Marry a collection of minerals that have travelled through thousands of lightyears with the hands of a skilled gemstone craftsman, and what results is a glorious timepiece that is literally out of this world. Jaquet Droz has outdone themselves yet again with two new exclusive variations of its signature Grande Seconde Off-Centered timepiece, featuring extravagant dials made of meteorite and stromatolite that offer not just a glimpse of heritage crafts but also the majesty of the universe we inhabit.

Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Off-Centered collection

The story behind the new Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Off-Centered Meteorite is based on the mystery of two elements: space and time. The fascination of time and the universe derives from the inability of mankind to measure the infinite vastness – a concept which Jaquet Droz has taken, harnessed and spun into a tangible work of art dressed in gold, therefore, it transcends its raison d’etre as mere functional timekeeping instrument and becomes a wearable fragment of eternity that has travelled through space and time; and now on your wrist.

Meteorite is a fragment of asteroid that has penetrated the Earth’s atmosphere intact, its long journey to earth observed by Earthbound creatures as shooting stars. Majority of the meteorites burn up before landing, leaving only a few rare fragments to reach our planet’s surface, making this material extremely rare and highly sought after. Boasting extraordinary density and hardness, these meteorites undergo exceptional level of craftsmanship and cutting techniques to be transformed into the uniquely-textured dials that they are now.

As rare as the meteorites that comprise their dials, these timepieces are limited to 88 pieces of each series: a 39 mm model, a 39 mm model set with diamonds, and a 43 mm model.

Although presenting different subdial layout than the Grande Seconde Off-Centered Meteorite collection, the same level of expertise can be seen in the Grande Seconde Off-Centered Stromatolite watch. Stromatolite is a fossilized sedimentary rock, that is to say, it contains living components as well as fossils. Dating back 3.5 billion years ago, Stromatolite also played a part in the development of life on earth. These layered bio-chemical structures are formed in shallow water and by the trapping sedimentary grains of surrounding accumulated bio-matter, the biofilms or microbial mats, become a home for a myriad of microorganisms, especially cyanobacteria. Thus to have a Jaquet Droz Seconde Off-Centred Stromatolite, is to own a slice of one of the planet’s most ancient vestiges.

The Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Off-Centred collection comprises only three pieces: a 39 mm model, a 39 mm model set with diamonds, and a 43 mm model, in a red gold case, fixed with alligator leather straps that complement the warm hues of the red gold dials. Like Covelline, Biggs Jasper and other mineral creations in their day, these pieces honour the Art of Astonishment, whose inspiration extends as far into the past as the origins of life on Earth.

Movement Automatic Jaquet Droz 2663A.P; 68-hour power reserve
Case 43mm 18-carat Red Gold case; water resistant to 30m
Strap Rolled-edge hand-made black alligator strap
Price From SG$38,000