While I understand the impulse to buy expensive watches, I’m rarely moved by to open my wallet when simple beauties like these come along. These two new limited editions form Jaquet Droz are sport watches for the caviar and horsie set. The Grande Seconde SW is a standard three hand watch with a few odd touches – “The numerals are printed on the inclined ring itself, a technical exploit to which only the Jaquet Droz craftsmen hold the secret” and presumably those selfsame craftsmen will take that secret to their graves – while the Reserve De Marche Ceramique is limited to 88 pieces and is made of ceramic. It has a 68-hour power reserve and reserve indicator on the dial.
Droz was actually an early pioneer in robotics, creating automatons for the inbred Kings and Queens of Europe. I actually love the line – it’s very staid and the lines are great – but I’m hard pressed to pay lots of money for what is essentially a three-handed watch – hour, minutes, seconds – no matter how many Swiss virgins kiss the insides of the watch before it is finally closed.
“Grande Seconde SW” and “Réserve de marche céramique”: The new sporty line from the “Hommage Genève 1784” Collection by Jaquet Droz
Les Montres Jaquet Droz is offering a real display of fireworks with two sport inspired timepieces. The “Grande Seconde SW”, featuring an ultra-masculine design, has already attracted a great deal of attention this year. The “Réserve de Marche Céramique”, another exceptional timepiece, is a symbol of the brand’s remarkable technical achievements.Grande Seconde sw – Hommage Genève 1784
The “Grande Seconde SW”, from the “Hommage Genève 1784” Collection, combines powerful graphic work with technical prowess. This timepiece is for men in search of a very special design for use under all types of circumstances: in the air, on land or at sea…being water resistant to 88 metres (288 feet).
The “Grande Seconde SW” is an innovative, contemporary interpretation of the iconic “Grande Seconde”, which draws its inspiration from a heritage rooted in the mastery of complicated mechanisms. Assembling technical parts in a way that shows off the brand codes to perfection, the creative team at Jaquet Droz combined a striking new arrangement of volumes with sleek, harmonious lines. The claws and horns, carved into the solid metal, are hollowed out to accentuate the sporty look of the watch. The lugs protect the crown. Finely fluted, the bezel gives the timepiece a touch of pedigree. The inclined planes of the ring, shaped like a figure eight in relief, reflect the light, giving the dial a three-dimensional appearance. The numerals are printed on the inclined ring itself, a technical exploit to which only the Jaquet Droz craftsmen hold the secret. Day and night, the steel watch skeleton hands, tipped with orange Super-LumiNova to ensure perfect readability, are ready to run the Race of Time. The black natural rubber strap affords both the design and the performance of materials typically used in extreme sports. The “Grande Seconde sw” illustrates the boldness and subtlety of ultra-dynamic lines more powerfully and with greater technical sophistication than ever before.Réserve de Marche CERAMIQUE – Hommage Genève 1784
The “Réserve de Marche Céramique”, a new addition to the “Hommage Genève 1784” Collection, has been designed to take up an exceptional challenge. Elegant and refined, in absolute black with just a hint of red, it brings together the iconic beauty of the “Grande Seconde” and the reliability of its self-winding double-barrel mechanical movement. Its design codes are like poetry: pure yet dynamic, vested with a timeless fascination.
The dial is set in a 44 mm case made of black ceramic. The extreme resistance and hardness of this material ensure that the case will retain its original brightness and colour. The “Réserve de Marche Céramique” has tested the expertise and technical know-how of the master craftsmen at Jaquet Droz to the limits. The same is true for the black opaline dial, whose homogeneity is underlined at nine o’clock by the 68-hour power-reserve indicator, echoing the red of the seconds hand. The graphic design of the indicator recalls the taut and elegant speedometers of the most powerful motor cars, giving this model the sporty touch that forges its identity. Representing a technical feat in an uncompromising quest for excellence, this timepiece has been subjected to extreme temperatures and an integrated black rubber strap serves to emphasise the exclusive nature of its design. Produced in a “numerus clausus” limited edition of 88, each model is authenticated by an individual number engraved on the back of the case.