Throwback Thursday: Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm

Few vintage watches possess such a flair as the (Jaeger-)LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm. Although over sixty years old, it combines an exciting complication with a captivating design, housed in a case with a very contemporary diameter of 39mm. It is a true rarity, not only because diving watches with an alarm function are seldomly seen, but also because Jaeger-LeCoultre made this model for only three years, between 1959 and 1962. It was launched as Jaeger-LeCoultre in Europe, while this American version only carried the name of LeCoultre.

Being the very first diving watch with an alarm function, it was particularly useful, as it gave an audible signal to the diver when it was time to come up again. This is also why it lacks the traditional diving bezel, which Jaeger-LeCoultre replaced with one featuring a scale up to twelve. This also turns the Deep Sea Alarm into a bonafide travel watch, making tracking a second time zone rather convenient. Jaeger-LeCoultre fitted the watch with caliber K815, an automatic movement which they also used in their iconic Memovox watches of that era.

The overall design is in particular pleasing, even after so many decades. Its duo crowns give it a dynamic touch, while the two-tone design of the dial maintains a timeless touch. It combines subtle Arabic numerals with bold dashes marking the minutes and hours/five-minute intervals. Over time, this particular Deep Sea Alarm has developed a muted discoloration of the dial, hands, and bezel. It amplifies its vintage status, making this rare watch all the more desirable. As the production has been very limited, both in time as well as units, this unique diver seldomly surfaces. While this increases its value, it is also a pity, as its relatively large size and interesting complication make it a perfect vintage watches to wear today.