In the words of the inimitable Tim Mosso, “this is your one watch – forever”. When I saw one of his video reviews, and learned about the capabilities of this watch, I knew I wouldn’t be compromising one bit. In fact, I bought the exact one from that video shortly after watching it. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Memovox was my first watch above $1000USD – and it remains to this day, despite others coming into and out of my collection in the interim.

Why? It’s simple – this watch can do everything you really need:

1. A loud alarm to wake you up for early morning meetings with colleagues across the pond.
2. A rotating inner bezel to time everything from food on the grill to how long you’ve been on your work break.
3. 100M water resistance to stand up to any sports activity – or just when you’re giving the kids a bath.
4. A micro-adjustable clasp that was way ahead of everyone when it debuted more than 20 years ago.
5. A well-lumed dial for easy legibility in all conditions.
6. Compressor crowns that cannot be cross-threaded when sealing and unsealing them.

And then there are the more subjective points that drew me to the watch:

1. An avant-garde asymmetrical dial designed by Magali Metrailler – that still contains JLC diver history in the numerals and indices.
2. A rose-gold medallion on the caseback – after all, why not?
3. A case with curves that are a pleasure to the eye and the finger – the lugs have a fluid topography you have to feel to fully experience them.

What doesn’t this watch do well? The list is short:

1. The bezel index isn’t lumed – not a big deal – but the arrow pointing to the alarm position is lumed – a strange choice indeed.
2. The alarm would be more useful if it were in 24 hour format – but that is actually uncommon in mechanical watches anyway.
3. The domed caseback can wear strangely on the wrist until you find the right spot for it to nestle in – but once that is done, it wears at least 2mm flatter than the specified thickness.
4. My particular watch runs about +10 spd – but this will vary from example to example naturally.
5. The fully high-polished case might not be in style these days.

Will I own more watches? Yes – and I have already briefly owned a JLC AMVOX 2 chronograph – but the constant in my collection will always be this Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Memovox. I love the way it looks and feels – and I actually use the features on a daily basis. It is no mere novelty or curiosity – it is actually a tool for my daily life – which cannot be said for many “cool” watches out there that I would love to own.

http://open.spotify.com/episode/3SrHF4CHaUz6izvDgsYkie?si=9dd8e27538c44d14