Swiss luxury watchmaker Jaquet Droz has long been known for its distinctive “figure eight” style dial designs, particularly in its flagship Grande Seconde collection. Recently, the manufacture unveiled the latest update to this family with a new 41-mm size for the Quantième model, which had previously been offered only in a larger 43-mm case. In addition to revisiting the overall dimensions of the model, Jaquet Droz has also included other design updates in its dial colors and accents, in an attempt to expand the model’s appeal.
The greater Grande Seconde collection itself, outside of the calendar-equipped Quantième model, is best known by its expansive, asymmetrical, vertical-oriented dial with overlapping subdials. The smaller, top subdial always features the hour and minutes, and the larger, bottom register most often features the running seconds, occasionally enhanced with another function. Within the Quantième sub-series, this additional feature is an analog date display, which helps provide an extra layer of subtle usefulness to the overall clean display.
The new 41-mm Grande Seconde Quantième series is comprised of seven new models, four in rose gold and three in steel, each showcasing the refreshed design of the Quantième subseries. The case features a tapered crown, curvy lugs with angled tips, and polished finishing throughout, which adds to its overall curvilinear look. In addition to its reduced diameter, the case has also been slightly slimmed down, from 12.21 mm thick to 12.10 mm; according to the brand, this reduction helps maintain the original proportions of the larger model but in a more comfortable and somewhat lighter format on the wrist.
The dials of the new Grande Seconde Quantième models offer distinctions between the rose-gold and steel versions. Each of the gold editions’ dials are in grand feu enamel, with colorways in anthracite, burgundy, ivory, and deep blue, each featuring white- and rose-gold accents. The grand feu technique is an extremely tedious process of layering and firing glass powder to create an eye-catching enamel, and it’s one Jaquet Droz is well known for effectively executing. These rose-gold models also include printed white subdials, with the hour markers for the top register using Roman numerals.
In comparatison, the steel models opt for somewhat less luxurious non-enamel dials, coming in a matte black, sandblasted titanium gray, or sandblasted silver; each of these are accented with silver, blue, or a darker metal. Each of the steel options also uses applied markers for the hours on the top hours-and-minutes subdial.
On both the steel and rose-gold editions, Jaquet Droz has used railroad-style rings for the top minute ring and bottom seconds ring, an applied metal ring for the analog date, and the same style of hands throughout. A subtle additional feature on each of the models is in the use of a small red accent on the tip of the analog date pointer, as well as at the top of the analog date ring for day 31.
Inside all of the various cases and colorways, the 41-mm Grande Seconde Quantième watches house the in-house Caliber 2660Q2, which is the most up-to -date version of the Jaquet Droz base Caliber 2663. The movement uses two mainspring barrels as well as a silicon balance spring and boasts a 68-hour power reserve. The automatic movement is visible via a sapphire caseback and uses a skeletonized rotor.
The 41-mm Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Quantième will retail for $20,000 in the rose gold, and at $9,500 in steel, with all models available now at brand boutiques and authorized retailers.
| Manufacturer: | Jaquet Droz |
| Model: | Grande Seconde Quantième |
| Reference number: | Various |
| Functions: | Off-centered hours and minutes, off-centered large seconds display, pointer-type date display |
| Movement: | Jaquet Droz Caliber 2660Q2, automatic, silicon balance spring, 28,800 vph, 68-hour power reserve |
| Case: | Rose gold or stainless steel |
| Bracelet and clasp: | Rolled edge alligator leather strap, folding clasp in steel or rose gold |
| Dimensions: | Diameter = 41 mm, height = mm |
| Price: | $9,500 (steel), $20,000 (rose gold) |
To learn more, you can visit Jaquet Droz website, here.
