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Deep Sea

Introduced: 1959 (original), revived in 2011 as the Memovox Tribute to Deep Sea

Purpose / Inspiration: The Deep Sea was Jaeger-LeCoultre’s first purpose-built dive watch, launched in 1959 for professional and military use. It was also the first dive watch ever with a mechanical alarm function (in the Memovox version), helping divers track their bottom time audibly. The 2011 reissue brought this historic piece back to life—keeping vintage proportions but adding modern reliability and water resistance.

Designer: Developed by JLC’s in-house team in the late ’50s to meet the growing demand for underwater exploration tools; reissue design modeled after original US and European versions

Case size:

  • Vintage: ~39.5mm
  • Tribute models (2011+): 40.5mm–42mm
  • Deep Sea Chronograph: 42mm

Case options:

  • Stainless steel
  • Polished or brushed finishes
  • Black PVD limited editions
  • Plexiglass crystal on some Tribute editions for vintage accuracy

Powered by:

  • Original (1959): Caliber 815 Memovox (automatic alarm movement)
  • Modern Tributes:
    • Caliber 956 (Memovox with alarm and date)
    • Caliber 751G (Deep Sea Chronograph)
  • Automatic winding, 45–65h power reserve depending on version

Bezel:

  • Unidirectional rotating bezel (classic dive style)
  • Coin edge for grip
  • Aluminum insert on most models

Dial options:

  • Matte black dial
  • Lume-filled triangle and dot markers
  • Skeletonized hands
  • Alarm models show a center disk indicating alarm setting
  • Chronograph models feature twin or tri-compax subdials

Water resistance:

  • Vintage: 100m
  • Modern: 100m–300m depending on model

Bracelet:

  • Tropic-style rubber strap (vintage and reissue standard)
  • Leather strap on some limited editions
  • Pin buckle with vintage JLC logo or deployant clasp

Discontinued, but select Tribute and Chronograph versions still available on the pre-owned market

Why it matters: The Deep Sea Memovox was a milestone—first mechanical dive watch with an alarm. And the modern reissues were some of the best vintage homages ever made—clean, wearable, and mechanically faithful to the original.

Mechanical Alarm, Underwater: You could hear your dive time

Not Just a Tribute—A Tool: Built to work, not just to look vintage

Plexi Crystal, Period-Correct Proportions: They didn’t modernize it—they honored it

JLC’s Dive Heritage, On Full Display

References for Deep Sea