JAQUET DROZ – GRANDE SECONDE QUANTIEME SATIN-BRUSHED

Two of the typical hallmarks of Jaquet Droz replica watches are at the heart of this Grande Seconde Quantième duo. First of all, although the dials are neither “Grand Feu” enamel nor mineral, as they generally are in the replica watchmaking collections by the Chaux-de-Fonds brand, they still have all the purity that gives them their elegance. No excess flourishes or sense of narrowness – just space. A great deal of space. Secondly – and this is one of the symbolic strengths of the Swiss replica watchmaker – a large 8 formed by the fusion of two counters extends its loops over the dial with masterful sophistication.

This Grande Seconde Quantième Satin-Brushed duo, introduced at BaselWorld 2017, was a success from the very opening of the trade fair. All the aesthetic codes and mechanical power of Jaquet Droz are on display in these two replica watches with prices under the threshold of 10 000 Swiss francs. Another attractive element for the Grande Seconde Quantième Satin-Brushed that will widen its clientele even more.

jaquet droz grande seconde quantieme satin brushed closeup

In fact, this model model has two faces – one silver grey and the other steel grey – and two diameters – 39 and 43mm. Theses choices will also help attract more customers and fans of Jaquet Droz.

Each dial is adorned with a satin-brushed finish and fine sunburst engravings, with rays beginning not at the heart of the dial, as is the case in most replica watches, but near 6 o’clock, where the long second hand and the varnish-tipped date hand are centred. These two displays are, in fact, grouped in a single counter, with lowered edges to house the date, encircled by the second markers. At the 31st day of the month (shown in red), this sub-dial interlocks with the hour and minute counter to form the magic number 8.

Ringed by white markers against a black background, the hour rim, made up of applied indices, is the setting for a couple of silver or blue lancine-style hands, displaying the hours and the minutes.

At the heart of the steel case, measuring 39 or 43mm in diameter, is housed the JD2660Q2.P calibre. This automatic mechanical movement has a double barrel, and provides 68 hours of power reserve, while driving the hours and minutes (offset at 12 o’clock on the dial) and the seconds and the date (brought together at 6 o’clock).

Price: 9 750 CHF jaquet-droz.com

By Sharmila Bertin

JAQUET DROZ – PETITE HEURE MINUTE SEASONS

When you leave Paris, London, or any other major European city, to come and live in Switzerland, the first thing that hits you is the change of seasons. It is much more noticeable and nature reflects each of these changes with orange hues cloaking the trees in September and the pink and lilac-tinted evening skies in summer. When you hike in the mountains or walk along the banks of a lake, you see bright and colourful flora and fauna. This blooming nature resounding to birdsong that we enjoy today, went hand in hand with Pierre Jaquet-Droz, the founder of the eponymously-named replica watchmaker, back in the 18th century. Nature was more than just a companion to the replica watchmaker, it was a muse and an inexhaustible source of inspiration. The Jaquet Droz brand pays tribute to this love of nature with two stunningly beautiful timepieces: Petite Heure Minute Seasons.

jaquet droz petite heure minute seasons closeup

These two replica watches are literally feats of magic and complement an existing duo that depict the two cold seasons of autumn and winter. This time, spring and summer take pride of place and to create them, Jaquet Droz has used all its craftsmanship and artistic expertise in sculpting and engraving, miniature painting on mother of pearl, stone setting and, of course, mechanical prowess. There are just 88 examples of each of these works of art, with an individual serial number engraved on the back of the case.

The Petite Heure Minutes Seasons model dedicated to spring (my favourite), is a 41mm diameter piece in white gold. Its lugs and chapter ring are highlighted in a double row set with 272 brilliant-cut white diamonds. The dial is opalescent mother of pearl dial, painted with a branch of plum blossom. Each pink corolla has green leaf buds and the meticulous nature of the work is strikingly realistic. At the bottom of the dial, the plum blossom branch forms a perch for a couple of blue tits with their wings spread. These bird appliques in pink gold have been hand-sculpted, hand-engraved and hand-painted. A domed sapphire glass display protects this painting and gives it depth by emphasising the relief offered by the plump bodies of the two birds. The hours and minutes are offset towards midday and feature two spear-shaped hands in blue stainless steel.

The summer version of this timepiece, made by Jaquet Droz, has warm, golden, chocolate hues with a bright dial, quite different to the model described above. The blue tits look the same and are in the same place, but they appear to be hopping about in a field of sunflowers with their golden petals opened up to the sun. Two spear-shaped hour and minute hands in pink gold adorn the case.

Each timepiece features a JD 2653.Si calibre self-winding mechanical movement with a silicon balance spring and double barrel, giving it a power reserve of 68 hours.

Price: 63,750 CHF (Summer) 73,450 CHF (Spring) jaquet-droz.com

By Sharmila Bertin

JAQUET DROZ opens its brand new boutique in Shanghai

On November 12th of this year, JAQUET DROZ opened its new boutique on West Nanjing Road, a prestigious address in the heart of Shanghai. The event was marked by festivities celebrating the themes of discovery and initiation, giving Jaquet Droz the opportunity to reiterate an ambition that has remained unchanged from its beginnings: to surprise, to fascinate, and also to tell its story.

 


For the inauguration ceremony, Jaquet Droz had an artist from its Ateliers d’Art come especially to give attendees an exclusive demonstration of the infinite refinement of miniature painting on the dial.

The new boutique is outfitted with elegant showcases that present the various Jaquet Droz models as veritable works of art under carefully designed lighting.  Customers are immersed in a refined space with clean lines that play on the various tones of slate, in harmony with the minimalist scenography, true to the spirit of the brand. Several illustrations on the walls highlight the different arts and crafts that represent the pure expertise of the replica watchmaking firm.


The event was also marked by the presentation of the Grande Seconde Deadbeat, a masterpiece of replica watchmaking complications that has been subtly redesigned, with its seconds hand centered on the dial. Also featured at the opening was the Charming Bird, a feat of technical and artistic prowess distinguished  by its automaton in the form of a singing bird, which won an award in the “Mechanical Exception” category of the 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. True to the Jaquet Droz aesthetic, these timepieces resonate with the culture of amazement and a love of tradition, two emblematic traits that unite the Swiss replica watchmaker and the Middle Kingdom.


The inauguration in 2015 of four new single-brand boutiques in China bears testimony to the Swiss replica watchmaker’s desire to celebrate its long-standing ties with the Middle Kingdom.

The nine Jaquet Droz boutiques in China today are all imbued with the same spirit as their driving force: to perpetuate a shared history that spans several centuries. The dialog between the replica watchmaking firm and the illustrious country-continent began in the 18th century, under the initiative of Henri-Louis Jaquet-Droz, one of the firm’s founders, who had the idea of establishing a workshop that would produce predominantly for the Chinese market.

True to its heritage, the brand has successfully preserved and cultivated this exceptional relationship. With desire to strengthen and promote these privileged ties, Jaquet Droz has inaugurated four new boutiques in 2015, covering three of the country’s major cities. The opening of a retail store in Beijing in May and a second location in July, along with the launch of a new location in the heart of Studio City in Macau, have sealed the beginning of a new era in the relationship between Jaquet Droz and China.

These frequent exchanges created close and lasting bonds between China and the brand known by its twin stars. In 1783, Jaquet Droz became the first replica watchmaking brand to be admitted into the grounds of the Imperial Palace, where the Emperor Qianlong and his courtiers showed fascination at the originality of his creations. Certain historic pieces are still conserved today in the Museum of the Forbidden City.