Grande Seconde Skelet Sapphire:
A newcomer with 286 years of experience
Jaquet Droz has once again succeeded in transcending its heritage: the historic Grande Seconde, designed almost three centuries ago, finds its home in the heart of the Tourbillon's 100% sapphire case and skeleton architecture. An explosive marriage that – yet again – defies convention.
It bears an uncanny family resemblance. And yet, it is very much a 2024 creation. So where does this tension between past and present come from? Undoubtedly from Jaquet Droz's characteristic approach, described as Disruptive Legacy. It's about respecting our heritage while learning to break free from it to create something unique. The Grande Seconde Skelet Sapphire reflects this coming together of possibilities. The design of the Grande Seconde has embodied the heritage of Jaquet Droz since its foundation, but the skeleton architecture and sapphire case are pure 21st century. They have now come together in the same piece – a first in the history of the Atelier.
The geometry of the hours, minutes and seconds is familiar, tracing the "8" so dear to Jaquet Droz. The hours and minutes are off-centered at 12 o'clock. The majestic, oversized Grande Seconde appears at 6 o'clock. A unique representation of time that has survived nearly three centuries of fine watchmaking without even a wrinkle. On the contrary, its ultra-modern design only proves its ability to stay modern.
For the first time, this unique design is set in a sapphire case. With a diameter of 42 mm, the movement is literally bathed in light. Light is diffused throughout, traversing the case via the back, horns, frame and crystal, without ever encountering the slightest obstacle.
The caliber 2863 SQ is reduced to its simplest form. Highly architectural and ultra modern, with its straight bridges enclosing the curves of the gear trains and dials, it artfully combines shades of gray and black: brushed gray dial, black PVD bridges, white gold indexes and fixing screws, black ceramic hour circle. All of its components are skeletonised through the careful removal of as much material as possible, down to the limit of their physical strength. The wheels and bridges are openworked, with empty space accounting for almost the entire volume thanks to an understated aerial mechanism. It exhibits all the subtlety of a skeleton movement: less substance, more presence. So as not to obscure anything in this self-winding calibre with a 68-hour power reserve, even its 18-karat white gold oscillating weight has been openworked, turning freely around the periphery of the movement without obstructing its view.
A radiant, unique edition numbered 01/01, the Grande Seconde Skelet Sapphire comes with a white rubber strap which, like most of the other exterior components, can be customised to suit the wishes of each collector.
