Grande Seconde is the flagship timepiece collection of Jaquet Droz featuring asymmetrical design in precious materials and elegantly executed complications. This year the maison is celebrating the 300th year anniversary of the birth of its founder Pierre Jaquet-Droz, born in 1721. Grande Seconde design is inspired by a pocket watch created by Pierre in 1784. The signature motif is the exquisite figure “eight” on the dial. The asymmetric hours and minutes display on the top, intersected by large sub-seconds dial below form the shape of figure eight.
In 2018, Jaquet Droz debuted the Grande Seconde Skelet-One, the brand’s first timepiece with skeleton dial that gave a twist to the brand’s signature eight shaped design. The contemporary look was made possible with open-worked mainplate and oscillating weight. In Spring 2021, Jaquet Droz pushed the envelope further with colorful ceramic variations. More recently, Jaquet Droz made a stunning piece unique for the Only Watch 2021 charity auction – a Grande Seconde Skelet-One Tourbillon with a special plique-à-jour enamel dial.
This brings us to today’s announcement on Grande Seconde Skelet-One Tourbillon, a logical extension of the skeleton platform for Jaquet Droz to highlight the maison’s technical skills. The symmetry of straight lines and angles lend a complex framework to an otherwise exposed movement. The tourbillon cage follows the geometry of the skeleton movement, with a triple cross shape which, once a minute, aligns perfectly with its bridges.
The hour and minute dial is offset from the small seconds dial and the two overlap in a tiered configuration. Made from transparent sapphire to maximize the skeletonized quality of the design, they are underpinned by a second dial in “smoky” quartz that creates some depth and plays with light. The minute track, seconds track, hour markers and slender, delicate hands are all crafted from coordinating rose gold that contrasts beautifully with the matte black bridges sweeping architecturally behind the transparent displays.
The case is 41 mm in red gold and has been engineered to allow the opening a maximum of space. The 18k red gold oscillating weight is skeletonized to provide a visual illusion wherein it is visible from the caseback, yet it is invisible from the dial side. The oscillating weight in combination with a single barrel provides the Skelet-One Tourbillon with a massive 7-day power reserve. The bottom plate is designed to provide stability and strength to the entire structure, allowing the complex manipulation of light and negative space.
Jaquet Droz has created a timepiece that is part work of art, part engineering feat, with all the charm.
Tech Specs
Movement: Jaquet Droz 2625SQ, automatic, 21,600 v.p.h, 7 days power reserve, silicon balance spring and pallet horns, titanium tourbillon frame, 18-karat red gold oscillating weight
Functions: Off-centered hours and minutes, off-centered tourbillon and seconds
Case: 41mm x 13.36mm, 18-karat red gold, 30 meters
Dial: Sapphire, smoky quartz base, hands, indexes, and screws in 18-karat red gold
Strap: Black alligator with 18-karat red gold folding clasp
