Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm E857

Reference E857 Memovox Deep Sea Alarm | A stainless steel automatic alarm wristwatch, Circa 1960 LeCoultre

Dial: black Caliber: cal. K 815 automatic, 17 jewels Movement number: 1’480’181 Case: stainless steel, screw down case back Case number: 843’729 Size: 39 mm diameter Signed: case, dial and movement Box: yes Papers: yes Accessories: LeCoultre presentation box, open and undated LeCoultre warranty papers, two instructions booklets, and sales tagSome say the most interesting watches come about from a need, and the LeCoultre Reference E857 Memovox Deep Sea Alarm is certainly no exception. Created as an innovative diving tool watch, the alarm, housed in a Super Compressor case, was designed to alert the diver when they were running out of air and it was time to surface. This function was crucial in the expansion of underwater exploration and allowed divers more security when diving. According to the brand, there were 1,061 units produced between 1959 and 1962. The versions vary slightly by dial configurations, with early models having no text on the dial. The present lot has the words ‘Deep Sea Alarm Automatic’ emboldened on the dial below the center arbor. Produced only between a mere three year window, the Memovox is highly collectible and desirable. This lot is offered with its original box and papers.