A finely crafted timepiece gleaming with romance pays homage to the moon.
The Grande Seconde Moon Black Enamel tells a story that precedes the dawn of time, harking back to when the Moon was Man’s sole measure of the passing months.
Part of the Grande Seconde collection, this model featuring a black enamel dial is to make its debut at Baselworld 2018. Enhanced with a moon phase complication, the model acknowledges the significance of the lunar cycle to watchmakers, and pays homage to the mysterious and complex choreography that links Earth to Sun and Moon to Earth. The watch is a technical and artistic triumph, representing the phases of the lunar cycle from the new moon to the last quarter, while staying true to the clean aesthetic of the Grande Seconde collection and the signature Jaquet Droz figure 8. The lunar spectacle of the double-level dial in black Grand Feu enamel – with its applied satin-finish ring, 18-carat red gold star appliques, and 22-carat gold moon crowning a black onyx moon disk – houses an extraordinary treasure of watchmaking. The self-winding mechanical movement of the watch harnesses the marvelous properties of silicon, one of the most innovative materials in contemporary watchmaking. Silicon is friction-resistant and corrosion-resistant, meaning the moon phase in this Grande Seconde Moon is a “true” Moon. The fruit of a unique mechanism developed by Jaquet Droz, the moon phase requires correction only once every 122 years. The Grande Seconde Moon Black Enamel is part of a legacy of the most sophisticated watches in existence, and is complemented by an incomparably graceful dial. Technical prowess enhances the elegance of the timepiece with an 18-carat red gold case and black rolled-edge alligator strap. A hand indicates the date, and the astronomical moon phases at 6 o’clock can be set using the corrector at 8 o’clock.
In this model, Jaquet Droz craftsmanship showcases a sense of wonder and excitement that is rarely experienced. Acknowledging the origins of watchmaking in mystical astral phenomena, it returns to the human desire to make sense of the movements of the stars, which evolved into our present-day marking of time. This model features a diameter of 43 mm and a power reserve of 68 hours. The timepiece promises to delight its owner, unveiling a celestial fragment at every glimpse, and weaving with every second the very fabric of time.
“Some watches tell time, some tell a story”
A warmed up stage, a drum kit, a few guitars and a harmonica: “It’s only rock’n’roll!” Today, Jaquet Droz unveils the first out of the 23 unique timepieces to retrace the world of the Rolling Stones through motion. Beside the arm of a record player that hovers over a platinum album replica (the power reserve), a scene depicts their signature instruments in miniature paintings and gold thread. The external disc rotates up to 8 consecutive times for 30 seconds and is adorned with the albums that the collector will choose for his unique timepiece. At 9 o'clock, the iconic tongue beats rhythmically, from left to right and from top to bottom. “And I like it!”
After three years of work, Jaquet Droz and John Howe have developed an Art Watch dedicated to emotion, wonder and fantasy. Draped in gold and rare stones, their dragon has a record 9 distinct animations. Inside a 43 mm case, the piece is entirely handmade and can be customized almost without limit by the client. Thanks to a Studio in the heart of the Jaquet Droz head quarter, clients will be offered an immersive phygital experience that will allow them to witness the live creation of their timepieces. There is no series to be announced, only unique pieces.
The “Effinger” clock dated from 1783 and signed Jaquet-Droz, has been sold at CHF 256,000.-, which is more than three times the starting bid of CHF 70,000.-, during the Koller auction on March the 31st 2022.