GRANDE SECONDE SKELET-ONE
In a new architectural interpretation of its icon, the Grande Seconde Skelet-One lets light into the heart of its mechanics.
The Grande Seconde incarnates the essence of the Jaquet Droz watchmaking art. While the brand has oft varied its design, for the first time it proposes a sapphire dial integrated within a skeleton composition. The Grande Seconde Skelet-One marks a true stylistic turning point in the brand’s history, as part of its prestigious 280th anniversary celebrations.
The objective of this creation was to let light shine to the deepest reaches of the Grande Seconde, all while preserving the figure “8” shape that is its aesthetic signature. To do so, Jaquet Droz maintained the uncluttered character of the dial that is distinguished by the legendary hours and minutes counter with Roman numerals at 12 o’clock, intertwined with the large seconds counter with Arabic numerals at 6 o’clock. The composition stays true in all aspects to the original inspiration of the Grande Seconde, playing with decorated surfaces as much as empty spaces. As in music, where rests count just as much (if not more) than notes, the Grande Seconde finds balance as it alternates between full and empty.
Similarly this new interpretation in total transparency – a first for Jaquet Droz – accords ample breathing space to the time indications. Hours, minutes and seconds stand out in a new transparent aesthetic bathed in light. Jaquet Droz has left only the bridges showing, which structure the piece’s movement.
The sapphire dial, on which the large seconds hand turns, perfectly complements the skeleton movement, constructed in successive layers, themselves visible from the side. The plate is now entirely openworked. The casing-up circle has been eliminated, allowing for a more open composition. At 12 o’clock, the hours and minutes turn around a sapphire hour ring, set on a base of gold. The ensemble is held together by five indexed screws, oriented in a chosen direction. Used for the first time by Jaquet Droz, this procedure was derived from an existing armory system and adapted by the brand’s technical teams. The oscillating weight in gold has also been openworked to let light diffuse freely into the heart of the movement. The Grande Seconde Skelet-One, equipped with a silicon double barrel, balance spring and pallet lugs, features a hand-assembled Caliber 2663 SQ. It is the first to reveal the mechanical choreography beating at the heart of the Grande Seconde.
The Grande Seconde Skelet-One, with a diameter of 41 mm, comes in three interpretations: red gold, white gold and ceramic
“Some watches tell time, some tell a story”
Most recent posts
-
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.
