amanico
[JLC Moderator]
341747
Master Mariner Deep Sea, The Review
I'm very proud to introduce you my 3rd JLC Diving Watch, the Master Mariner Deep Sea.
Beside the Deep Sea Alarm and the Polaris, JLC released this watch in 1968, and produced till 1972 some 1532 pieces.
There are some big differences between this Master Deep Sea, the Deep Sea Alarm, and the Polaris...
1/ The Shape of the case:
While the Polaris and the Deep Sea Alarm are classical round watches, this Master Deep Sea is cushion shaped...
The size is not as important as the Polaris ( 36 x 37 mm, instead of the 42 mm of the Polaris ), quite modest, in comparison, which is obvious in this pic:
.
It looks even a bit smaller than the Deep Sea alarm ( 39 mm ).
Here some " Stack Pics ", which are more evident...
On this last pic, you see that a lot of things are different.
The lugs are lacking as the cushion case is used as lugs, the case back is flat ( domed on the 2 others...), the plexy is more chimney than domed, etc...
This case is very " 70ies " looking, but elegant, and easily wearable, IMT ( In My Taste..LOL), due to the fact that it is slightly curved.
Note that the case belongs to the family of the " Piquerez " watches, as the Polaris, the Longines Diver, the Universal Pole Router Sub, etc...
That means that it has the specific crowns with their original gridwork motif, and a water resistance to 200 meters.
2/ The finish of the case.
This is the only JLC Diving watch with a sunburst finish of its case, which is surprising, but adds some elegance to this time keeper.
Isn't it lovely?
Did you notice the fine and nice contrast between the polished sides of the case and the sunburst finish of the upper part of the case?
Magnificent!
3/ The Plexy:
As I previously said, the plexy is more chimney shaped than domed.
Even if I prefer the domed plexy of the Deep Sea Alarm, for instance, this one is not ugly at all, and gives some strong character to this watch, more appropriate, maybe, non a cushion shaped watch.
It offers to the watch a lot of warmth, and a pleasant " non perfect nor clean " look, adding some distortion depending on the angle you look at the time keeper.
Important distortion here:
Less here:
4/ The Dial:
No futilities, here, just the essential, and a Bonus.
A nice Grained Black Matt Dial, Thin tritium indexes at 1, 2 4, 5, 7, 8 10 11.
Thicker indexes at 6, 9, and 12 ( Tritium, too ).
Nice baton hands, tritium filled.
Applied JL Logo.
Internal turning bezel wirth minute indexes.
And the Bonus, which is not indispensable for a Diving Watch...The Date, which is, on this model, metal circled ( not on all Master Deep Sea watches ).
The Result?
As a respectable Diving Watch, the Master Deep Sea is very easy to read, even in dark circumstances...
And as we speak about the dial, there was an amazing US version, called HPG, another appellation for a high beating movement , cal 164, beating at 28 800 vph instead of the cal 883 with its 19800 vph.
Funky, isn't it?
As for the movement, the cal 883 is not like the the cal 815 ( Memovox Deep Sea Alarm ), or the 825 ( Polaris ), as the main difference is that, on the 883, you don't have this specific bumper rotor which makes this special sound when it winds, a kind of " Klong ".
The solution for this automatic movement is a classic rotor, and, compared to the 815 / 825, it doesn't have Alarm Complication.
5/ General thoughts on the Master Deep Sea.
Not only functional and useful, but also pretty nice!
Look at this beauty under different angles...
A Blend of toolwatch, but also elegance and discretion...
The 2 crowns look maybe a bit too big, in regard to the case, but we don't have to forget that this is a toolwatch, first.
And once again, with the thick plexy, it adds some strong character to the watch!
Character, but also a very interesting balance, that these 2 crowns and the cushion shape of the curved case enhance.
Robust, but sweet at the same time...
This is indeed a watch to discover...On the pics, you say " wowow ", in the flesh, you need a bit time to be used to its special shape, and it looks smlaller than in pics, but once you get it, once you put it on your wrist, this is a very special, true pleasure!
A last thing about the right name of this watch:
This is a bit different depending on the catalogues...
In the 1968 European Catalogue, the watch is called " Master Mariner Plongeur " ( Diver )
In the 1969 American Catalogue, it's called " Barracuda Deep Sea ".
So, what to think about it?
This is a true Diving Watch, of course, less original, technically speaking, than the Memovox Deep Sea or the Polaris, as this one doesn't have an Alarm function, but what it looses technically, it gains on aesthetics, with this special case.
More toolwatch, less refined than, for example, a Deep Sea Alarm, or a Polaris, it is a pleasant, very pleasant watch, a typical example of the design of the early 70ies, but much more elegant than a Polaris II.
A watch to discover, or re discover, and to include in a Diving thema!
Hope you'll enjoy this review!
Best.
Nicolas
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For Nicolas' original post in JLC forum, please CLICK HERE
