Grande Seconde Email Noir

Hommage Genève 1784 - When Yin meets Yang

The Watch Quote™ - March 13th, 2006

Connoisseurs are already familiar with the classic Grande Seconde Email. The Jaquet Droz Manufacture of Haute Horlogerie is now introducing its double, its other half, its mirror image, its complement: the Grande Seconde Email Noir Numerus Clausus limited edition of 88. And for this exceptional partner, the European enamelling art once again majestically highlights the harmony and balance embodied in the hour and minute subdial subtly adjoined to the large seconds subdial. The figure 8 thus formed, representing a symbol of success in China, is a reminder of the success encountered by the founder Pierre Jaquet Droz in the 18th century, when he delivered his wonderful watch and jewellery to the very heart of the Forbidden City.

Jaquet Droz is justifiably proud of the Grande Seconde Email Noir. On the one hand, its dial provides a refined interpretation of its mastery in the art of “grand feu” enamelling on the dial – a rarity in the watchmaking world and an exceptional skill that the brand exercises with outstanding expertise. On the other, and for the first time ever, its master-watchmakers have risen to the challenge of presenting an intensely black enamel. It is very hard to achieve such a degree of density in the black of “grand feu” enamelling, This time-honoured technique calls for almost supernatural dexterity and visual acuity, since “grand feu” enamelling a dial is a particularly demanding task. First domed by hand to resist traction during firing, the dial is dusted with a fine enamel powder and then fired in order to vitrify the enamel. Once the fiery trial is over, the master enameller than applies the counters or hand-transferred Arabic and Roman numerals, before firing the whole one more time in order to secure this decorative dial arrangement that is so characteristic of the brand.

With this Grande Seconde Email Noir Numerus Clausus, issued in a limited edition of 88, Jaquet Droz is treating itself to a first. To achieve perfect chromatic harmony, white gold replaces blued steel for the lancine-type hands, representing a break with tradition and paving the way for a genuine innovation. Nonetheless, this timepieces has retained all the signature technical characteristics of the Grande Seconde: smooth-polished 18-carat white gold case, cambered crystal, transparent sapphire back revealing the mechanical twin-barrel self-winding movement with a power reserve of more than 68 hours, 22-carat oscillating weight with sunray motif, as well as the secret signature and individual number. The Grande Seconde Email Noir Numerus Clausus of 88 evokes a sense of absolute accomplishment and an unforgettable encounter with the universal. Ying, yang. Yang, yin.