In this feature, courtesy of our friends at WatchTime India, we take you through the evolution of the iconic Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox, along with offering an exclusive peek into the estate-turned-museum of one of the watch’s famous fans, legendary silent-film star Charlie Chaplin.
Fueled by a pent-up consumer demand and rapid industrialization, the post-World War II years witnessed a myriad of employment opportunities. This was also the time when watch companies started focusing on sleek, practical wristwatches over military timepieces.
Designed to help businessmen keep up with their busy schedules, the Memovox from Jaeger-LeCoultre made a remarkable entry in the 1950s (vintage model pictured below). Equipped with an alarm function, the mechanical, manually wound watch distinguished itself with an additional crown on the side that helped control the chiming function.  

This was also the watch that the Swiss authorities of the Canton of Vaud presented to the famed film actor and director Charlie Chaplin in 1953 when he moved to Switzerland. Along with their eight children, Chaplin and his wife Oona lived in a beautiful, neoclassical estate in Corsier-sur-Vevey, on the banks of Lake Geneva.

Last April, the estate (pictured above) was converted into a museum dedicated to the life and times of Charlie Chaplin. The museum covers various aspects of the Little Tramp?s life ? his childhood, movies, family, and more. The Hollywood studio here offers a peek into Chapl...