Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Skelet-One – Reimagining a Classic
Jaquet Droz takes the Grande Seconde a few steps further!
There is something special about Jaquet Droz. The singularity of the brand lies in its distinctive perception of elegance, embodied by the iconic Grande Seconde display. Inspired by a pocket watch created by Pierre Jaquet Droz in 1784, its artful simplicity feels understated, sophisticated and elegant. And for Baselworld 2018, the brand adds a strong modern note to its classic, with the new Grande Seconde Skelet-One.
Released in light of the 280th-anniversary celebrations of Jaquet Droz, the Grande Seconde Skelet-One is an architectural take on the brand’s signature model. For the first time in its history, the Grande Seconde is being made as a skeletonized piece. If this new interpretation of the model is unmistakably Jaquet Droz, it takes this classic a few steps further, venturing into unexplored modern, technical territory.
The openwork movement offers an unobstructed view of its striking architecture while preserving the figure “8” shape that is its aesthetic signature, with the hours and minutes counter at 12 o’clock intertwined with the large seconds counter at 6 o’clock. The play of light and shadow is superb, revealing the beauty, intricacy, and precision of its geometric structures.
The large seconds sapphire sub-dial perfectly complements the skeletonized movement. At 12 o’clock, the sapphire hour ring is set on a base of gold. It combines Roman and Arabic numerals for the gold versions, while the ceramic model features faceted indexes. The ensemble is held together by five screws. Evident of the brand’s meticulous attention to detail, these are oriented in a chosen direction. The hours and minutes hands are leaf-shaped. The thin large seconds hand is balanced with a round counterweight. These are fashioned out of gold or blued steel depending on the versions.
Powering the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Skelet-One is automatic calibre JD2663.SQ. Immediately revealing its technical nature, this twin-barrel movement is entirely openworked. The plate and bridges are hollowed out and finished with a black treatment. It features a silicon balance spring, silicon pallet horns and a cool JD personalized balance with external screws. The gold central rotor is skeletonized as well and it is engraved with the individual number. Ticking at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz), it offers a healthy power reserve of 68 hours.
Going on with the basics, the Skelet-One is rendered in a red gold, white gold or a ceramic case. Its case measures 41mm x 12.30 mm for the gold versions and is slightly larger for the ceramic version at 41.5mm x 12.48 mm. It sits extremely well on the wrist – a perfect size in our opinion for an elegant watch like this.
The Jaquet Droz Skelet-One is complemented with a black alligator strap with a pin buckle for the gold version and a fabric strap with a folding buckle for the ceramic version. Price is set at CHF 34,600 for the gold versions, CHF 24,850 for the ceramic version. For more information, please visit www.jaquet-droz.com.
