Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Chronograph
CASE : red gold, transparent sapphire crystal and caseback, water-resistant to 30m
SIZE : 43mm in diameter
MOVEMENT : mechanical self-winding, Caliber 26M5R, 40h power reserve, 18K red gold rotor
FUNCTIONS : hours, minutes, retrograde date, single-pusher chronograph
DIAL : cream-colored Grand Feu enamel
STRAP : alligator leather with red gold folding clasp
88-PIECE LIMITED EDITION
Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Chronograph
CASE : steel, transparent sapphire crystal and caseback, water-resistant to 30m
SIZE : 43mm in diameter
MOVEMENT : mechanical self-winding, Caliber 26M5R, 40h power reserve, 18K red gold rotor
FUNCTIONS : hours, minutes, retrograde date, single-pusher chronograph, all offset by 30 degrees
DIAL : blue, hand-sandblasted, applied figure eight-shaped ring satin-brushed by hand
STRAP : alligator leather with steel folding clasp
In stable imbalance
However hard one may search for an equivalent, the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Chronograph is a completely unique watch. This is an ambitious statement, which can only be made on very rare occasions, yet the originality of this 43 mm model, its complication and above all its layout is blindingly obvious. It features the characteristic layout of Grande Seconde models, with hours and minutes occupying the upper part of Jaquet Droz’s beloved large figure eight motif, which structures the dial. Complications appear in the lower, wider section. In this case, the caliber exclusive to this watch drives a singlepusher chronograph and a date. However, since the latter display is generally large in Jaquet Droz models and the lower eight is so wide that it encroaches on the dial center, Jaquet Droz had to make this a retrograde date sweeping over a 306-degree angle. There are in fact two co-existent versions. The red gold watches feature a Grand Feu enamel dial with an upright figure eight, while on the steel versions the latter is offset 30 degrees along with the crown. The steel Grande Seconde Chronograph in steel do indeed have a symmetrical appearance, but along the 1 o’clock – 7 o’clock axis. A truly unparalleled slanting visual equilibrium.
