The New Jaeger-LeCoultre Aston Martin Collection 2013

Two anniversaries and a superb trio of timepieces released in their honour - unable to cherry-pick, instead we feature all three....

Jaeger-LeCoultre are celebrating 180 years in the business, Aston Martin are almost 100 years old and their partnership has inspired some rather fine wristwatches.  With such a prestigious marque to associate with, the designers at Jaeger-LeCoultre may have been tempted to be heavy-handed with the Aston Martin branding.  Instead the collection is commendable for its understated conveyance of the partnership opting for trick features and subtle styling inspiration to great effect.

First up the new and quite frankly gorgeous Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Hometime Aston Martin featuring black dial with sunburst effect, knife-edge hour markers and hands including a skeletonised red-tipped example which serves to indicate the reference time.  An extremely useful and classy piece, the local time can be independently adjusted in either direction and the date automatically synchronises with the local time for fool proof operation.  The Master Hometime is powered by the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 975H and features a perfectly proportioned 40mm steel case.

Next, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Extreme W-Alarm Aston Martin Edition which has a compendium of functions but still manages to look style-sharp and uncluttered.  With this piece you get the JLC mechanical alarm which we know and love along with the ability to check the time in 24 world locations instantly thanks to the inner bezel ring.  The use of red and white on the indications is there as a nod to Aston Martin, but this addition aids usability and brings animation to contrast with the black dial and its "grill motif" which is also reminiscent of longitudal lines.  Again ease of use is a key feature - a double hours and minutes display disc for the alarm ensures no clumsy mix-ups.  Only 100 examples of the Master Compressor Extreme W-Alarm will be available, each cased in titanium measuring 46.3mm across.  Also in the box will be a rubber strap providing an alternative to the alligator strap shown above.

Lastly, the Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX5 World Chronograph Cermet.  We've already seen a very fine Deep Sea Chronograph Cermet using this high tech ceramic/aluminium combination earlier this year.  Having secured exclusive use of this material it was a surety that JLC would be featuring it again and this collection in particular provides a befitting showcase.  It is light, durable and superbly matt in appearance and its use in this model required a new approach to its case design.  This piece combines  chronograph and world time function but the twin-counter layout results in a tidy dial, which also features a movement operating indicator.  Inside is Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 752/1 and the Cermet/Titanium case meausres 44mm.  Set to become the darling of many men's style magazines, the AMVOX5 World Chronograph Cermet will be limited to 500 pieces.

Did you know that Jaeger-LeCoultre and Aston Martin have historical ties dating back to the 1920's?  Read about it here.

Or perhaps peruse our all-original Jaeger-LeCoultre archives here.