In the aftermath of World War II, during a period of economic recovery, the pace of life picked up considerably and time became increasingly precious. Having a watch capable of sounding wake-up time or reminding its owner of an important appointment proved very useful. Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced its Memovox in 1950, but it was in 1956 that it launched the world-first self-winding version that would enjoy resounding success. “Memovox reminds, notifies and awakens” ran a 1950s advert. It was this watch – still manual-winding – that the Swiss authorities of the Canton of Vaud presented to Charlie Chaplin in 1953 to welcome him to the country. Perhaps because he used to say that time was his only enemy. Three years later, the “voice of memory” had been incorporated into a self-winding movement: an accomplishment that made it even more convenient and appealing. In 1959 Jaeger-LeCoultre set the last touch to its functionality by adding a date display. Equipped with a movement that had been steadily perfected over the decades, the contemporary Master Memovox was presented in 2010. With its classic design and understated display – typical of the Master collection with its firm focus on essentials - it was true to the style and layout of the original model. In the dial centre, the alarm time is indicated by a triangular marker on a rotating disk. This function is controlled via a crown at 2 o’clock and is extremely simple to use: winding in neutral position and selection of the chosen time in pulled-out position, clockwise. Turning it in the other direction adjusts the date, in an aperture at 3 o’clock. This Master Memovox, available in pink gold and stainless-steel versions, strikes with an extremely pure sound, worthy of the mastery that the Jaeger-LeCoultre watchmakers have acquired in this field. While this kind of chime may seem outdated in the digital age, it is bound to appeal to devotees of fine mechanical engineering. In 2016, to mark the 60th anniversary of its mechanical movement, the Master Memovox appeared in another charming interpretation, inspired by a rare 1971 version: the Snowdrop with a blue dial and particularly geometrical white indications. Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced another function with the release, in 2020, of the Master Control Memovox Timer. Powered by Calibre 956, features include the “school bell” ring of the alarm and a timer, in the centre of the dial, synched with the alarm.

• First self-winding watch with an alarm function, presented in 1956 • Contemporary version launched in 2010, in a style reflecting that of the original