Jaquet Droz Perpetual Calendar Eclipse
Even if you will never have the means to own one, the perfection of a Jaquet Droz watch will knock you for six, and this new Jaquet Droz Perpetual Calendar Eclipse is indeed stunning.
The Perpetual Calendar complication is such a fine feather in the horological cap of a watchmaker, that to display it on an area which is measured in millimetres and still make it usable and readable takes much consideration. Most Perpetual Calendar watches feature subdials, some of which double-up as space saving combined indications, not so Jaquet Droz who employ that most visually satisfying spectacle - the retrograde indication.
This piece has the look of a Villeret - which I love - with a big flat face, and dial space aplenty. It also features another of my favourites - serpentine hands, and oh joy there's two of them, each of which serves to indicate - nay, cup their respective day and date as they glide along in a most seductive manner.
The months are indicated pointer-style just below the 12, with a subtle little integrated leap year indicator and located at 6 o'clock is the celestial scene of the moonphase and its ensemble of stars which, in a wonderfully playful arrangement peeps out from behind a perfect little moving disc. There is a little quirkiness in the graduation of the numerals, but it is a restrained addition.
The Jaquet Droz Perpetual Calendar Eclipse is available with ivory or black Grand Feu enamel dial options framed by a trim-bezeled 18kt rose gold case which measures 43mm across. As always, the fortuitous number 8 is present, there are 8 exquiste little stars clustered around the humanistic representation of the moon.
More Jaquet Droz in our extensive archives.
