News September 2006

to know more about Jaquet Droz

Grande Heure Minute

Hommage Londres 1774

The Watch Quote™ - September 25th, 2006

The world is its stage

As the main character in a theatrical piece that evolves as the days go by, in tune with personal desires and the pace of the world, the Grande Heure Minute by Jaquet Droz simply loves to be a talking point.

The first act featured a dramatic stage entrance: the Jaquet Droz Grande Heure Minute collection was decked out in steel. The brand had decided to give this metal a distinguished new pedigree.

The second act in this splendid play opens on three models presented today, each illustrating in its own unique way the innovative power of Jaquet Droz, along with its ability to create designs of peerless modernity and subtlety, while magnificently reviving time-honoured crafts such as horology and the art of enamelling.

The Grande Heure Minute by Jaquet Droz radiates a magnificent stage presence, making light of conventions.

It plays on its seductive charm, giving a unique cadence to each daily performance, and generally revelling in its diva status!

Grande Heure Minute Réhaut

Numerus Clausus limited edition of 88

Jaquet Droz Grande Heure Minute Réhaut Noire, ref: J017034203

Enchantment and fascination reign supreme, as the Haute Horlogerie brand turns the wheel of time. Framed by an extremely sensual round case, the inherently concentric nature of this model stems firstly from the silvered baguette hour-markers of varying lengths. In their own unique way, they form an off-centred or “eccentric” circle in keeping with the finest Jaquet Droz traditions. Above all, they underscore and complement the cut-out in a matching shade that illuminates the rotundity of the black dial, again interrupted by the steel ring framing the silvered seconds subdial at 9 o’clock with its snailed background. Concentricity and eccentricity meet and mingle. The blued steel hands and screws resemble lightning strokes of searing intensity. The wheel of time turns and sweeps us up in its perpetual dance.

Grande Heure Minute Émail Ivoire

Numerus Clausus limited edition of 88

Jaquet Droz Grande Heure Minute Émail Ivoire, ref: J017034202

Tranquillity. The white enamelled dial, the Roman hour numerals, the Arabic numerals on the small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock, the blued steel hands: each and every feature contributes to a sense of complete serenity.

Amid the frenzied pace of modern living, the time on the Grande Heure Minute Email by Jaquet Droz flows peacefully towards infinity.

Grande Heure Minute Émail Noir

Numerus Clausus limited edition of 88

Jaquet Droz Grande Heure Minute Émail Noir & Blanc, ref: J017034204

Contrasts. The white enamel dial of the small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock serves as an intriguing reminder that the hours and minutes are also inexorably passing by on the splendid black enamelled dial. The pulsations of time and the beating heart of a city unite.

Each Grande Heure Minute model by Jaquet Droz is equipped with the Calibre 1169, a mechanical self-winding double-barrel movement with heavy metal oscillating weight and 68-hour power reserve. It is housed within a rounded and beautifully polished steel case featuring a crown adorned with the Jaquet Droz stars, a lasting signature characteristic of brand founder Pierre Jaquet Droz.

Taking its place within the proud lineage of the Hommage Londres 1774 collection, the Grande Heure Minute by Jaquet Droz reflects the urban, fast-paced life of this capital of business, art and prestige… A role London already played in 1774, when Pierre Jaquet Droz opened his second Manufacture there, assisted by his son Henry-Louis. This city was the point of departure for all of the major expeditions towards remote lands such as China, India and America. Today, Jaquet Droz pays tribute to the visionary spirit of this horological entrepreneur endowed with impressive mechanical and artistic genius. Above all, the brand continues to honour a brilliant past of which it is justly proud. It reinterprets bygone splendours in a spirit of enduring excellence. Time pursues its cyclical course.