JLC - I blame Nico...

I blame Nico...

Nov 22, 2019,15:17 PM

A strange detour…

Having recently returned to Scottsdale for a couple of weeks, I was looking forward to visiting my favorite local Lange/JLC/Panerai/Blancpain/RM/etc. AD for a chat and look around, particularly at his extensive collection of vintage and pre-owned watches. I was particularly interested in some very rare vintage Panerai that they had collected. What I hadn’t expected was to be waylaid by a watch that I had admired back when it was first issued but had let slip from my memory in the intervening decade or so. As a life-long sports car and chronograph guy, the JLC Amvox 2 had made quite an impression on me in 2005. Unfortunately, at that time the price was well outside my budget.

Recent events, including amanico’s post below and the release of Ford v. Ferrari had brought up some old memories of meeting Carroll Shelby for the first time, back in 1960 at the ripe old age of 8. He and Old Yeller II were racing at a track nearby and he was kind enough to give me his autograph and chat for a few minutes. I think he was impressed that, thanks to my dad, I knew that he and Roy Salvadori had won the 24 Hours of Le Mans the previous year for Aston Martin.

Discovering this mint, with box and papers Amvox 2 really seemed to close that circle for me. My AD sold this watch new in 2008 and had recently taken it back in trade for another piece. Apparently, it was a safe queen for the intervening decade or so and virtually unworn. They sent it to JLC for a full service and here it was, indistinguishable from new, and my favorite version with the Titanium case, black dial and skeletonized center. Serendipity.

The Panerai will just have to wait for another visit.

Kent