By: Roger Ruegger
Marc Newson’s design for the new Memovox Travel Clock (Ref. Q614T020) is a fresh take on the technical and visual lineage of the Memovox. Newson is one of the most influential designers of his generation and known for smooth geometric lines and organic shapes, and the use of transparency and translucency.
According to Jaeger-LeCoultre, the project took five years and resulted in a new manually wound movement, Caliber 256 that is operated with a peripheral crown, consisting of 440 components and offers 288 hours of power reserve (beating at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour), thanks to two large barrels dedicated to the timekeeping function. An additional third barrel is used exclusively for alarm mechanism of this uber-luxurious travel companion.
The power reserve is displayed in the apertures on the periphery of the dial where one day of power reserve corresponds to one hour on the dial (resulting in 288 hours of power reserve). When the barrel is fully wound, all 12 indicators are orange, and they turn blue in an anticlockwise direction (as shown here) as the power reserve reduces thanks to the patented use of intertwined helicoidal rings.
The peripheral winding crown offers four functions thanks to a two-tiered selector on the back of the case, revealed at 12 o’clock beneath the integrated folding stand. One side of the selector is dedicated to the time functions, the other side to the alarm. The two sub-positions within one specific mode allow for the winding or setting: the first position winds the respective barrel (either the regulating organ barrels or the Memovox dedicated barrel) while the second position allows for the setting of the time or the alarm.
Created in 1950, the historical Memovox alarm caliber codes were translated into this Travel Clock version. Showcasing the dial with the typical orange triangular pointer (here in SuperLuminova) at the edge of the mobile central disc, “it indicates the alarm time with the unique Memovox sound reminiscent of a traditional school bell.” Newson: “As a Memovox, the alarm was a fundamental attribute. Achieving the desired, mechanically derived, sonic resonance was a key factor in the acoustic development of the tone.”
Ref.: Q614T020
Dimensions: ⌀ 68.8 mm; thickness: 18.11 mm
Case: Matte titanium case
Movement: Cal. 256erk 11 with 288 hours of power reserve
Warranty: up to 96 months
Price: CHF 27,800 / €33,900 / $32,400
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