Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox ref 872 cal 916 automatic from 1969 JAEGER LECOULTRE MASTER MEMOVOX ALARM Vintage Swiss Automatic Watch Cal. 916 Ref. E 872. Dimensions: 39 mm without crown and 41 mm with crown. In good condition, although with natural wear and use. Never polished, original condition. Signed crown, not potolt, not remanufactured! This is a really great collector’s piece with a ton of personality. These were only in production for 4 years, between 1970 and 1974, with about 3500 watches produced in total across three dial variants. The dial is in perfect condition, no oxidation or damage.Calibre 916 (branded “Speedbeat”) was an automatic alarm movement from Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Introduced in 1969, Calibres 916 replaced Calibres 815 and 825 in the Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox range. This calibre went out of production in 1978 but was eventually replaced by Calibre 919, introduced in 1994. A total of 7,731 watches were produced with Calibre 916.
There were two notable features of Calibre 916
It was the first Jaeger-LeCoultre alarm calibre to use a high-speed 28,800 A/h balance, giving improved precision.
It was the first ever automatic alarm watch with a free-rotating rotor, as opposed to the bumper movements produced previously.
As in other Jaeger-LeCoultre alarm calibres, the alarm hammer struck a protuberance on the back plate, making a distinctive buzzing sound. Even if the alarm was not wound, the hammer rattled freely against the protuberance. In Calibre 916, this protuberance fits through an extra-wide hole in the center of the rotor.
Specifications Cal 916
13 lignes in diameter
Glucydur balance, automatically compensating flat hairspring
28,800 A/h
Double barrel (time and alarm)
Bidirectional automatic winding for time
Manual winding for alarm
Direct sweep central seconds
27 jewels
Alarm hammer inside case back
