A  Closer Look: Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph With Ocean Grey Dial

It’s always exciting to see a new chapter in a well-loved watch collection, and that is especially true with the  newest Jaeger-LeCoultre  Polaris Chronograph with a captivating new dial color: Ocean Grey. But it isn’t just any old gray dial. Instead it is a meticulously hand-painted lacquer dial that not only shimmers with the flick of the wrist, but that also  transcends gender and feels perfectly in tune with the sporty-elegant identity of the Polaris line.

Jaeger-LeCoultre has long demonstrated mastery in dial artistry, but the new Ocean Grey edition truly stands out. At first glance, it’s the tonality of the color that captivates—bold and refined at once—but look closer, and you’ll find an impressive level of detail and complexity. The dial is constructed in three levels: a central disc with sunray brushing, a smooth hour track, and an outer tachymeter ring.

Across these surfaces, the brand applies no fewer than 35 layers of lacquer, including multiple color applications followed by 30 coats of translucent varnish to create depth and radiance. A delicate gradient effect moves from light to dark, requiring expert control of shade and tone to ensure perfect harmony between the dial’s sections.

Bright orange accents punctuate the composition, bringing visual energy to the chronograph hands and minute track. The skeletonized hands and bold trapezoidal indexes maintain the modern Polaris aesthetic, while generous luminescent treatment ensures excellent legibility in any light. Two sub-dials—30-minute counter at 3:00  and running seconds at 9:00 —feature subtle circular graining for contrast, reinforcing the dial’s layered, textural appeal.

First introduced in 2018, the Polaris Chronograph is Jaeger-LeCoultre’s take on the modern sporty-chic timepiece. It draws inspiration from the Maison’s famed diving watches of the 1960s while incorporating contemporary refinements. The 42mm stainless steel case is a study in balance and wearability, with sharply curved lugs, and a sleek glass-box crystal. A thin bezel and a tactile, oversized crown—true to the vintage design—round out the character.

Inside, the watch is powered by the in-house Calibre 761, an automatic, fully integrated chronograph movement developed and assembled entirely at the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture in Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux. It features a column wheel and vertical clutch for smooth chronograph engagement and offers a robust 65-hour power reserve. Through the sapphire crystal caseback, collectors will appreciate traditional finishing touches like Côtes de Genève striping, blued screws, and an open-worked winding rotor bearing the JL logo.

The Polaris Chronograph Ocean Grey retails for $14,900 and comes with two interchangeable straps that underscore its versatile nature: a textured black rubber strap and a blue-grey canvas strap. While both are appealing, the latter is a personal favorite—its subdued tone plays beautifully with the dial and enhances the watch’s quietly confident elegance.