Grande Seconde Dual Time

JAQUET DROZ UNVEILS A BRAND NEW VERSION OF THE GRANDE SECONDE DUAL TIME

Ever the explorer, the Grande Seconde Dual Time presents a stylish and contemporary new look that ushers the centuries-strong aesthetic of the Grande Seconde toward new horizons.

Any travel watch must display dual times zones (local and home time) and the date. Jaquet Droz met this technical prerequisite with panache, in keeping with the immutable aesthetic codes of the Grande Seconde, and so its Dual Time has stood the test of time in accompanying globetrotters on their adventures.

Travel has a historical significance for Jaquet Droz. Some three centuries ago, Pierre Jaquet-Droz, his son Henri-Louis, and Jean-Frédéric Leschot, crossed seas and continents to share their mechanical marvels with the world. From Switzerland to Spain, and from France to China via England, the Jaquet-Droz family from 1758 onward were pioneers of the international clockmaking trade.

The evolution of a piece as iconic as the Grande Seconde Dual Time therefore has a particular significance for the heritage of the brand. In this latest version, the aesthetic has been thoroughly revised. Starting with the same self-winding mechanical caliber (with silicon balance spring and pallet lugs) Jaquet Droz finds a new home for its travel complication, nestled in the bottom half of the Grande Seconde’s signature figure 8 dial. At its heart the continents are seen flat from the North Pole in an azimuthal projection. The powdery finish chosen by the brand brings the modern-day mappemonde to life with the realism and volume of the Earth's texture. The continents are depicted on a mirror polished backdrop in a choice of black or anthracite.

In another standout new feature of this new Dual Time collection, the 24-hour home time display is split into two distinct 12-hour segments: white for daytime and black for night, making the reading of the home time more immediate and intuitive. The local time, on the top half of the Grande Seconde dial, is regulated by jumping an hour, which makes it quicker to set the time on arrival at the destination. The date adjusts automatically to this change, and is indicated by a red-tipped hand that sweeps around a circular satin-finish applied ring.

Jaquet Droz today unveils four versions of the Grande Seconde Dual Time that display this new aesthetic. Two steel case versions (onyx or silvery opaline dial) present a contemporary minimalist look that can be worn by travelers for any occasion, while two red gold versions (ivory or black Grand Feu enamel dial) retain the classic Jaquet Droz heritage –a new venture to add to the family saga that dates back more than 280 years.

“Some watches tell time. Some tell a story.”