Here’s a secret of the watch journalism trade: we know that readers like to look at the pictures and take in the key points of a watch release as fast as possible. In the case of the new Jaquet Droz Tourbillon Skelet Sapphire – Bushidô, it’s that this watch is freaking cool.
At the centre of the 42mm sapphire case sits a Bushi warrior mask, better known to you or me as a Samurai mask. It’s the mask worn by the followers of Bushidô, the traditional Japanese code of honour for warriors that requires you to assert your power, terrorise your opponents and honour your elders. It’s for that reason these masks typically take on the visage of mythological elements of the Japanese pantheon of divine beings and demons. With its snarling teeth and pointed horns, Jaquet Droz’s mask draws on the myths of the Oni, demonic ogres.
The mask itself took over 200 hours to produce and required the involvement of more than six artisans, each an expert in their craft. The three-dimensional shape of the mask is achieved by micro-sculpture, the golden decoration around the eyes and chin by delicate intaglio engraving, the horns are enamelled and the beads in the forehead are Murano glass, which is a first for Jaquet Droz. Turn the watch over and peek at the underside of the mask and you’ll find a beautiful Sakura painting of cherry blossoms.
Also hidden beneath the mask is the titular tourbillon at 12 o’clock, it’s spinning cage like the whirring of a warrior’s mind in battle. It’s balanced in the display at 6 o’clock by the power barrel, which stores the energy from the winding of the skeletonised rotor, keeping a power reserve of up to 8-days, which is seriously impressive. The timekeeping elements are the hour and minute hands located in the mask’s mouth.
As you might expect from such a precise work of art, the Jaquet Droz Tourbillon Skelet Sapphire – Bushidô is a piece unique with an insane price tag of CHF 457,000 (approx. £404,375). It’s not a watch that sits in the same category as say, the Tissot PRX. But sometimes you just have to bow down to the rule of cool and give crazy, over-the-top design its due.
Price and Specs:
Model:
Jaquet
Droz Tourbillon Skelet Sapphire – Bushidô
Ref:
J0135270341
Case:
42mm
diameter x 13.76mm thickness, 18k red gold
Dial:
Engraved
and enamelled 18k red and white gold set with Murano glass beads and hand-painted
Water resistance:
30m
(3 bar)
Movement:
Jaquet
Droz calibre 2625SQ, automatic, 30 jewels
Frequency:
21,600
vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve:
8
days
Functions:
Hours,
minutes, tourbillon
Strap:
Rubber
Price:
CHF
427,000 (approx. ££404,375), unique piece
More details at Jaquet Droz.
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