A traditional art applied to watchmaking since the 17th century, enamel endows dials with exceptional and almost inalterable radiance, whether monochrome or decorated using various techniques, notably including miniature painting. The term “Grand Feu” refers to successive firings at very high temperatures of around 800°C.
While none of the whimsical high complications voiced inside this watch represent any type of a gain in usefulness to the wearer, that was not the point, naturally. Jaquet Droz is not the only manufacturer offering automata in wristwatch form, together with other recent examples such as the Van Cleef & Arpels Ronde Des Papillons and the Ulysse Nardin Hourstriker Pin-Up, however Jaquet Droz goes the excess mile concerning its decorative arts and intricacy of the automata. Just 8 portions of this Jaquet Droz Tropical Bird Repeater watch are being produced, with an asking price of $661,500 each. The Grande Seconde would be to Jaquet Droz what the Lange One would be to A. Lange & Söhne as the brand’s flagship set and signature appearance. The name and firm Jaquet Droz were obtained by the Swatch Group at the turn of the millennium, and two years later, it launched the Grande Seconde, that was motivated by an old Jaquet Droz pocket watch in the 18th century. It’s a very simple but pleasing design, comprising a subdial that tells the major hour at 12 o’clock and a larger overlapping subdial at 6 o’clock that reveals the running seconds – hence the title Grande Seconde. There are just two that come in a black ceramic case and one which comes from a white ceramic instance. Let’s discuss the only white ceramic model first, which is only referred to as the Grande Seconde Ceramic watch. It includes a pristine white ceramic case that measures 44mm wide and is 12.23millimeters in height. That tells you that it is intended as a men’s view, even though white ceramic watches – particularly with golden accents such as this – are usually strongly associated with women’s watches.
