The $34,000 Watch That Doubles as Aston Martin’s Car Key
Aston Martin has long blended performance with craft. The AMVOX2 Rapide Transponder is a timepiece from Jaeger-LeCoultre that doubles as a car key. The watch houses a transponder that can send locking and unlocking signals to the car: unlock by pressing the watch face between eight and nine, lock between two and three. Pressing both at once flashes the car’s lights, a feature said to help locate the car in a crowded lot, though most buyers likely enjoy the spy moment more than the parking lot.
In This Article:
A Jaeger-LeCoultre Masterpiece That Doubles as a Car Key
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s history stretches back nearly 200 years. The AMVOX2 Rapide Transponder was designed for Aston Martin, debuting around 15 years ago as part of the brand’s collaboration. When new in 2010, the Rapide carried a sticker price of $199,950, with the watch adding $34,000 to the total.
Limited Editions and a Curious Compatibility Rule
The AMVOX line included models for the DB9, DBS, and Rapide, but you had to own the correct watch to make it work with the corresponding car. You couldn’t simply buy any Jaeger-LeCoultre watch and expect it to function as a key. In 2014, Aston Martin and Jaeger-LeCoultre released a new model that could pair with any new Aston for a more seamless operation.
Rarity, Value, and the Spy-Worthy Rival
These Transponder watches are rare on the market; used examples still fetch well over $20,000. For a while, the AMVOX Transponder was the most expensive car key you could buy. Later, Bugatti surpassed it with a key for the Chiron featuring 34.5 carats of diamonds and 175 grams of 18-karat gold, priced north of $500,000. Yet the AMVOX offered more than a key: it told the time and let you live a modern James Bond fantasy.
