Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Dual Time Email Ivoire

Jaquet Droz, quintessential time

Associated to the history of Jaquet Droz, the new Grande Second Dual Time reminds us that Pierre Jaquet-Droz, visionary entrepreneur of the Enlightenment, was an avid traveler in his time.

By Vincent Daveau
Contributor

From the royal courts in Europe to the gates of the Forbidden City. Genius watchmaker Pierre Jaquet-Droz traveled across the world; a man ahead of modern globalization in search of progress, beauty and distinction.

Back then, due to the long time it took to travel and the complex communication methods that existed, knowing both the local and the time in one’s country wasn’t really a pressing need. Yet, pioneer Jaquet Droz was already toying with the idea. Today, the brand is an expert in watches with multiple time zones as a tribute to the globe-trotter the brand's founder was. To cite but a few examples of these models, we could mention: "The Twelve Cities", in which one hand indicates the time in twelve different capital cities of the world, the "Grande Heure GMT" and the "Two Time Zones".

Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Dual Time Ivory Enamel Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Dual Time Ivory Enamel

This year, the brand has introduced, for the first time ever, this type of indication on one of its most iconic references, the "Grande Seconde". As an ode to all time zones, the historical piece is equipped with two off-centered dials that overlap slightly to form an "8", Jaquet Droz’s number and the symbol of balance and infinity. The brand has developed a new movement that allows the upper sub-dial to display the local time and the minutes while the sub-dial at 6 o'clock displays the second time zone as well as the date and seconds. The elegant seconds hand makes a complete rotation every minute.

True to the brand's aesthetics, the brand’s craftsmen have designed a traditional and refined watch, examples of which being the layout of the indexes in Roman numerals on the upper sub-dial and Arabic numerals on the lower sub-dial. In the latter, they have added the date function that is indicated by a red-tipped hand, which helps to reduce the volume of the dial in a delicate assembly of shapes, signature of Jaquet Droz. The red-tipped hand was also a strategic decision to enhance readability. Jaquet Droz always gives as much importance to aesthetics as to practicality and technical excellence.

Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Dual Time Ivory Enamel Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Dual Time Ivory Enamel

This explains why the Grande Second Dual Time is equipped with a silicon escapement that produces unparalleled chronometric results and is resistant to magnetic fields.

An elegant watch of rare reliability, the Grande Seconde Dual Time is available in three 43-mm versions - an ivory Grand Feu enamel dial in a red gold case and a silver or onyx opaline dial with a steel case. Its 65-hour power reserve is pleasantly useful, which will no doubt make it gain the approval of any traveler who knows how to read all types of time zones – even the most poetic ones.

Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Dual Time Ivory Enamel Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Dual Time Ivory Enamel

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Translated from the original French text

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