GRANDE SECONDE DUAL TIME – A Time to travel
Pierre Jaquet Droz was a singular man. A Visionary entrepreneur, an inventor in an era profoundly influenced by the artistic and philosophical movements of the Age of Enlightenment, he was also a great traveler who frequently visited many royal courts of Europe. First watchmaker to trade with the Forbidden City, Pierre Jaquet-Droz embodies the promise of a "globalization before its day" under the sign of progress, beauty and distinction.
This spirit where curiosity, discovery and practical attention to detail go hand in hand has been anchored from its inception in the DNA of the brand with the twin stars. Several iconic models pay tribute to that spirit including the Twelve Cities, which gives the time in 12 capitals with a single hand, the Grande Heure GMT and the Time Zones.
In 2016, for the very first time, the brand has used the concept to inspire one of its most emblematic models: the Grande Seconde. Rejoicing in all the possibilities time presents, this historic piece is endowed with two off-center dials, slightly overlapping to delineate a figure eight, the brand s tutelary number and a symbol of balance and infinity. A new movement was developed to create an upper dial displaying the local time and a lower seconds dial, off-centered at six o clock, that doubles up with an hours and minutes dial giving the reference time. All this is accomplished without compromising the elegance of the slender seconds hand that makes a complete rotation for every minute. Remaining true to the aesthetic principles of the brand, the Jaquet Droz artisans conceived a classic, sophisticated display, starting with contrasting yet complementary indexes: Roman numerals on the upper counter and Arabic numerals on the lower. They also added a further complication - the date - indicated by a red-tipped hand that exploits and enhances the recessed lower subdial in a delicate structuring of form highly characteristic of Jaquet Droz. Such a choice is equally reflective of a desire to achieve improved readability. At Jaquet Droz, aesthetic concern always goes hand in hand with convenience and technical excellence. This is why the Grande Seconde Dual Time is fitted with a silicon escapement with unrivaled chronometric performance and unaffected by magnetic fields.
A timepiece conducive to nomadic reverie and faultlessly reliable, the Grande Seconde Dual Time comes in three 43 mm-diameter versions: an ivory Grand Feu enameled dial with a red gold case, and a silvery opaline or onyx dial with a stainless steel case. It is equipped with a 65-hour power reserve, securing its place as a modern-day classic for all those who appreciate Time in all its dimensions, both here and there, the better to seize the myriad opportunities offered by the present moment.
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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!”
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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.
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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.
