In 1784, Pierre Jaquet Droz opened a third complete watchmaking workshop in Geneva, after the first in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1738 and another in London in 1774. It thus became the first organized watch Manufacture ever opened in Geneva. It was devoted to the production of elegant, luxurious and refined creations requiring superior hand craftsmanship. It was there that songbird watches set with pearls and rubies, gold and flinqué enamel scent-flasks with watch and chiming mechanism and pairs of musical snuffboxes with enamelled mirror-image decorations were patiently crafted.
The Jaquet Droz Swiss watch brand is naturally dedicating its Hommage Genève 1784 line to the exceptional models characterised by an elegance, nobility and splendid design that celebrate the fusion between Haute Horlogerie and poetry. A bridge between the Age of Enlightenment and the third millennium, the Hommage Genève 1784 line by Jaquet Droz plays on the fundamental rapport between matter and soul. The Grande Seconde collection radiantly heralds the first generation of this line.

Grande Seconde
Whether through the magnificent interplay of Arabic and Roman numerals and dials rimmed with applied rings, or the majesty of natural materials and enamels, the Grande Seconde Hommage Genève 1784 collection is directly inspired by a model from the Age of Enlightenment. It embodies an extension of time displayed on the wrist; the union of two circles that sum up the legacy of a brilliant watchmaker expressed in splendid contemporary form; the illustration of the ever-spinning wheel of life through the centuries.
All Grande Seconde models by Jaquet Droz, some of which are produced as one-of-a-kind creations, are fitted with Jaquet Droz Calibre 2663-4, a mechanical self-winding double barrel movement with 72-hour power-reserve, and off-centered hour-minute and large seconds subdials. The movement is also engraved with the secret brand signature, the clover leaf. Its splendid oscillating weight in 18-carat white gold with "sunray" decoration is visible through the numbered transparent crystal case-back, along with the bridges and bars and plate with "Côtes de Genève" ribbing. Its bassine-shaped case in 18-carat gold, measuring 43 millimetres in diameter, along with its engraved crown and domed crystal, reinforce the supreme elegance of this model, further enhanced by its blued steel hands.

GRANDE SECONDE ECLAT
HOMMAGE GENEVE 1784

Numerus Clausus of 8
Reference J003034205
Movement Jaquet Droz 2663, self-winding mechanical movement,
double barrel, 22-carat white gold oscillating weight
Indications Off-centered hours and minutes, large seconds subdial
Jewelling 30 jewels
Power reserve 68 hours
Frequency 28,800 v.p.h
Case 18-carat white gold, set with 693 diamonds (4.67 carats),
diameter Ø 43 mm
Crown set with one diamond (0.1 carats)
Individual limited series number engraved on the case-back
Water resistance To 30 m / 100 feet
Dial 18-carat white gold, set with 653 diamonds (1.61carats)
Hands Hours, minutes and seconds in blued steel
Strap Rolled-edge hand made black alligator leather strap
Buckle 18-carat white gold ardillon, set with 28 diamonds (0.15 carats)
Diamonds IF to VVS1, Full cut, D to G
Total carat weight: 6.525 carats

The Grande Seconde Cerclée series

A superb interpretation of the timekeeper from the Age of Enlightenment which has inspired the very powerful design of this contemporary model. Its slate-grey and opaline silver dial and its applied metal ring, bevelled, drawn out with a file and secured by blued-steel screws, beautifully highlight the hour-minute and large seconds subdials.

Grande Seconde Cerclée Minérale

The models in this series may be one-of-a-kind creations or limited series of only eight. Each may be considered unique, since their dial is made from natural minerals exclusively crafted for this stunning series. They represent an extraordinary demonstration of the talent of the master-dialmakers of Jaquet Droz. The only characteristics shared by all Grande Seconde Cerclée Minérale watches are the blued steel hands, opaline silvered hour-minute and large seconds subdials clearly framed by a metal ring bevelled and drawn out with a file and secured by blued-steel screws.
Only eight of the Grande Seconde Cerclée Minérale have a dial in rutile quartz, meaning rock crystal from Brazil featuring needle-shaped golden rutile inclusions. This stone is extremely hard to craft and must be meticulously selected to achieve a surface with a sufficiently large concentration of rutile to make a dial, while nonetheless being very fine.

Grande Seconde Numerus Clausus Décentrée

Also produced in a limited edition of 88, the Grande Seconde Numerus Clausus Décentrée is distinguished by its remarkable sense of equilibrium, despite its unusual arrangement. Its uniform ivory-colored "grand feu" enamelled dial is enhanced by two circles which are centred only at their intersection.
The hour-minute subdial is at 1 o'clock, while the large seconds counter is at 7 o'clock - which amply justifies the unexpected position of the winding-crown at 4 o'clock.