Jaeger-LeCoultre

Hi, You know what the subject is ! I'm happy to try to present you the new lady that shares my nights since last Wednesday!

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Don't worry that's not one of these ones

I'm not happy just because I got a new Jaeger-LeCoultre, it had been three years since the last one. I'm happy because I got my first Aston Martin! 

Well not exactly but let's say that's a very first small step!

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That's the black thing on the right.

So I took a very special opportunity last Wednesday. I went to Paris for several reasons, among them the best and most unique was to meet some fellow Purists on holiday there. The Rugby World Cup had brought there Kevin (pplater) and Paul, and Aaron joined us as he was also on holiday.  So we met and let our watches meet too! Kevin, Paul and Aaron I'm happy to have met you. Nicolas  (Amanico) joined us later in the afternoon. Thanks all for that nice day.

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Not many JLC around that day!

Those Breguet models are quite impressive. Many Breguet current models are quite appealing too. We later had an interesting visit of the Breguet Museum on the first floor of the new Breguet boutique on the Place Vendome. There are many several historical pieces there. We were also pleased to see a Number 5 pocket watch for sale in the outside window echoing the historical one inside.

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So like with Astons it was hard to choose

I've had several reasons to choose to make an Amvox1 mine while the range was expanding. Titanium or black titanium or DBS Amvox2 could have been a choice. They are quite appealing watches for sure. I choose the Amvox1 because I wanted an automatic everyday watch, because it is quite useful for me as an alarm watch. I'm quite happy of my black dialed Master Memovox but it lacks definitely the date and to some extent the automatic winding to be an everyday beater. I actually didn't need a chronograph, that's it.

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A large size but perfectly wearable watch

The Amvox1 is 42mm wide. It is indeed a large case but the short lug design makes it easily wearable, even on small wrists. The Amvox1 is IMO more easily wearable than a 41.5mm Master Control for small wrists. The 42mm case is also the original size of the sixties Polaris case as Nicolas showed us a while ago. So it is in no way an exaggerated case size even for the most traditionalists we may be (Ok not all of us).

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Old or new Vantage, a tradition

Descending from the Polaris but not being necessarily too fashionable, the Amvox1 has an understated design that goes well with the long tradition of understated cars from Aston Martin. No no I'm serious. Of course a DB9 is not exactly a discreet car, but I would not qualify it as being aggressively designed as a 599 is! Am I wrong?

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A simple design

The Amvox1 design is also very sober, more subtle than the sexy Amvox2, more charming than the "naked" DBS!  The red end of the seconds hand seems to be there only to prove us that it is not a watch on an old black and white picture. It is a watch of today!

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A case design from the DB5 era

You would be surprised to see the simplicity of the old DBs' interiors! Silver birch paint with a full black interior is the most famous and looked after combination, the James Bond original choice, or more probably Q's choice! The stainless steel Amvox1 is a close option on this black strap.

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White stitched perforated black leater

This Amvox1 is mounted on an Amvox1-R strap (same width at the lugs) with a new double folding buckle. I found this strap perfect to emphasize the driver's watch spirit of the Amvox1.

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This is not the Lac de Joux as you can see looking at the shores

The central alarm disc has a mat finish while the hour ring is more brilliant. This is not generally as easily obvious as the picture shows but it defines different layers and gives the dial a nice presence and depth.

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The time indication dominates the dial

The Amvox1 was recently shown in the first issue of the new Aston Martin magazine. The article nicely explained that the JLC watch perfectly complements the Aston Martin car, instead of exploiting the extremely notorious car brand image. The Aston Martin brand only appears on the back of the watch. Understated I said. Specially when you imagine that Aston Martin was recently elected coolest brand in the UK (don't ask me by whom, I don't remember).

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No that's not a wall clock

I'd be interested to know how many Aston Martin owners also wear an Amvox?  Obviously not a choice based on economics for them, probably more of a lifestyle! I'd be also interested to know what percentage of Amvox owners choose them because of the Aston Martin link? Let me say that the Amvox1 definitely stands by itself and doesn't need the back name.

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DB4 GT Zagato

Would it be possible to specify and order a Calypso hand for the car tachymeter !  Oh it is time to notice the inside turning bezel, that can be used as a one minute chronograph counter, or even a sixty minutes chrono counter! I confess this turning bezel is probably the weakest point of the watch so far. It turns too easily by itself to be reliable.

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At night in the stand at le Mans !

I guess that when you race you don't chronograph the time yourself but rely on someone else. You just need the time, not your time!

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Yes Aston Martins have long been racing cars, even before the DBR9

So if you want to do it all by yourself you'll have to choose another baby and slap the face of your DBS to start your turn!

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Amvox2 DBS Chronograph

You can also choose to have a second watch for races and keep the Amvox1 for the road back home. Because with Aston Martins you drive your racing car back home. Quite often you even drive a car that could happen to race. It's up to you. I'd just remind you that open road regulations should be respected!

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Sportier on the wrist, the exuberant Amvox2 DBS

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Slight perforation on the strap

What I will probably adopt on the Amvox1 is a DBS strap. This high tech strap is really amazing by its look and strength.

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The DBS strap

Like you have to do with Aston Martins, I've had to choose between brothers that look different but definitely belong to the same family. V8 or straight six? It's quite hard to choose between those mechanical beauties. If you can get both….

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AM V8 or DB4

If I was to ever get an Aston Martin and if I had the possibility to use it everyday, I would probably get a V8 Saloon! Of course the DB4 and DB5 look probably better and are more mythical, but there's little pleasure if there's little use.

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The first shot, the first day

You may easily dream of the most exclusive option, but that doesn't mean that the most accessible one is less able to give you great pleasure. Lucky those who can be in charge of the future of the very rare Harold Radford's DB5 shooting brakes. Happy the thousands who can enjoy any Aston, even the Aston watches! 

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The DB5 shooting brake

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The new baby on the towel

This watch is more than three years old now, nearly four. It is equipped with one of the oldest current JLC calibres. This calibre is going to be replaced by the new calibre launched in the new Extreme World Alarm. There is no sign that this new calibre will come in the Amvox1, so how long this model will exist is a question. I have no information but as the life cycles are getting shorter, older models having to make room for the numerous new models, I wouldn't want to wait any longer to get that one.

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The new DBS, not the watch, the car

It was a long time since I first put it on three years ago when we visited the Grande Maison on a Purists trip.

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A DB9 in Le Mans a few years back

The stainless steel Amvox1 is a special numbered but not limited edition, unlike the titanium sibling.

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The back winged name

Aston Martin cars were also generally numbered but not limited cars. Some were made in so little numbers that nobody would imagine so little limited series today. Current production at AM is much larger today so exclusivity is not exactly as guaranteed, but still it is not everyman's choice.

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The V8 Saloon

I would not want to say too much about the V8 Saloon as it is already getting too much expensive because of its low production and increasing success. I'd rather get you interested in the Amvox1, I already have it.

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Will it be your choice ?

Any Amvox will fit any Aston Martin anyway.

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A better view on the lug

The green luminova hands and indexes at night even match the Aston green colour.

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Green at night

The worst thing that happened in the V8 life was the replacement of the original bumpers by horrible plastic bumpers in the US due to special regulations, as it happened to be the case for many other European cars.

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European cars

Hopefully today the Aston Martin Works Service can bring them back to their original beauty, such as any vintage JLC can be restored at the Manufacture.

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89 was the end, the final year

Aston Martin cars were built, hand built, to last.

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A Lagonda taking life

They were also made to fascinate, thanks to James Bond who made the company famous.

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The living daylights

They have not always been fashionable, production decreasing to nearly 30 cars before Ford took over to save the company now back in independent hands.

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Incredible but gone

I've not let the phone numbers to call on the DB6 SWB Volante offer above as there is little hope that the car is still for sale, or not at that price.

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Quite  a promise

You can still nearly have one made, at Newport Pagnell, or buy one, a really nice one.

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Amvox1 and V8 Vantage

This series lasted 20 years, from the original DBS to the latest Vantage "X" pack. And we are nearly 20 year later.

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Imagine yourself back in 1978

The Amvox1 seems to be out of time, its original large size making it perfect from sixties to the future.

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This picture could have been taken today at the Works Service

By night or day it will be  a perfect companion, to race, work or sleep.

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Night shot

The Amvox1 is a smart watch to my mind and I'm happy to know those who have conceived, designed, elaborated, decided its life.

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Practical as an estate

Thank you to the JLC teams who made the Amvox1 possible to all extents.

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Looking good and classy as a Zagato

Thank you too to William Town and Tadek Marek for the V8 Saloon.

I hope you liked it ('cause you'll see it again).

Dje