Tourbillon Jaquet Droz

New for 2011 is the unique and distinctive Tourbillon Jaquet Droz.

If the after-dinner chit chat comes around to wristwatches and you're wearing a Jaquet Droz - relax, you'll be the head honcho.  Turn back your cuff and enjoy the hushed reverence.  A Jaquet Droz watch is indeed a beautiful thing, opulent but not in an ostentatious look-at-me way.  The brand's portfolio has one of the most recognisable "faces" in the business, two off-centred subdials overlapping to form the fortuitous number 8.  La Grande Seconde is a symbolic part of the portfolio, so-named because the lower and larger of the two subdials counts the seconds.  The Tourbillon Jaquet Droz reverses the layout with the seconds subdial positioned below 12 o'clock.  The tourbillon is set within the seconds counter and features a remarkable distinction - the tourbillon carriage is made from sapphire crystal.

Sapphire crystal is also used to frame the double ring around the subdials, its transparency particularly evident where the two overlap on the black matt Côtes de Genève dial shown above.

Two editions are available, 18 carat white gold case with black dial or 18 carat rose gold with a hand crafted enameled dial.  The hands are 18 carat gold to match the case, the seconds hand is blued steel and case diameter is 43mm.  Inside is the Jaquet Droz 25JD automatic tourbillon movement with 18 carat oscillating weight viewable through the sapphire case back.  The piece comes presented on a hand crafted alligator leather strap with 18 carat gold folding clasp.