Jaeger-LeCoultre

tinker2
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2 Months with an Amvox 2 PVD

So if you asked me five years ago, would I ever purchase a watch like the Amvox 2, I wold have looked at you horrified.

My first "good" watch was a Blancpain Leman Grande Date. Simple elegant, classic....

And then my tastes slowly evolved.... my first JLC was the Compressor GMT, which was an aesthetic stretch for me... (I also have the GO Nav Pano-date, a pretty classic and simple Pilot watch).

But I quickly fell in love with the "bold" look of the GMT; the red accents, the compressor crowns, etc...

And then my eye caught the Amvox 2. I looked at the many posts here about the watch, and became more intrigued....

 I found myself drawn to the original dial, finding (for me) the later models not quite as legible... but it was a bit more than I have spent on a watch, and I have an IWC Aquatimer Chrono that I never wear... so wasn't sure I "needed" a chronograph.

So I sort of ignored the impulse.

 I was in LA in February and visited the Boutique to pick up a rubber strap for my GMT.

Seth had a new Amvox 2 black PVD that I tried on, and was just taken by the beauty of it-- but decided I REALLY didn't need another watch, much less a chrono.

So I didn't buy it. Got back home, and couldn't stop thinking about it.

 Read every post about the various models here... And was still drawn to the original-- somehow it spoke to me the most-- seemed the most "pure" of the concept-- since it WAS the concept.

And while I wasn't sure about the black.... it was my birthday, and I called Seth... and it showed up the next day....

A totally rash decision.... which I am SO glad I made. First off...

I had a slight concern the watch would look too "dated", too 2005.

 I'm not in love with the GO sixties collection, or the new 70's collection... or the PP Nautilus (70's) or pretty much any AP (also too 70's for me).

But, here I was buying it 4 years after it first appeared, and it spawned so many variations....

So there must have been SOME sort of classic appeal to it....

Anyway, I have had it 2 months now-- and the two times I wore a different watch, I regretted it all day.... hopefully that is just a function of "new watch love".

 Though I am pretty sure I will sell my IWC chrono.

So here are my thoughts: I think it's a phenomenal piece that marries form, function and aesthetics in a fantastic manner.

 I put on my other watches, and they look like antiques, watches old men should wear (not that I am so young....!)!

 I find it quite versatile-- I have worn it with suits as well as casual-- and noticed the first PR pics of the watch have the designers wearing evening wear with the Aston Martin.... and the watch looks great with the suit!

As I may have mentioned, I wasn't sure about the black case...

 I am now deeply in love with it. I have seen some say it makes the watch look "cheap", like a Swatch.... well I disagree.

I find it rather interesting that the watch was designed by a woman under 30 years old-- what would she use as an aesthetic reference-- a watch from 1935 like so many "classic" watches today? NO!

 She will look to her own experiences for her inspiration-- which include the entire Swatch movement of the 80s-- and I find it a thrill to look at the complex dial and see not the usual or expected variation on every other watch from the last 70 years, but something fresher.... without, IMHO, being so "out" there as many concept watches can be.

As to the chrono function-- I have learned having it so simple to use allows me to use it a lot more!

With the IWC I had to unscrew the crown before pushing the button, a total pain in the butt.

 But with the Amvox, I use it all the time. Cooking, Parking meters, lunge-lining my horses (so they get the same time on each direction).

I use the complication way more than I expected-- mostly because of its ease of use.

And then the much discussed and mostly loathed original band... which I have come to love! For one, conceptually, it is of a piece, meaning the concept of the PVD is purposeful-- to keep it scratch resistant.

 As is the "skin" on the strap. and after a few weeks, I cant imagine another strap.

For one, the strap dresses the watch up, and lets me feel comfortable wearing a suit with it.

 For another, the strap and case almost seem one unit when I glance at the watch, directing all of my attention to the amazing bezel-less face.

Anyway, as you can tell I adore this watch-- way more than i thought I would. I hope the love lasts! So here are some terrible iPhone snaps....