Conceived for everyday adventures, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Polaris collection has been redefining the modern sporty-chic watch since 2018 and, this year, the Swiss luxury watchmaker has enriched the collection with the Polaris Chronograph which features a new dial in the Maison’s signature ocean grey lacquer.
Deftly balancing the robust capabilities and practical functions of a sports watch with Jaeger-LeCoultre’s signature elegance, the Polaris line pays direct homage to the watchmaker’s emblematic diving watches of the 1960s, capturing their sporting spirit and reinterpreting their vintage appeal in an elegant, confidently contemporary style.
With the versatility of both a casually elegant everyday timepiece and a high-performing sports watch, the Polaris Chronograph is designed for optimal comfort on the wrist. Well-balanced and highly wearable, its 42mm steel case features the key Polaris design codes: taut lines, sharply curving lugs, a thin bezel, a glass-box crystal, and an eye-catching mix of brushed and polished surfaces. The large crown – a signature of the 1960s model that inspired the contemporary Polaris line – and robust pushers are designed for better grip and ease of use.
Fresh Allure
Anchored by the clean, modern lines of the case, the new ocean grey dial is bold and visually striking, thanks to the richness of the lacquer and the contrast of bright orange details that speak to the chronograph’s sportier side.
Complex in construction, the dial is composed of a central disc, a middle ring, to which the hour markers are applied, and an outer ring that is marked with the tachymeter scale. Sunray brushing on the central disc creates a subtle contrast with the smooth gloss of the hours ring; on both sections, the colour of the lacquer is graduated from light to dark, adding great visual depth to the dials.
The lacquering of the dial components is a lengthy and exacting process, with each layer of coating being applied manually. It begins with the application of a clear coat of varnish, followed by four layers of colour. Then a layer of black is applied to create the gradient effect. The challenge lies in controlling both the shade and the gradient, so that the two main sections of the dial match each other. This is followed by 30 coats of translucent lacquer, to add depth and richness.
The layout of the Polaris Chronograph dial is timeless and intuitive to read, featuring a central chronograph seconds hand to enable more precise reading of this key measurement. Balanced by the 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, the sub-dial at 9 o’clock animates the dial with a running seconds display. The circular graining of these sub-dials adds more visual interest, contrasting with the glossy central dial and the textured finish of the hours ring.
Orange accents draw the eye to the key indications and add dynamism to the overall composition. In keeping with the contemporary Polaris design codes, skeletonised hands allow greater visibility of the indications and bold trapezoid-shaped indexes balance the fine detail of the chronograph displays. Luminescent coating on the indexes, numerals and the tips of the hands enhances legibility in all light conditions – an essential attribute for a sports watch.
A Legacy of Watchmaking Excellence
The sapphire crystal case-back reveals the automatic movement, Calibre 761 – a quintessential example of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s approach to watchmaking that combines high performance with mechanical elegance.
Powered by twin barrels, the fully integrated chronograph movement features a column-wheel chronograph mechanism with vertical clutch and offers a 65-hour power reserve. The fine finishing includes blued screws and Côtes de Genève decoration on the baseplate as well as on the signature open-worked winding rotor bearing the JL motif. The movement was designed, produced and assembled by Jaeger-LeCoultre at its factory in Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux.
Underlining its versatile and sporty spirit, the Ocean Grey Polaris Chronograph is presented with two interchangeable straps – one in blue-grey canvas and one in textured black rubber – enabling a change in style and attitude in a matter of moments.
For more information, please visit www.jaeger-lecoultre.com.