In what has been a strong year for serious watches for women thus far, Jaquet Droz has just released the Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Mother-Of-Pearl Watch In Stainless Steel. Powered by the Jaquet Droz 2653.P self-winding mechanical movement, the newest addition to the ever-growing Petite Heure collection is yet another horologically credible entry that walks the line between technical interest and artisanal excellence with aplomb.
Practicality And Beauty In Harmony
It is particularly pleasing to see that this 35mm watch has been produced in stainless steel. Not only does that help keep the price down (which is always appreciated), so too does it acknowledge the fact that women may well wish to wear a beautiful watch daily and would benefit from having a much more durable case material than the ubiquitous white gold options currently available on the market.
Doubly exciting is the fact that there is a plain-bezel option. While the use of 160 diamonds (totaling 0.98 carats) is subtle and elegant, it is the full-steel case option that stands out to me. Perhaps because the mother-of-pearl is so aesthetically nuanced and plenty glitzy on its own, this watch doesn’t seem to need a diamond embellishment to come across as both feminine and individual. It is very much a case of “less is more” — with the small time-indicator at the top of the display and a dial defined by its texture and contrasted against nothing but expertly heat-blued hands, this watch screams self-confidence. The fact that it’s sitting on a thoroughly decent movement, as well, certainly adds to the sense of quiet calm it exudes on the wrist.
The Jaquet Droz 2653.P automatic movement has a double-barrel mechanism, resulting in a 68-hour power reserve. A heavy-metal oscillating weight facilitates efficient winding, and a 28,800vph operating frequency ensures that this watch will be able to stand up to the regular shocks any beater can expect to encounter.
The Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Mother-Of-Pearl Watches are delivered on a rolled-edge hand-made blue alligator leather strap, which is fastened by a stainless steel ardillon buckle. The diamond-bezel version (ref. J005000274) will retail for $15,200, and the steel-only case (ref. J005000273) will be priced at $8,400. To find out more, visit jaquet-droz.com.
