America’s largest luxury watch extravaganza, WatchTime New York, is returning for its fifth consecutive year at Midtown Manhattan’s Gotham Hall on October 25 – 26, 2019. This year’s event is shaping up to be the biggest yet, with 37 participating watch brands displaying their latest and greatest timepieces. Among these brands is Jaquet Droz, who will be featuring an updated version of its Grande Seconde Dual Time.
Accompanying the surprise release of the Grande Seconde Monopusher Chronograph at the Swatch Group’s Time to Move event this year was the new-look Grande Seconde Dual Time collection, which received a brand new dial design in four total variations all sized at 43 mm by 13.13 mm. For this aesthetic update, Jaquet Droz is building on the previous generation’s movement as well as the same figure-eight dial layout that the Grande Seconde is known for. What’s new here is the placement of an azimuthal globe projection (a view of the Earth from the North Pole) in the bottom half of the dial. The globe presentation is executed nicely with the continents surrounded by a mirror-polished ocean in either black or anthracite.
Additionally, the 24-hour home time display is split into two distinct 12-hour segments: white for daytime and black for night, making the reading of the home time more intuitive. The local time, on the top half of the Grande Seconde dial, is regulated by jumping an hour, which makes it quicker to set the time on arrival at the destination. The date adjusts automatically to this change, and is indicated by a red-tipped hand that sweeps around a circular satin-finish applied ring. Essentially, what you’re getting with the Grande Seconde Dual Time is four displays set within two subdials: local time, reference time, date, and running seconds.
The automatic movement inside is, as previously mentioned, identical to the one that was initially developed for the previous generation of Grande Seconde Dual Time watches from 2016. Visible through a sapphire exhibition caseback, the Jaquet Droz Caliber 2663H24 features a silicon escapement and pallet wheels and a skeletonized, fan-like rotor that allows ample viewing of the côtes de Genève and perlage decoration on the mainplate and bridges. In total, the Dual Time Grande Seconde offers a 65-hour power reserve.
The four new versions of the Grande Seconde Dual Time come in stainless steel with either a black-onyx (with 18-karat white gold applied ring) or a silver-opaline dial, or in 18-karat red gold with either an ivory or black Grand Feu enamel dial (both with 18-karat red gold applied ring).
Don’t miss out on seeing the new Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Dual Time at WatchTime New York 2019 on October 25 – 26 — get your tickets now!
As always, a solid article, thank you. My first view of the Grande Seconde Dual Time and it’s visually stunning along with a well-thought-out presentation of its useful complications.
As to complications, there are just what many will need without excess and their utility is enhanced by an uncluttered, clear display. The exhibition case is also a work of art.
Nicely done. Now help us out with pricing, please.
Where can I buy this watch?