Jaeger-LeCoultre and Aston Martin

Published by Pierre-Paul Godts

 

Jaeger-LeCoultre and Aston Martin – Three original timepieces

Master Compressor Extreme W-Alarm Aston Martin, Master Hometime Aston Martin and AMVOX5 World Chronograph Cermet.

Jaeger-LeCoultre unveils three new models developed in cooperation with the British manufacturer Aston Martin. Initiated almost a decade ago, the partnership between two iconic and influential actors in their respective fields of activity – Fine Watchmaking and fine sports cars – has given rise to a number of spectacular technical innovations and horological creations reflecting the values shared by the two prestigious brands. In 2013, to mark the 180th anniversary of the Grande Maison in the Vallée de Joux and the centenary of the legendary English carmaker, three original timepieces symbolise the enduring ties between these avant-garde companies.

The alarm watches pilots had always dreamt of boasts all the qualities indispensable to those whose passion propels them across continents. Starting with a world time display that enables them to read off at a glance the time in any time zone on the planet. Since long journeys across the world’s various time zones imply facing the dreaded concomitant time differences, the ever useful alarm function not only features exceptional readability, but also a full and powerful sound. There is thus no risk of showing up late for a race, especially since this innovative display combines playfulness with absolute clarity – since it is composed of two juxtaposed discs appearing through a large window at 9 o’clock: the first is devoted to hours running from 1 to 12, and the second to quarter-hours.

The Master Compressor Extreme W-Alarm Aston Martin watch is powered by the automatic Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 912 featuring a blend of reliability and a sporting nature stemming from its ability to face up to the most extreme conditions. Witness the compression key that further enhances the crown’s resistance to water and dust by overcompressing one of the four water-resistance gaskets; along with a sophisticated shock-absorbing case guaranteeing absolute precision in all circumstances. The splendid black dial bearing alternating red and white indications is adorned with a surface treatment evoking the grill on Aston Martin cars.
The logo created by the British manufacturer to celebrate its centenary is engraved on the case-back. It also adorns the special presentation box equipped with a dedicated compartment to house a second strap supplied with the watch. Wearers can thus switch from alligator leather to rubber in one smooth move and thus secure firmly to their wrist this generous 46.3 mm-diameter titanium and stainless steel watch designed for experienced drivers.

Master Hometime Aston Martin watch

The new Aston Martin collection welcomes a model embodying Jaeger-LeCoultre’s spirit of innovation: the Master Hometime watch. Like the aerodynamic lines and innovative technical solutions of Aston Martin cars that have been making their mark on the history of motor sports for a century, the Hometime concept developed by Jaeger-LeCoultre is a milestone opening up whole new vistas for the watchmaking art in this early 21st century. The secret of its success lies in its simple operation combined with extreme beauty. The Master Hometime Aston Martin immediately stands out for its structured black dial that has become the symbol of a partnership embodied by exceptional horological accomplishments. The sporting nature of the timepiece is accentuated by the brushed, streamlined lugs smoothly extending from the 40 mm-diameter steel case.

The indications also feature the collection’s characteristic colours: black, white and a hint of red designed to instantly draw the gaze towards the sought-after information – whether the reference time that is easier to read because of the crimson-tipped openworked hand dedicated to displaying the time zone of the place of residence. To avoid any errors of interpretation on the other side of the world, it is combined with a 24-hour counter occupying the upper part of the dial, while the lower part is devoted to the running seconds. The time indications are adjusted in one-hour increments, either forwards or backwards, in order to display local time immediately upon reaching a given destination. When the traveller returns, performing the reverse adjustment as soon as the plane hits the tarmac brings the two hours hands back to their superimposed position. The eye thus perceives only one and the timepiece is once again a timepiece showing a single time zone until the next long-distance trip. Clothed in its remarkable understated livery, the elegant Master Hometime Aston Martin, powered by automatic Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 975H, perfectly illustrates the virtues shared by the two brands: innovation, reliability and performance – as testified by their signatures appearing side by side at 3 o’clock.

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.