Jaeger-LeCoultre and Aston Martin Racing conquer new records: The AMVOX2 Chronograph Racing celebrates the 50th anniversary of Aston Martin’s prodigious victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
On June 13 and 14, the 2009 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will thrill the fans of
motorsport and Haute Horlogerie. Indeed, half a century after the extraordinary feat
accomplished by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori who had pulled off a complete victory at the
Aston Martin will be present on the starting line of the mythical race, driving the prodigious DBR1.
endurance race. On this occasion, the prestigious British manufacturer is hiring three
LOLA prototype cars that will compete in the Le Mans Prototypes LMP1 category.
As part of the three-year partnership signed this spring between the two brands
Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrates this event by presenting two limited series
AMVOX2 Chronograph Racing, the only chronograph that works without a push-button
thanks to its revolutionary patented vertical release system.
A winning temperament in every fiber of its being
The AMVOX2 Chronograph Racing limited series are distinguished for the first time by
carbon fiber chronograph counters that evoke several structural elements
of the LOLA Aston Martin prototypes on the racetracks, such as the chassis
monocoque, brake discs and pads capable of withstanding the rigors of the
failure at temperatures above 300 degrees Celsius. It is true that the points
between the latest prototype race car developed by
Aston Martin and the revolutionary AMVOX2 chronograph designed by the Grande Maison de la
Joux Valley. Echoing the V12 engine that equips the two LOLAs equipped with a
The 751E chronograph movement has a six-speed sequentially controlled transverse gearbox and
distinguished by the remarkable ingenuity of the levers that transmit to the mechanism the
movements printed on the watch glass to manage the chronograph functions at
vertical release.
In the field of robustness, these two masterpieces of watchmaking and automotive engineering
have extreme endurance characteristics. As the temperature can easily
to 60 degrees inside the cockpit during the race, Aston Martin developed a
air-conditioning system designed to guarantee a constant temperature in all circumstances
never higher than 32° in the cockpit. For its part, the ability of the AMVOX2
Chronograph Racing to operate unperturbed even under extreme conditions is
by a mechanism that boasts the legendary reliability and robustness of the
achievements of the Manufacture, attested by the success of the famous 1000-hour test which
subjects Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces to ruthless demands.
The fiery temperament of the AMVOX Chronograph Racing is revealed by a multitude of
design details that predispose this ultimate sports chronograph to meet the most demanding
more difficult. The 65-hour power reserve further increases the range in which the
watch works with optimal precision. The complex column wheel and clutch
The very elaborate vertical movement guarantees the chronograph’s unparalleled precision. The adjustment of
the inertia of the balance by the presence of four screws on its serge ensures the stability of the adjustment in
all conditions. Finally, the rotor bearing has ceramic balls that do not
require no lubrication and further increase the long-term reliability of operation.
term.
The true racing DNA that equips both engines of these
extraordinary technical achievements stands out on the face of the watch. Thus, the levers
of the chronograph, the hands and the inscriptions on the dial as well as the stitching of the strap in
leather have the distinctive orange color of the LOLA prototypes. The minute counter
has a checkerboard structure that evokes the black and white checkered finish flag
as well as the dates 1959 – 2009 to commemorate the presence of Aston Martin Racing at Le Mans
half a century after its brilliant victory.
The secrets of the vertical release chronograph
The chronograph system of the AMVOX2 Chronograph Racing watch with triggering
vertical, patented by Jaeger-LeCoultre, is a revolution in the world of watchmaking. The
characteristic pushers of the chronograph mechanism have disappeared. Instead, an ingenious
The mechanism allows the start, stop and reset by simple pressure on the
sapphire crystal of the watch. A single gesture is enough, a gesture so natural that it can be done
at any time, without disturbing the user’s concentration.
The chronograph function is started and stopped by pressing on the crystal at 12 o’clock,
while the counters are reset by a similar gesture, this time directed at
the ice at 6 o’clock.
Guaranteeing ease of use and simplicity, the system with
The vertical release is based on a mechanism integrated in a unique watch case. A
Inside, an ingenious ball-and-socket joint system ensures the pivoting of the unit composed of the
of the case and the bezel in relation to the horns of the watch. This system operates a series of
levers that instantly transmit impulses to drive the chronograph. Each
The lever is mounted on a miniature stainless steel bearing with 7 balls of 0.1 mm diameter.
Under the sign of the exploit
Presented as a prelude to the famous car race, the AMVOX2 Chronograph Racing is edited
in two limited series of 100 pieces: one with a grade 5 titanium case with
Black PVD, black dial and white luminescent numerals, the other in grade 5 titanium with white dial
and black luminescent numbers.
The open dial decoration on the movement reproduces the characteristic grid pattern
of the automotive grills and is accompanied by a black top. The bridges and decks of the
movement are treated with ruthenium while the chronograph levers are made of eloxidized aluminum
orange appear in an opening made between 4 and 8 hours.
The case back is engraved with the Aston Martin Racing inscription, the dates 1959-2009, the
signature and the fetish numbers 007 and 009 of the two LOLA cars which have
shone during the preparation races for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Indeed, if the ambitions are great, the omens seem favorable. On April 5, 2009, Aston
Martin Racing won the 1000 kilometers of Catalonia. Piloted by Jan Charouz (CZ),
Tomas Enge (CZ) and Stefan Mücke (DE), the car with the number 007 managed to
to pull out the victory after an impeccable course. Car 009, driven by Harold Primat
(CH), Miguel Ramos (PT) and Darren Turner (GB), remained in the top three before a
an unfortunate runway excursion that forced her to abandon just forty minutes before the end
of the race. A few weeks ago, on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, the Aston
Martin 007 conquered the third step of the podium while the 009 occupied a strong position in the
honorable 5th place.
Ambitions based on innovation
Developed from the 2008 Charouz Racing System LOLA, the new LOLA LMP1
is powered by the standard V12 engine that has already enabled Aston Martin to win in the GTI
with the DBR9 for the second consecutive time in 2008.
“2009 is a defining year for Aston Martin,” says David Richards, president of Aston Martin.
of Aston Martin, “because we are determined to win the title again in
This race, whose symbolic significance is as important for Aston Martin as for the
Great Britain. Obviously, we are fully aware that the realization of this
objective will not be a simple pleasure. Even though we have already won the
the last two editions, it will be no easy task to
to measure ourselves against the speed and endurance of diesel prototypes that have already registered a
impressive track record to their credit. However, we are confident that this competition
will be the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the dynamism and talent of the technology
British automotive”.
Thus, under the aegis of the partnership between Aston Martin Racing and Jaeger-LeCoultre, the
The first results are therefore more than promising. This will not surprise the aficionados who
know for a fact that these two prestigious brands are united by common values
spirit of competition, the strength of innovation and the constant will to
to meet new challenges. Like the LOLA prototypes, the AMVOX2 Chronograph Racing is
ready to measure unprecedented feats, during the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans as at every
that man and the prodigious machines that he never ceases to reinvent for the
The new technologies, which are still being perfected, are breaking down limits that were previously considered impassable.
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