A Contemporary take on a Classic: Grande Seconde Ceramic by Jaquet Droz
How do you redefine a collection, keep it relevant, and yet safeguard its identity? Jaquet Droz may well have the answer with the new Grande Seconde additions in black and white ceramic. Inspired by a Pocket Watch created by Pierre Jaquet-Droz in 1784, the crisp-clean lines of the Grande Seconde continue to live on and evolve. The design is instantly recognisable, with its overlapping sub-dials shaping the figure 8. The first to be encased in ceramic, the new timepieces make for an ultra-modern addition to the collection.
Each of the three watches are encased in ceramic, with a textural “Clous de Paris” guilloché motif dial to match in black or white. The contemporary style is extended through the handmade textured strap, mimicking the design of the dial. The bold monochrome features of the watches are undercut, only subtly, within the details of dial. The two sub-dials combine Roman and Arabic numerals. The top dial displays hours and minutes whilst the bottom, more prominent sub-dial, showcases the seconds. All hands are in 18-karat red gold, the fine detail of which beautifully contrasts against the black background. In the white ceramic Grande Second, the gold features extend to the crown, again made with 18-karat red gold.
The second black watch, the Grande Second Power Reserve Black Ceramic, differentiates itself with a power reserve indicator. At 9 o’clock, a golden coloured vertical arch-shaped scale notifies its user when power starts to drop from its 68 hour reserve. Its 4063D-S movement can be viewed under the sapphire crystal back-case.
The understated characteristics of the new Grande Seconde timepieces allow for everyday wear. The revival of an iconic design, Jaquet Droz successfully marry contemporary elements with traditional watchmaking; strategically applying the use of modern materials like ceramic, alongside the craft of guilloché. All three watch cases measure 44mm in diameter and house self-winding mechanical movements. Each is limited to 28 pieces only.
