2012/10/25 - Jaeger-LeCoultre & Aston Martin racing the AMVOX5 World Chronograph

 

The long-term partnership established between Jaeger-LeCoultre, the reference in the field of Fine Watchmaking, and Aston Martin Racing, the legendary racing arm of the British automobile manufacturer, celebrates its seventh year of existence with the presentation of the AMVOX5 World Chronograph. The latest creation in the Racing line meets all the precision and endurance standards indispensable to racing drivers, while its mechanical and aesthetic characteristics illustrate the technical and inventive values shared by the two brands.

Born and tested on racing tracks

On this high-octane sports model, the watchmaking know-how and expertise of Jaeger-LeCoultre echo the cutting-edge technology of Aston Martin prototypes bearing the emblematic orange and blue Gulf Oil colours.

Aston Martin Racing pilots Darren Turner (British), Stefan Mücke (German), Christian Klien (Austrian) came to the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre in the Valley de Joux, Switzerland where the new watch has just been born.

"Coming here today was a unique experience. The dedication, skill and passion of everyone at Jaeger-LeCoultre is truly impressive, a great display of team work". Darren Turner.

"Visiting Jaeger-LeCoultre's manufacturing facility is an unforgettable experience. Until you've seen it, you can't even begin to imagine the level of skill, precision and engineering that goes into each watch". Stefan Mücke.

"I was amazed at the level of engineering that goes into these watches. It reminded me of our own sport, where innovation, technical excellence and precision are so vital for success". Christian Klien.

The specific features of Aston Martin prototypes have astounded motor sports enthusiasts. These extraordinary racing cars feature a carbon fibre monocoque chassis, a 6-litre V12 engine, a six-speed sequential gearbox, and ventilated carbon brake discs. The signature features of these prodigious mechanical creations designed to win victory after victory are echoed inside the case and on the dial of the new AMVOX5 World Chronograph. The two additional functions of this model, which will be issued in a limited edition only, are must-have characteristics on a racing track: an ultra-accurate chronograph providing instantly readable indications; and a world time function.

Sporting feats at the fingertips

Like the cockpit of the racing cars, the dial of the AMVOX5 World Chronograph is distinguished by absolute readability so as to avoid any delay in taking strategic decisions. The two chronograph counters positioned at 3 and 9 o’clock record the hours and minutes that have elapsed since the start of the race. Nonetheless, since everything is about seconds in the world of competitive racing, the chronograph seconds are counted off by the large central hand that is clearly visible against the anthracite dial background.

In the bottom part the dial, the movement operating indicator permanently confirms that the watch is running as it should, while the date appears in the lower section of this indication. In a nod to the performances of the cars from the famous British carmaker, the name of London symbolising the zero meridian on the world time city disc is replaced by that of Aston Martin.

This exceptional mechanism is housed within a high-tech ceramic case composed of a mixture of zirconium and yttrium subjected to tremendous pressures and to temperatures of over 2000°C. This material boasting exceptional resistance must be patiently ground using special diamond-tipped tools in order to achieve the perfect shape of the AMVOX5 World Chronograph case. In addition to its beauty, it is also distinguished by remarkable stability over time.

Born in racing pits and then developed in the workshops of the Manufacturer, the AMVOX5 World Chronograph was subjected to its first real-life trials on the wrist of the drivers, who regularly wore it during races and tests. Their conclusions were analysed by the watchmakers and engineers of the Grande Maison in order to further prefect the particularly accurate and sturdy mechanism of Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 752, entirely produced and assembled within the Manufacture. This aura of constrained strength waiting to be unleashed is reflected on the face of this exceptional timepiece which evokes the performances of the Aston Martin cars during the famous Le Mans endurance competitions.

In order to ensure perfect operation in all circumstances, the drivers tested the AMVOX5 World Chronograph during the world’s most prestigious endurance races. Only within such an environment does the world time function reveal its full usefulness in giving the wearer an instant indication of the time in any of the 24 time zones. Colourful accents in the iconic Gulf Oil orange provide an indispensable point of reference in the key areas for reading off the indications.

Moreover, these technical similarities are backed by even more striking affinities, very much like the insiders’ secrets that delight authentic devotees of the British automobile manufacturer. The chronograph counters are made in carbon fibre to evoke the specific characteristics of the Aston Martin cars which use this avant-garde material for the chassis and the disc brakes that are thereby able to resist temperatures of over 300°C. The dial motif is reminiscent of the air vent grilles on the Aston Martin prototypes.

This exceptional series will be issued in a strictly limited edition of 250. Major sporting feats are not within the reach of just anyone and, in addition to exceptional personal qualities, they imply the certainty of being able to count on instruments endowed with peerless reliability, functionality and sturdiness. Both at the wheel and on the wrist, know-how and expertise are the fundamental prerequisites for a successful alliance between two arts and two sciences: automobile technology and high-precision mechanics.

 

 

 

Technical Specifications

Ref. : Q193J480
250-piece limited series

Movement :

• Mechanical automatc Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 752, crafted, assembled and decorated by hand
  
• 28,800 vibrations per hour
  
• 65-hour power reserve
  
• 279 parts
  
• 41 jewels
  
• 5.6 mm high
  
• pink gold oscillating weight
  

Functions :

• hour, minute, small seconds
  
• date
  
• city disc
  
• chronograph : hour and minute counters, central seconds hand
  

Dial :

• dial colours defined by the racing cars, such as blue, grey and orange
  
• styling inspired by mechanical components such as the car air vent
  

Hands :

• hours / minutes: rhodiumed, with white superluminova
  
• orange three-spoke movement operating indicator
  
• two black oxidised and orange-lacquered hour and minute counter hands
  
• orange chronograph seconds hand
  

Cas :

• ø 44 mm in ceramics and titanium
  
• thickness 15.2 mm
  
• case-back engraved with Jaeger-LeCoultre and Aston Martin logos
  
• cambered sapphire crystal, hardness N°9
  
• water-resistant to 5 bar
  

Straps:

• black calfskin and Cordura with 20 mm steel folding clasp