Dual Time, complete Calendar, and Deadbeat to name just three examples, yet there was still a complication missing in the Grande Seconde collection catalogue. The complication, however, arrived at Baselworld 2017, during the presentation of the new Jaquet Droz models; the moon–phase–complication. The Grande Seconde collection has a natural talent, it is like a chameleon that can transform itself without betraying its original architecture and the big number eight drawn on the dial that makes it a unique luxury watch, instantly recognizable, almost snobbish in the world of haute-horlogerie.
The same effect is evident, but to a lesser extent, on the steel version also, where, however, you do not perceive the same color jump due to the type of dial and the material of the case. The disk of the moon is made of steel on the silver dial and the red gold versions, it is light blue in colour. The disc is black onyx on the version with the onyx dial, while the moon and the stars are made of 22–carat gold and 18–carat gold, respectively (white, on silver and onyx, or red). What I would probably re-edit is aesthetic in nature and it concerns the winding rotor that would deserve a style, as I have suggested in the past already, that is closer to that of a watch playing around with the concept of circular symmetry and a clear historical reference to the great pocket watches of the late 19th century. The Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Moon in stainless steel is priced at 15800 euro and the red gold version (namely the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Moon Ivory Enamel) retails for 30000 euro. Is this the brand's first step towards the release of a Perpetual Calendar? Perhaps it is or, more easily, it represent a more romantic version that, thanks to a faithful reproduction of the moon cycle, has given life to the warmest Grande Seconde ever conceived.
(Photo credit: Horbiter®'s proprietary photo-shooting)
Gaetano C @Horbiter®