Ocean Grey, On Time: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reimagines the Polaris Chronograph

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Polaris line has long stood as the Maison’s elegant nod to sporty timekeeping. This year, the watchmaker updates the Polaris Chronograph with a striking new dial treatment: Ocean Grey lacquer. Crafted in 35 meticulous layers, it’s not just a colour—it’s a texture, a gradient, a mood. Designed for the man who wears his watch from morning meetings to evening aperitifs, this piece captures that elusive blend of utility and polish that’s become the Polaris calling card.

First introduced in 2018, the Polaris Chronograph has carved out a niche as the thinking man’s sports watch. The latest iteration builds on that foundation with the same 42mm stainless steel case, sharp lugs, and thin bezel, but adds a layer of intensity via the grey lacquer dial. It’s not trying to reinvent the chronograph—it’s refining it.

The dial construction is quietly complex: a sunray-brushed centre disc, a smooth lacquered hour ring, and a tachymeter scale around the perimeter. Add bright orange accents and bold trapezoid-shaped indexes, and it starts to feel more like a contemporary toolkit than a nostalgic throwback. That’s the point. Jaeger-LeCoultre is less concerned with archival worship and more with forward momentum.

At the heart of the watch is the in-house Calibre 761. It’s a fully integrated chronograph movement, boasting a vertical clutch, column-wheel mechanism, and 65-hour power reserve. Flip the case and you’ll see it in action—complete with blued screws, Côtes de Genève, and an open-worked rotor bearing the JL insignia. It’s all very tasteful, but it’s also designed to perform.

Two interchangeable straps come standard: one in blue-grey canvas, the other in textured black rubber. That quick-change mechanism adds serious versatility, giving the watch enough personality to swing between boardroom and beach without skipping a beat.

With this release, Jaeger-LeCoultre continues to do what it does best—elevate utility through craftsmanship. The Polaris Chronograph Ocean Grey isn’t just a new colourway. It’s a reminder that modern luxury doesn’t have to shout. Sometimes, it just has to show up on your wrist—on time, and in the right shade of grey.