2013/06/10
*Jaeger-LeCoultre & Aston Martin Three original timepieces
Jaeger-Lecoultre the AMVOX5 World Chronograph Cermet watch
Through the conception of its mechanism and the arrangement of the dial indications, the AMVOX5 World Chronograph Cermet guarantees absolute readability and enables at-a-glance reading of the entire range of information. The central chronograph hand is associated with two counters on either side of the vertical axis in order to count off the minutes and hours elapsed since the start of the measurement. The lower part of the dial is devoted to the operating indicator that testifies to the smooth running of the watch and comprises the date aperture appearing at its base. The inner bezel ring bears the city disc for the world time display enabling instant readings for each time zone. The dial centre is occupied by the hours and minutes hands along with the above-mentioned chronograph seconds hand. This wealth of information is perfectly legible thanks to the clear hierarchical arrangement of the classic Aston Martin colours: black, anthracite, white and red. This is a professional instrument designed to achieve high performance, as too is the automatic Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 752. Beating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, the movement is housed within a 44 mm-diameter case that is water-resistant to 5 bar and made from a revolutionary material, reinforced cermet.
Reinforced cermet
Recently developed by research labs for high-powered race-car engines, reinforced cermet boasts a number of decisive advantages by combining performance and shock resistance with extraordinary lightness. As ever in the vanguard of innovation, Jaeger-LeCoultre has secured exclusive use of this high-tech avant-garde material in the watchmaking field. Nonetheless, this lofty ambition called for a complete rethink of case design as well as production processes. No effort is spared when it comes to making a watch to meet the level of demands never before imposed on a timepiece.
This revolutionary high-tech material is composed of an aluminium core and ceramic particles, covered with a 40 micron-thick protective ceramic coating.
The ceramic microspheres are made from a crystalline powder mixed with fuel composed of gas and oxygen-enriched air. The mixture is then ignited and, as the heat given off by this combustion reaches a temperature of 2500°C, meaning above the melting point of alumina, the alumina crystals take on the shape of spherical drops. The latter are rapidly cooled down to room temperature in order to form solid particles.
In a second phase, the ceramic microspheres are mixed with aluminium powder and the product thus obtained is heated in a vacuum to 600°C to avoid any oxidation. Once this operation is complete, the aluminium is agglomerated with the ceramic microspheres and the base material is thus ready to be blanked and machined to form the case – which is then covered with a protective ceramic layer. The latter operation is performed by an electrochemical process that provokes the formation of ceramics towards the outside of the case – thus ensuring extreme homogeneity between the base material and the protective coating.
Ref. : Q193A470, limited series of 500
Movement:
- Mechanical automatic Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 752/1, crafted, assembled and decorated by hand
- 28,800 vibrations per hour
- 65-hour power reserve
- 279 parts
- 39 jewels
- 5.72 mm thick
Functions:
- Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, city disc, chronograph (hour and minute counters, central seconds hand)
Dial:
- Black with luminescent numerals and hour-markers
Hands:
- Openworked and luminescent hours/minutes hands
Case:
- 44 mm in reinforced cermet and titanium
Strap:
- Black calfskin
