March LA.B has always sat slightly apart from the louder end of the independent watch scene.
With the AM2 XS series, the Paris-rooted brand leans into a smaller, dress-adjacent format that feels less like a single watch and more like a compact wardrobe of related ideas.
The appeal is straightforward: a distinctive square case, restrained dial work and enough variation across the line to move from weekday tailoring to relaxed evenings without feeling out of place.
At a glance
- March LA.B’s AM2 XS series brings the brand’s signature AM2 shape into a compact 32 mm square format.
- The watch uses a hand-wound D101 mechanical movement from La Joux-Perret with around 50 hours of power reserve.
- Pricing starts from $1,697 before taxes, with three confirmed colourways across steel, leather and gold-tone executions.
A smaller AM2 with a stronger everyday brief
The XS name matters because this isn’t simply a cosmetic extension of the AM2 family.
At 32 mm across and just 6.7 mm thick, the AM2 XS works in the increasingly relevant space between traditional dress watch proportions and contemporary unisex sizing.
The square 316L steel case gives it a clear identity without needing oversized dimensions to make a point.
That restraint is central to the watch’s charm, especially in a microbrand market still heavily populated by rugged divers, field watches and spec-led tool pieces.
March LA.B’s design language is more architectural and more Parisian in temperament, with clean geometry and a certain vintage French neatness rather than obvious nostalgia.
Three personalities, one recognisable case
The AM2 XS series currently divides its personality across three named versions.
GRALL pairs a green textured dial with a silver case, silver hands and silver indices, and can be configured with a bracelet or two leather strap options.
SHELTER takes a brighter route with a white textured dial, silver case, and gold-tone hands and indices, also offered with a bracelet or two leather strap options.
GOLDEN HOUR is the most overtly dressed-up of the trio, combining a golden dial, golden case, golden hands and golden indices with a black leather strap as the default pairing.
The important detail is that these don’t read like unrelated variants.
The case shape, dial balance and compact profile keep the line coherent, while the colours and strap pairings let each version speak to a different setting.
Manual winding suits the mood
Inside the AM2 XS is the D101 manual winding mechanical movement from La Joux-Perret, a choice that fits the watch’s slim, deliberate character.
A hand-wound movement asks for a little more interaction than an automatic, but that’s part of the point in a watch like this.
With approximately 50 hours of power reserve, it has enough autonomy for practical rotation use without turning the winding ritual into a chore.
The sapphire crystal has an anti-reflective coating, and water resistance is rated to 5 ATM, or 50 metres.
The non-screwed crown reinforces the dress-leaning brief, though this is still a watch intended for regular life rather than a sealed sports-watch environment.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | March LA.B |
|---|---|
| Model | AM2 XS series |
| Case size | 32 mm square |
| Case material | 316L steel |
| Thickness | 6.7 mm |
| Lug width | 18 mm |
| Strap taper | 18 mm to 14 mm |
| Crown | Non-screwed |
| Movement | D101 manual winding mechanical movement by La Joux-Perret |
| Power reserve | Approximately 50 hours |
| Dial | Textured dial |
| Crystal | Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM / 50 metres |
| Assembly | Assembled in France |
| Colourways | GRALL, SHELTER and GOLDEN HOUR |
| Price | Starts from $1,697 before taxes |
| Shipping | Free delivery for orders over €295 |
Who the AM2 XS is really for
The AM2 XS will make the most sense for someone who wants one watch to cover more than one social register, but doesn’t want a generic round dress watch.
It’s small, thin and polished enough for sharper clothing, yet the square case and textured dials stop it from feeling too formal or anonymous.
Collectors already deep into independent watches may also appreciate that March LA.B isn’t chasing the usual microbrand checklist.
This is not a maximum-spec sports watch trying to win on depth ratings or case diameter.
It’s a considered design piece with a mechanical heart, a French assembly story and enough personality to stand apart in a compact collection.
For buyers who move between office wear, travel, dinners and casual weekends, the AM2 XS series has the rare quality of looking intentional in more than one setting.
