The new Jaquet Droz Tourbillon Skelet Sapphire Opal ref. J0135270091 is a unique piece with a sapphire crystal case that bathes a translucent opal dial. Vibrant and radiant, this 42 mm piece, paired with a pristinely white strap, changes appearance with the light. Draped in sapphire, beneath a veil of opal, the piece subtly allows some of its usually hidden mechanism to be glimpsed. Its skeleton movement suspended in space is powered by an automatic self-winding movement with a flying tourbillon and an outstanding power reserve of eight days.
At Jaquet Droz, mineral dials are a highly prized form of master craftsmanship. Chosen for their properties, colors, and/or symbolism, stones are only rarely esteemed for their transparency. However, it is the main attraction of opal. Its name, from the Sanskrit word upala meaning ‘precious stone’, is justly deserved. Its green and blue reflections are unique. Opal is one of the very rare stones to change its color based on exposure to light. This phenomenon called iridescence describes this rare property of spontaneous chromatic variation.
The dial on the Jaquet Droz Tourbillon Skelet Sapphire Opal has been cut directly from an opal stone which represents a huge undertaking. With a mere thickness of only 0.7 mm thick—less than one millimeter—, the dial changes its color with the most minimal movements of the wrist.
Radiant and luminous, the creation is bathed in light thanks to a 42 mm case made entirely from sapphire machined in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Inside this showcase, light does not only strike the opal dial from above, as in a classic watch construction. Here, light is everywhere. It penetrates the piece from the back, front, and sides. It snakes through the movement. It extends its way between the bridges and the gear train. It skims the tourbillon, caresses the hands, and weaves around the 18K white gold oscillating weight, escaping again through the middle. Always present, never captured. The opal reveals its movement, echoing its path with shimmering reflections.
The Jaquet Droz Tourbillon Skelet Sapphire Opal is powered by a Swiss-made precision mechanism. With its signature Jaquet Droz figure-of-eight design, the movement features a skeleton flying tourbillon at 12 o'clock, counterbalanced by the hours and minutes at 6 o'clock. The two are perfectly visible thanks to two openings in the opal, which is just 7/10th of a millimeter thick.
For this unique piece, the automatic Jaquet Droz 2625SQ movement has a power reserve of eight days and features an anthracite gray coating. This is complemented by the 18K white gold of the hands, crown, and signature Jaquet Droz screws —with star-shaped heads. Delivered on a white rubber strap with a steel and plasma folding clasp, this watch is perfect for any wrist, male or female. A unique piece, precise and precious, which combines the traditional tourbillon with a uniquely disruptive and unexpected play of light. Lastly, this watch is water resistant to 30 meters.
Sticker Price CHF 438,000 Swiss Francs —approximately USD 485,000. For more info on Jaquet Droz click here.
