March LA.B Introduces Slimmer AM2 XS as a Dress-Focused Evolution of Its Signature Design

French independent watchmaker March LA.B has expanded its AM2 collection with the introduction of the AM2 XS, a smaller and significantly thinner interpretation of one of the brand’s most recognizable designs.

The new release represents a notable shift for a company that has largely associated the AM2 line with sport-oriented watches. While the AM2 XS retains the collection’s distinctive octagonal case and unconventional crown placement, it arrives with proportions aimed more directly at dress-watch wearers.

Measuring 32mm in diameter and 6.7mm in thickness, the AM2 XS is the slimmest version of the AM2 produced to date. The watch preserves the faceted architecture that has defined the series, combining polished angular surfaces with vertically brushed sections positioned at 12 and 6 o’clock on the bezel.

Founded between Los Angeles and Biarritz in 2009, March LA.B has built its identity around a blend of Californian influences and understated French design. The AM2 collection itself traces its origins to the earlier AM1 line, which drew inspiration from American muscle cars and industrial styling associated with the 1970s.

Those influences remain visible despite the reduced dimensions of the new model. The crown remains positioned at 4 o’clock, a design feature that has become a recurring element across the company’s catalogue. March LA.B said the screw-down crown contributes to a water-resistance rating of 50 metres.

The AM2 XS will be available in stainless steel and gold PVD versions. Buyers can choose between a seven-link steel bracelet and a leather strap, both fitted with quick-release spring bars. Slightly extended lugs help maintain the angular profile associated with earlier AM2 references.

Three dial options accompany the launch. Identified by the company as Grall, Shelter and Golden Hour, the green, white and gold-toned variants feature a stamped houndstooth texture. The approach marks a departure from the sportier detailing seen on previous AM2 models.

The dial design remains restrained. There is no date display and no luminous material, with polished hour markers and faceted sword-shaped hands providing the primary visual elements.

Powering the watch is the manually wound La Joux-Perret D101 calibre. Visible through a green-tinted sapphire display back, the movement is described by March LA.B as an alternative to the ETA Peseux 7001. The calibre measures 2.5mm thick, operates at a frequency of 3Hz and offers a stated power reserve of 50 hours.

The broader AM2 family has previously appeared in more experimental forms, including a titanium Millésime March edition released in 2024 and the carbon-fibre Nyctalope model introduced earlier this year. Rather than departing from that established design language, the AM2 XS refines it into a more compact and restrained format.

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For a brand often associated with bold geometries and casual sporting influences, the latest addition suggests a quieter expression of the AM2 concept while preserving the visual characteristics that have come to define the collection.