image

The Amvox II Family : An exhaustive summary.

amanico
Avatar


The Amvox II was - and still is - a very original watch, with its pivoting case and its vertical trigger Chronograph.

Here, you won't have the traditional pushers, you just have to press on the sapphire glass, at 12, to start and stop the Chronograph, and at 6 to reset it to zero, which allows you a very intuitive use of this complication.

Born in 2006, the first pieces came at the AD Shops and JLC Boutiques late in the same year.

Till 2010, JLC released 3772 Amvox II ( Transponders not included, but these last one are only available at the Aston Martin Shops ), which all use the same movement, the Cal 751.

In 2006, the first generation saw the light, with a multi layered dial, young and dynamic, sport, but also looking like a concept watch.

750 in Titanium:

none

500 in Titanium PVD:

none



200 in Platinum, with a subtly contrasted dial, grey and silver, instead of silver and black, on the 2 other versions:

none

Then, in 2007, came the Amvox II DBS and its semi open dial, and their much better made straps ( a blend of cordura and leather ).

Another detail, the DBS has a small operating indication just above 6 o clock, a kind of half wheel bearing the discrete Aston Martin Logo, while, on the former Amvox II, it was printed on the dial and was hardly visible.

999 in Titanium:

none

300 in Rose Gold, which offers a superb contrast with the dark dial:


none



In 2009, the DBS came with a different dial:

The center of the dial is still open, but the " perimeter " isn't smooth anymore, as it is designed like a front grill, and the Minutes and Hours Counters are still round, they are now plain.

In SS ( 499 pieces ), it is the only Amvox II to be in Stainless Steel!

none

In Platinum ( 100 pieces ), the dial has a very nice light grey color, and as I never posted good pictures of this watch, here are some I recently took at the Paris Boutique:


none

The same year, for the 24 Hours Le Mans Race, JLC celebrated the 1st victory of an Aston Martin with the Amvox II Racing, a DBS last generation with a very nice racing look, the concept pushed at its limits :

100 pieces in Titanium White Dial, the " bright side " of the A II :

none

100 pieces in Titanium PVD Black Dial, the powerful dark side of the A II :

none

And 24 pieces in Titanium PVD White Dial, for the Paris Boutique, a kind of 21th Century Paul Newman Chronograph, with its " exotic " dial, which strongly contrasts and matches, at the same time, with the Black case:

none

In 2010, JLC ended this collection with the Amvox II Grand Chronograph, which has a 1 mm bigger Rose Gold case ( 16, 1 mm, which corresponds to the case of a Amvox II Transponder, but without transponder ), compared to a " normal " Amvox II ( 15, 1 mm ), and shares its dial with the latest DBS.

This is a Limited Edition of 200 pieces:

none

And a very special DBS, the DR 5 ( which stands for Don Ramon de La Cruz, 5, the address of the JLC Boutique ) , a Limited Edition of 25 pieces for the Madrid Boutique, a 2007 DBS, receiving a PVD titanium case, and a nice blackened dial, which, finally, never saw the light.

none





To be complete, JLC also released 2 versions including a Transponder, to allow you to open and close your car by pushing the crystal at 9 and 3, added, naturally, to the Chronograph.

The DBS:

none

The Rapide:

none

I've been told that less than 100 DBS and Rapide Amvox II Transponders were made, and that they are only available at the Aston Martin ADs.

So, as to give a conclusion to this post, the Amvox II is certainly a hit, due to its originality, its young and refreshing design.

Some will love the plain dial of the first version, others will prefer the open dial of the latest releases, and some others will be unable to make a decision between them ... none

none

Anyway, the Amvox II may not be seen as a true limited edition, but as a short limited production, as less than 4 000 watches is not really an important production for such an original timepiece.

After an only 5 years Life, as it is certain there won't be any new Amvox II to be released, it was time to give them the Hommage they deserve.

They will certainly be considered as a nice page of the JLC History Book.

Best,

Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-03-02 06:20:16 This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-03-05 14:24:42
This message has been edited by amanico on 2016-08-28 11:21:13 This message has been edited by amanico on 2016-08-28 11:22:29

Comments:
Avatar
ChristianDK March 2nd, 2010-06:38
great hommage Nico. Thank you for making an overview af this very special watch. I agree on your conclusion at 4000 watches it is not strictly limited but certainly a limited and VERY unique watch. There has been some discussion here and other places if it was becoming... 
Avatar
amanico March 3rd, 2010-07:56
Hi, Christian If you think about it, you have, at the end, 2 kind of Amvoxes II: The plain dial ( Amvox II ) , and the open dial ( amvox II DBS ). In each of these 2 categories, it would be very amazing if you can't find the one which better corresponds to your taste, ... 
Avatar
moc March 2nd, 2010-07:23
Not a sporty guy but... I must admit that the AmvoxII chapter is one to reckon with in the JLC history book. A very eclectic watch,versatile to style changes and always very well suited. Your PT with a soubtle dial change is to me the most tasteful,I was impressed by it. As you ... 
Avatar
amanico March 3rd, 2010-08:13
The Amvox II chapter is closed, now, Mo And now, we can have an overall view on this part of the JLC Sport Watches Family. And if you think about it, the Amvox I page has been turned more than one year ago, too. There is now some place for new Amvox Watches. Let's see what the Future will reser... 
Avatar
MiniCooper March 3rd, 2010-09:46
It would be..... very hard to surpass the Amvox 2 DBS...... both its unique chrono as well as its semi open dial....... a true sports and driving limited production watch..... certainly JLC does have a task in their hands..... but I think it would be difficult.... same ca... 
Avatar
dxboon March 2nd, 2010-08:15
One of my favorite collections from JLC Thanks, Nicolas for revisiting all the Amvox IIs. They really are unique chronographs with a wonderful sporty air about them! I love the first opened-dialed DBS chronos the best, but the Racing are not too far behind in my estimation! Gorgeous watches! I ... 
Avatar
amanico March 3rd, 2010-08:18
Agreed, Daos. I'm curious to see how people will see the Amvox II in , let's say ...20 years. There is soemthing audacious, and also classic in the design of this piece, which would make it age very nicely. A future Classic? Best, Sister. Nicolas
Avatar
MiniCooper March 3rd, 2010-09:52
In my opinion..... it will definitely be a future classic..... the question is to what level... Polaris? Daytona? (although jlc is not as popular as rolex is) it will be definitely a drivers watch..... cheers
Avatar
amanico March 3rd, 2010-12:15
As a Polaris Daytona! :))) 
Avatar
blomman Mr Blue March 2nd, 2010-08:22
A stunning pair Nicolas! I think you have picked the two most beautiful of them all! Best Blomman
0-10-10

Load More Comments




 Next Article
image
amanico
Avatar

" Diving is Beautiful ", an in depth view on JLC Diving Watches and others.

amanico
Avatar
Revisiting all the History of JLC Diving watches is a passionate Dive into the Beauty. Even if I'm a Polaris Lover, there is not only the Polaris to consider, as some other very interesting watches existed, before and after this Cult Watch. For those interested by the Polaris, I will brievely speak of it, here, as I did a Review you can read here: The main purpose of this post is to : 1/ Give some justice to these models which lived and still live in the shadow of the Polaris. 2/ To enhance the fact that ...


Go to top.

About US | Contact

© 2017 - WatchProZine