Introducing: The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph (Live Pics & Pricing)

January 15, 2018

When you think of the Polaris, you might not think "chronograph" immediately, but that's exactly what this watch is. It marries the classic Polaris styling C those angular numerals, clean case design, and bold dial C with the most popular of complications, and to great effect. There's a wide tachymeter scale around the dial's edge, a slim bezel, and a pair of totalizers instead of a running seconds register, all making this a really practical chronograph for actual use. The pusher have nice snap to them and the in-house caliber 751 movement inside is a nicely finished workhorse that you can count on. Despite the larger 42mm size, this watch definitely has the feel of a mid-century sports watch through and through.? Why This Watch Matters The New Polaris Collection Be sure to check out the rest of the new Polaris collection too: Polaris Automatic Polaris Date Polaris Chronograph WT Polaris Memovox It's no secret that chronographs have been hot the last couple of years. As such, every watch brand has been working to produce a chronograph that can be competitive in its given price and style category C it's what consumers and retailers alike are asking for. So, Jaeger-LeCoultre has obliged and created this watch for us. It's part of the bigger Polaris collection, and it would be hard to imagine a modern sports watch collection without a chronograph as the anchor. (See Montblanc's new 1858 collection to see a similar strategy in action). To complement the more rugged steel models, there's also a rose gold version of this chronograph with a beautiful grey dial that could easily be a dress chronograph for those unafraid of larger watches with suits. Initial Thoughts The unsung hero of the new Polaris collection is the newly engineered steel bracelet. The mix of polished and brushed links is really subtle, the fit is comfortable (and should be for a variety of wrist sizes), and the clasp is ingenious. It can be adjusted from both sides so you get exactly the right balance on the wrist. The blue dial option is really stylish, but I think I prefer the classic black version myself. There's something about a black dial chronograph on a stainless steel bracelet that is just so good and for the Polaris it feels like the right choice. I could easily see this watch being the commercial hit of the collection, especially in the United States. The Basics Brand: Jaeger-LeCoultreModel: Polaris Chronograph?Diameter: 42mmThickness: 11.9mmCase Material: Stainless steel or rose goldDial Color: Black or blue (steel), Grey (rose gold)Indexes: Applied Arabic numerals and trapezoid batonsLume: White Super-LumiNovaWater Resistance: 100mStrap/Bracelet: Brown leather, Brown alligator, or stainless steel bracelet The Movement Caliber: In-House Caliber 751Functions: Hours, minutes, chronograph with 30-minute and 12-hour totalizersPower Reserve: 65 hours (from two barrels)Winding: AutomaticFrequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph)Jewels: 41Additional Details: Chronograph mechanism uses both a column wheel and a vertical clutch Pricing & Availability Price: $10,000 (stainless steel on calf leather strap), $10,100 (stainless steel on alligator strap), $10,900 (stainless steel on stainless steel bracelet), $24,500 (rose gold on alligator strap). Note: All prices subject to change.Availability: April 2018, online and in-storeFor more click here. The new chronograph wears really well, with a slim profile to go with the 42mm diameter. The adjustable clasp on the new steel bracelet is one of the best things about this watch. The pushers have clean, crisp action, as you'd expect from JLC. While the blue dial is nice, the black is the winner for me. The grey and gold version of the Polaris Chronograph offers a dressier option. The finishing on the gold model echoes that of the steel versions.