This limited-edition JeanRichard 2TimeZones Zirconium (ref. 68130-33-11C-AA6D) is one of the coolest-looking cushion-shaped GMT watches on the market. Successfully combining its massive body and crowns with generously proportioned elements of the dial, the timepiece is not only elegant enough for you to wear it with a formal dress but is also easy to read thanks to its wide hands and a finely executed second time-zone aperture with jumping hours.
The 2TimeZones Zirconium is powered by an in-house JR1060 automatic movement, which is ticking inside a 43 x 43 mm cushion-shaped case made of zirconium and rubber. Based on their own Caliber JR1000 “tractor” movement, the mechanism features an extra GMT add-on module that expands the functionality, but at the same makes it a bit thicker. Well, with the specified thickness of just over 13 millimeters, this doesn’t seem to be a problem: the watch is supposed to be massive and I don’t see any problem with that.
The new timekeeper gets rid of the usual secondary hour hand that indicates the time in a 24-hour format in favor of a less common digital indicator with jumping hours.
Since the current time in another time zone is displayed in a 12-hour format, JeanRichard’s engineers had to make the Caliber JR1060 a little bit more complex by introducing an extra disk with AM and PM indicators that make you easier to understand whether it is 8 in the morning or the evening (a handy feature if you are visiting a casino in Monaco or Las Vegas.)
The jumping hour indicator is comfortably operated with two pushers located at 8 and 10 o’clock and allows for moving the hand counter or clockwise at a push of a button.
My only complaint here is the prominent “-” and “+” signs painted on the respective pushers. To my taste, they make the 2TimeZones Zirconim look a trifle cheap. It would look a lot better if the signs were stamped or engraved or simply left blank: it takes to read a user’s manual just once to remember how the functions work!
Otherwise, the exterior looks almost flawless.
To make using the GMT feature even simpler, JeanRichard has also introduced another indicator at 6 o’clock (just below the small date aperture) featuring a list of 24 cities, each representing a certain time zone.
The secondary crown at 9 o’clock allows for easy operation of the indicator.
The primary crown at 3 o’clock is used to set the correct time and date as well as to wind up the movement. The movement, by the way, features an impressive level of decora, but, alas, you will have difficulty admiring it since the case back is covered with a heavily tinted crystal.
See also: de GRISOGONO Fuso Quadrato
Photos: JeanRichard
JeanRichard 2TimeZones Zirconium (ref. 68130-33-11C-AA6D) specification
Price: $15,000 (MSRP)
Movement: Caliber JR1060, self-winding, in-house, Swiss Made
Jewels: 31
Cadence of balance: 28,800 vph
Complications: Date, second time-zone (GMT)
Power reserve: 48 hours
Case: Zirconium with rubber bezel and transparent tinted sapphire case back
Size: 43 x 43 mm
Case height: 13.23 mm
Dial: Black or rhodium-plated
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Black rubber-coated alligator strap with sandblasted stainless steel folding buckle
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Sapphire