Jaeger-LeCoultre

LeCoultre Memovox Alarm, Speedbeat | 14k Gold Case on JB Champion Bracelet | ref. 3075-916 (c. 1970)

--- $7,600 CAD ---
*Applicable taxes, import fees, and shipping not included

A NOTE FROM THE CURATOR

The Memovox alarm is one of the most charming and utterly nostalgic vintage complications out there. Nothing beats the tactile and audible experience of a mechanical alarm buzzing on your wrist, because not only do you hear it (and boy do you hear it), but you feel it too.

The fact that the alarm complication requires independent power from winding up a separate crown (the same crown that is also used to actually set the alarm via the inner rotating disc of the dial), just makes the overall experience of this watch a total delight.

The impressive “Speed Beat” movement (cal. 916) was a technological leap for JLC, running at a higher beat rate for improved precision, while retaining the quirky alarm that made the Memovox an icon of its time.

Dating to around 1970, this particular LeCoultre Memovox “Speedbeat” Ref. 3075-916 offers it all: original U.S. cased, and delivery history (hence use of the "LeCoultre" masthead), a clean and glowing, honest dial, sharp 14k gold unpolished case, and that original gold-filled JB Champion bracelet. It’s as authentic as they come and carries a ton of vintage character.

INTERESTING FACT...

Jaeger-LeCoultre often had their US allocated watches cased and timed in the US to navigate gold tariff restrictions at that time, and would then be paired them with American-made bracelets by their US retailers (authorized as official pairings by JLC, of course). These pairings often saw gold-filled bracelets strapped on solid gold cases, and JB Champion was the go-to. Their mesh bracelets are not only iconic, but also incredibly comfortable. Finding one still matched to the watch today is a treat. They exude period charm and style like no other.

All in all, this is one of those watches that captures the soul of vintage JLC...technical innovation wrapped in pure mid-century elegance.

CONDITION

Case: 14k solid gold, unpolished, with sharp original lines. Mild honest wear throughout. Inside case-back is stamped "Cased and Timed in U.S.A.
Dial: Beautiful two piece silver-piece dial with a brushed sunburst inner disc (used for the alarm). Light spotting and faint discolouration near the logo and around markers, but no major distractions. Tritium lume plots are intact around the dial, with the exception of a missing plot at 8 o’clock. Hands retain their original tritium as well.
Crystal: Clean, period-correct acrylic, with some mild surface scuffing, but no major distractions.
Bracelet: Original JB Champion gold-filled mesh bracelet with LeCoultre-signed buckle. Stamped “Champion - 1/20 10KT G.F. - USA - Steel Hinge.” These U.S.-delivered pairings are part of what makes these watches so collectable. The bracelet has some scratches on the buckle, and light wear on the gold plating, but is in overall excellent condition, and in my opinion, really makes this watch sing.
Movement: LeCoultre Caliber 916 “Speed Beat”, the brand’s first high-frequency automatic alarm movement, running at 28,800 A/h. Freshly serviced, keeping +1 to +3 seconds per day. Alarm function is crisp, loud, and addictive (trust me).

SPECIFICATIONS

BRAND: LeCoultre
MODEL: Memovox “Speedbeat”
REFERENCE: 3075-916
YEAR: Circa 1970
CASE: 14k Yellow Gold (unpolished)
DIMENSIONS: 36mm diameter x 41.3mm lug-to-lug, 13mm thick
LUG WIDTH: 19mm
DIAL: Two-tone silver step dial, applied gold indices, tritium lume plots
CRYSTAL: Acrylic
MOVEMENT: Cal. 916, automatic, hi-beat 28,800 A/h, mechanical alarm
BRACELET: Original JB Champion 1/20 10kt GF mesh with signed clasp
FUNCTIONS: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, alarm
CONDITION: Original/unpolished, serviced, running +1 to +3 s/d

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