1,233 articles · 196 videos found · page 2 of 48
Quill & Pad
Alexander Doerr had never really paid much attention to opals before, but upon closer inspection he realized this gemstone is extraordinary – shrouded in mystery and well worth learning more about. Looking at an opal is like looking at fireworks or even looking into a galaxy. And, as he learned, two Swiss watch brands specialize in using the fiery gemstone in watches: Jaquet Droz and Piaget.
SJX Watches
Jaquet Droz was historically renowned for elaborate and ornamental pocket watches, often decorated with enamel and pearls, reflecting the brand’s on the Chinese market, which demanded lavishly decorated timepieces. The brand’s newest pair of paillonné enamel wristwatches – the Fleur de Lys Grande Seconde Paillonnée and Fleur de Vie Petite Heure Minute Paillonnée – embody the brand’s past aesthetic sensibilities. French for “spangled”, a reference to the tiny decorative pieces of gold foil that make up the pattern, paillonné enamelling has been a specialty of Jaquet Droz since its modern-day revival, starting with the very first Grande Seconde Paillonnée of 2004 that had a dial made by enamel artisan Anita Porchet. Jaquet Droz has since mastered the fine art of paillonné enamelling, with recent editions like the Paillonnée Enamel “Gold Arabesques” featuring dials made in its own workshops. Initial thoughts The new pair of paillonné enamel watches do not fail to impress with their vivid colours and patterns – gold paillons against translucent blue enamel over guilloché makes for a dynamic combination that immediately catches the eye. And up close, which is the best way to appreciate the enamelling, the gold paillons are tiny yet intricate and nuanced. The ring circling the sub-dials on both watches is made of 18k red gold Out of the two, I gravitate towards the Fleur de Vie due to its 35 mm case, which is fitting for a dress watch, esp...
Time+Tide
This year might be one of the most unusual ever when it comes to new watches being released. While brands were already seeking different ways to share their new releases with the watch-loving community, the global pandemic that we are still watching unfold has put a stop to almost any plans that brands might have … ContinuedThe post Watches you shouldn’t miss, from Omega, Bulgari, Casio and Jaquet Droz appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
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Jaquet Droz expands their Grande Seconde Quantième, with a mid-size line in 41mm. 7 models are launched - 4 in red gold, and 3 in steel.
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Jaquet Droz adds a new black jade dial to their Grande Seconde Off-Centered collection. Available in red gold, it is a limited edition of 88 pieces.
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Quill & Pad
While Martin Green is not a particular fan of skeletonized watches, the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Skelet-One has seduced him. Here he explains why.
Quill & Pad
Joshua Munchow's love for Chinchilla Red petrified wood in combination with red gold might make some believe that he puts it well above the other models in Jaquet Droz's Loving Butterfly Automaton line, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. He adores the opal dials too because they look like interstellar explosions. What else makes them so unique?
Revolution
Jaquet Droz’s Loving Butterfly in Opal and Chinchilla Red celebrate mineral mastery with an Australian twist.
Deployant
Jaquet Droz extends the Grande Seconde Skelet-One line with two new additions - one in traditional red gold, and the other in an ultra modern plasma ceramic.
SJX Watches
A contemporary take on the brand’s iconic watch – itself based on a 18th century pocket watch – the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Skelet-One Plasma Ceramic is a sleek and modern open-worked wristwatch, now in a new, high-tech case material. Originally available in ordinary ceramic, the watch has now been given a case of “plasma ceramic”, an unusual material that’s best described as a ceramic that resembles metal. The material begins are white ceramic that’s treated with a plasma gas, essentially ionised gas created at 20,000°C. The process of plasma carburising transforms the surface layer of the white ceramic into a metal oxide, giving the ceramic a grey, metallic finish while retaining all of the desirable properties of ceramic including hardness, low density and scratch resistance. Though plasma ceramic has been a hallmark of the Swatch Group and its many brands, including Rado, Omega and Blancpain, it is being used for the first time by Jaquet Droz. The case measures 41.5 mm across and 12.48 mm high, making it a tad larger than its gold counterparts, which is typically the case for ceramic cases due to the necessities of construction in an ultra-hard, but potentially brittle, material. Unusually for ceramic that is typically mirror-polished all round, the case is finished with contrasting surfaces – the bezel and top surfaces of the lugs are brushed while the case band has a polished finish. A clear sapphire disc forms the Grande Seconde dial, wit...
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SJX Watches
Even though Jaquet Droz is a part of Switzerland’s largest watchmaking conglomerate – its parent Swatch Group also owns more mainstream names like Omega and Longines – the brand has consistently demonstrated an independence of thought with its impressive range of automata wristwatches – the latest being the Magic Lotus Automaton. Combining artisanal decoration with miniature automata – complex mechanical devices that typically imitate humans or nature – these watches continue a lineage that began with the brand’s founder: Pierre Jaquet-Droz (1721–1790). Jaquet-Droz built automata that were shockingly lifelike for the period, with his greatest invention being The Writer. A seated figure capable of writing a pre-programmed sentence up to 40 characters long, The Writer was such a feat that during the Spanish Inquisition, its maker was suspected of using witchcraft to create the uncanny contraption. Over two centuries later, Jaquet Droz has developed several modern-day interpretations of its allegedly supernatural devices, often wristwatches that combine an automaton with a minute repeater – and even in monumental pocket-watch format. The recent Magic Lotus Automaton, on the other hand, is much simpler, but one of the most unusual and intriguing. It is not a minute repeater, but manages to be brilliantly conceived and effective. Garden of wonders Despite not having a repeater, the Magic Lotus Automaton is still a mechanical bombshell – so it is massive,...
Quill & Pad
When Joshua Munchow first saw that Jaquet Droz had released a new Grande Seconde Chronograph, the first chronograph in his favorite collection from this brand, he took notice. Here he reveals why.
Time+Tide
As is the case with every other year in recent times, 2019 was a very, very good one for the inimitable Swiss watchmaker Jaquet Droz. Not only did we see the marque, which has been around since 1738, create their first ever Grande Seconde Chronograph, we also saw a great new addition to their Grande … ContinuedThe post These were the 3 best Jaquet Droz watches of 2019 appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Quill & Pad
Ian Skellern still remembers the sense of awe he felt when he had the opportunity to watch and listen to a recently restored centuries-old Jaquet Droz singing bird. The animation was compelling, and the quality of the birdsong sound was incredible. But as impressive a feat he thought that full-sized eighteenth-century Jaquet Droz singing bird clock was, shrinking that mechanical technology to wristwatch size is just mind-blowing. As The Naked Watchmaker, Peter Speake-Marin, highlights here.
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We take a close look at the Jaquet Droz Lady 8 Petite Mother-of-Pearl in this in-depth review and reveals its charms with our Ladies View column.
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Time+Tide
Editor’s note: Jaquet Droz is a brand with an increasing presence on our fair shores. And while they’re best known for their watches that exhibit a decent amount of both pomp and circumstance, there’s a lot to be said for their simpler offerings, which are still distinctive as all get-out. Don’t believe us? Check out … ContinuedThe post Full metal Jaquet Droz – the Astrale Grande Heure Minute appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
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We reviewed the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Chronograph and we thought that as it is such a handsome watch, we'd do some lifestyle photography with it.
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We take a close look at the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Skelet One Ceramic Blue with a Watchscape article, with wallpaper sized images within.
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Jaquet Droz extends the Grande Second range during the Time to Move event in May. Here, we take a close look and review the Grande Second Dual Time.
Revolution
Jaquet Droz CEO, Christian Lattman walks Revolution through all of the watchmaker’s 2019 novelties, including the breathtaking Magic Lotus Automaton.
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Hodinkee
The first Grande Seconde chronographs from Jaquet Droz are a classic take on the complication.
Deployant
Jaquet Droz's offering is impressive this year. And one of the most interesting watches unveiled is the Grande Seconde Chronograph we are reviewing here.
Time+Tide
The Grande Seconde is perhaps Jaquet Droz’s most recognisable design, with an outsize second hand and characteristic figure 8 layout that you can spot from across a room. It’s also a versatile design that’s been called into service for a range of complications. But never a chronograph. Until this week’s release of the Jaquet Droz … ContinuedThe post INTRODUCING: The Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Chronograph appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Revolution
Jaquet Droz unveils its first chronograph and a new Dual Time look in its Grande Seconde collection and wows us with a unique Zen garden automaton.
Deployant
Jaquet Droz starts strong with a new variant to the Grande Seconde collection by adding a chronograph. The movement is supplied by Manufacture Blancpain, and two versions are offered. The chronograph is a monopusher via a coaxial pusher at the crown. Versions are offered: One in a red gold case with the counters aligned, andRead More
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