Racing into the past with the Atelier Jalaper AJ-003
Time+Tide
For a very long time, horology and car racing have had a symbiotic relationship. Famous drivers wore iconic watches on the racetrack, which car aficionados sported while cruising the streets. Chronographs or time-only watches, connected in one way or another to another niche world of car racing, appeal to a particular segment of the watch community. Some brands lean heavily into the theme by painting vertical stripes on the dials or pairing their horological creations with perforated leather straps. Yet Belgium-based Atelier Jalaper goes one step further, with their latest release, the AJ-003, featuring dials made from the bonnet of one of the most iconic cars ever – a 1962 Jaguar E-Type Semi-Lightweight – a unique and elegant way to bridge the gap between these two worlds.
The case
The entirety of the Atelier Jalaper AJ-003 is inspired by the E-Type, including the case, although it might not seem so at first glance. Its 39mm case is mostly round and circular, with rounded-off lugs and case flanks, and a fixed bezel which is unusually slab-sided to evoke the roundness of the Jaguar. Except for the fully polished bezel, the case is otherwise brushed showing an alternation of vertical and horizontal brushing to highlight its shape. There are no sharp angles on the case sides and they dramatically turn down towards the see-through case-back. The fact that the lugs are thin and have a flat top accentuate the effect of roundness this model is endowed with. Again, the car it drew inspiration from indeed lacked straight angles.
Moreover, the case of the AJ-003 comes with a few Easter eggs (a timely metaphor as the season is fast approaching) which draw an even deeper connection to the iconic car. First, the combination of the half-recessed crown and curved undersides of the case-back evoke how the wings on the E-Type envelope the wheels. Second, the top lugs are longer than the bottom ones to reference how the cabin of the Jaguar sits further back from the front of the car. This asymmetry actually makes the watch more comfortable to wear, too. Beyond its design, the case of the AJ-003 is also nicely machined and finished, endowed with a reasonable 50 meters of water resistance and is equipped with a sapphire crystal on top and mineral one in the back.
The dial
The dial is of course where it’s at. In all of its previous collections (there are two before this one), Atelier Jalaper’s thing is to transform bonnets (or hoods if you’re American) of vintage iconic cars into dials. Here, the dials are made from the original hood of a 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Semi-Lightweight which raced and won the France Tour Auto in 2020, and then raced again only to crash. The brand got in touch with the owner of the car – with licence plate 1480 WK – to salvage the bonnet.
The giant piece of aluminium was then treated to remove the multiple layers of paint before being cut into circles and brushed. There are two versions of the AJ-003: one with a grey dial with a black chapter ring, and another in black with a white chapter ring. The design of the dial was inspired by the E-Type’s iconic Smiths speedometers.
The vertical brushing on both versions is quite noticeable and evokes the roughness of the race track. But beyond the dial, we find a pared-down and elegant dial configuration that makes the AJ-003 an everyday type of timekeeping device. Obelisk-shaped hour and minute hands are paired with a needle-shaped seconds hand, the former two being lumed, and all being fully polished. The hands point at the raised chapter ring, which design helps keep accurate track of time. Large numerals indicate the 5-minute increments and also indicate the hours, and thin hash-marks show the time to the minute. The hands and chapter ring design refer to the dashboard of the Jaguar whilst the two screws evoke, once again, the world of car racing. Lastly, the license plate of the car is indicated below the pinion.
The strap
Both versions of the Atelier Jalaper AJ-003 come with thick perforated rally-style black leather straps, equipped with quick-release spring-bars, curved end-links to match the shape of the case, and color-matched stitching. They’re entirely thematic and suit the AJ-003 well.
The movement
A watch of this caliber (pun intended) for which a lot of work was invested to create the dials is equipped with an objectively good movement: a chronometer-certified Sellita SW300-1 B. which ticks at 28,800 BPH (4 Hz) and has 56 hours of power reserve. Thanks to the exhibition caseback we can admire the movement’s industrial but not unpleasant decoration: côtes de Genève, colimaçon, sunburst effects, and a skeletonized, gold-plated custom rotor.
Atelier Jalaper AJ-003 pricing and availability
Both versions of the Atelier Jalaper AJ-003 are currently available for pre-order directly from the brand’s website. Atelier Jalaper is making 200 numbered pieces of each version, so 400 in total, with an estimated delivery date of August 2025. Price: €2,400/US$2,500/£2,000/A$3,950
| Brand | Atelier Jalaper |
| Model | AJ-003 |
| Case Dimensions | 39mm (D) x 11.5mm (T) x 45.55mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | 316L stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 50 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front, mineral glass back |
| Dial | Anodised grey or black aluminium sourced from a 1962 Jaguar E-Type Semi-Lightweight |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Strap | Perforated rally-style leather strap, pin buckle |
| Movement | Sellita SW300-1 B, automatic, COSC |
| Power Reserve | 56 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds |
| Availability | Available for pre-order, estimated delivery August 2025 |
| Price | €2,400 US$2,500 £2,000 A$3,950 |
Made in partnership with Atelier Jalaper. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.