Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Ceramic

The Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Ceramic watch hands-on

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You should always try to separate the purchasing experience from the standard-use-experience. This is the “take out” of my experience with the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Ceramic after photographing it for the first part of this article that is divided into two different parts. The first part was set in a photo studio, while the second part is set in the streets of Milan during different times of the day; in the morning, while wearing casual attire, in the evening, while attending a gala dinner, and during many other moments of the day.

The term “hautehorlogerie” sports that specific name not only because it is the ability to craft timepieces that generalist brands are not able to make, but because the global ownership experience linked to this category must be equal – if not better – than the purchasing one. The Jaquet Droz Grande Seconda Ceramic is therefore not just a well-built and pleasing-to-look-at-watch, but it is also a luxury wristwatch designed for connoisseurs that aims at providing a superlative and long-lasting experience to those who wear it.

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The type of ceramic used by Jaquet Droz for the Grande Seconde Ceramic features a particular tone that lies between a black colour and a shiny gray shade, it is entirely shiny because the brand’s idea is in my opinion to provide the user with a metal-like feeling, while avoiding the full dark (and too avant-garde) effect that would be out of place on a Jaquet Droz, but probably not on the creations of more sporty brands. One of the most delicate chromatic pairings is majestically sported on this watch; the crown and the folding clasp are not made of ceramic, but they are crafted in stainless steel that has undergone a PVD-treatment. If you weren’t told that, you would still think that there is no difference with the case, as this special finishing and that of the ceramic parts cannot be told apart. Well done.

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The strap is probably the part that could lend itself to some criticism; the very thick mesh brings back the Clous de Paris pattern on the dial and is quite well-crafted, but the strap, however, is rather stiff, so before it softens up after being used every day, you have to get used to an eccentric mass (a light one) that tends to move to the upper part of your wrist. Conversely, the automatic caliber is quite beautiful to look at if compared to other base calibers, and that is not because the Grande Seconde Ceramic features a higher level of complication given by its power-reserve, but rather because the winding rotor is made of PVD-treated metal and the bridges are ruthenium treated; quite an unusual and very pleasing finish.

How many times did you get angry when you noticed the first scratch on the polished mirror case-back? I can tell you that; many times! Ceramic is scratch-proof and it also features another advantage: it is much lighter than any metals and isn’t affected by temperature variations, thus ensuring an unmatched wearability. Proposed at a retail price of 17,500 €, the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Ceramic you can see on here is number 15 of the 28 specimens available; the proof of the exclusivity of this new Grande Seconde Ceramic. Using an adjective often used in the Anglo-Saxon motorsport blogging world, this watch is “compliant“, meaning that it features all the right ingredients perfectly blended in together and it provides the user with a great feeling of satisfaction at all times when wrapped around the wrist. The only downsize being probably represented by the strap that should be softer and equipped with a tang buckle to better adhere to the wrist.

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(Photo credit: Horbiter’s proprietary photo-shooting)

Gaetano C @Horbiter®

@Gaetano Cimmino

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