mm (T) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 200 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire crystal front and back |
| Dial | Gradient ocean grey lacquer |
| Strap | Black rubber, quick-release steel folding clasp |
| Movement | Calibre 899, in-house, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 70 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | US$11,100 |
Jaeger-LeCoultre Perpetual Calendar
Like the Polaris Date, the Polaris Perpetual Calendar is not technically a new model – rather a new colourway with its fresh gradient green lacquer. I am not normally fond of pink gold paired with green, but the gradient nature may be the culprit as to why I find this model to be an exception to the rule. The Polaris Perpetual Calendar’s 18k pink gold case is 42mm in diameter and it clocks in at the second thinnest with a measurement of 11.97mm in height. Perhaps the slenderness of both the Geographic and Perpetual Calendar can be attributed to the fact their cases are half as water-resistant as the Polaris Date, despite having more complicated movements.
I must point out one fact in particular. This is a perpetual calendar you could feasibly wear daily and safely swim with, quite a novelty within the perpetual calendar category. Were it to start raining while I had my ’90s Breguet 3057 on, short of the safe haven of a sturdy sleeve, I would be running for cover. Like the Geographic, the Perpetual Calendar is sold with two bundled straps – a green rubber and a black alligator leather – each compatible with a case-matching quick-change folding clasp. Exhibited within is the in-house, automatic Calibre 868 with 70 hours of autonomy – a long power reserve for such a highly complicated movement. It includes hours, minutes, seconds, the perpetual calendar (day, date, month, leap year), and the phase of the moon in both hemispheres. Just like most non-secular perpetual calendars, it will require no manual correction until the year 2100. There is even an adjustment security zone feature to prevent damage to the movement while operating – I wouldn’t expect anything less from the watchmaker’s watchmaker.
| Brand | Jaeger-LeCoultre |
| Model | Polaris Perpetual Calendar |
| Reference | Q908263J |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (D) x 11.97mm (T) |
| Case Material | 18k pink gold |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire crystal front and back |
| Dial | Gradient green lacquer |
| Straps | Green rubber and black alligator leather, quick-release pink gold folding clasp |
| Movement | Calibre 868, in-house, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 70 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, perpetual calendar, moonphase |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | US$52,500 |