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:
500 in Titanium PVD:
200 in Platinum, with a subtly contrasted dial, grey and silver, instead of silver and black, on the 2 other versions:
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:
300 in Rose Gold, which offers a superb contrast with the dark dial:
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!
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:
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 :
100 pieces in Titanium PVD Black Dial, the powerful dark side of the A II :
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:
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:
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.
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:
The Rapide:
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 ...
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