As the name implies, the new JeanRichard Bressel Hommage a Daniel (ref. 60119-52-70A-AA6) is a tribute to the gorgeous Daniel pocket watch from the XVIII century. Created by Daniel JeanRichard just over 300 years ago at 1710, it featured a sophisticated chain and fusee mechanism, featured an egg-like case that allowed one to admire the mechanism in all of its beauty, and can be considered a true marvel even in our time after three centuries of constantly accelerating technological progress.
Even though the company behind the JeanRichard name has no direct relation to the legacy left by one of the founding fathers of the European watchmaking tradition -the name rights were originally owned by Lemania and were bought by Italy-based Luigi Macaluso only in 1986- it is still a pleasure to see that the master watchmaker’s history is still being celebrated, even if for commercial reasons only.
Like the last year’s Aquascope 300m diver, the new timekeeper comes powered by their own JR 1000 automatic movement that was introduced around four years ago and is made solely in-house.
Although not as advanced as the one that powered the iconic timekeeper, the mechanism is still interesting with its extra-thin design (without complication modules, the three-hand movement measures less than 3.8 millimeters top to bottom, which is good,) central hacking second hand and good shock protection system.
JeanRichard is directly related to the famous Girard-Perregaux manufacture, another member of the SOWIND Group. So, it is clear that JR has all the means necessary to design and build its own base calibers without the need to turn to mass-produced blank movements from ETA or their clones from independent manufacturers. I don’t know whether there was a direct transfer of technologies between the two brands, but something tells me that, when the company needs men and women with lots of expertise in the field, they don’t have to look far.
The watch itself, which is to be officially introduced early next week during the SIHH 2011 show, will be presented in a slim-looking 18-karat rose gold case.
At 38 mm in diameter, it is rather small by today’s standards. However, being essentially a dressy timekeeper, it is just ideal to wear with business attire or with some other kind of formal dress: the specified thickness of fewer than 9.5 millimeters top to bottom makes it convenient to those who have to wear tight-cuffed shirts as part of corporate dress code. Well, even if you happen to own it in your own home office, the piece will still look great at any kind of formal event including weddings, graduation ceremonies, and that sort of stuff.
As one may easily guess looking at the pictures, the new JeanRichard Bressel Hommage a Daniel features a lacquered dial, which serves as a perfect background for the blued steel hands and painted Roman numerals.
A small aperture at 3 o’clock shows a simple calendar with Arabic numerals on its rotating disk printed in red: also a nice touch.
See also: Cartier Santos Dumont Carbon Skeleton in Titanium
Photos: JeanRichard
JeanRichard Bressel Hommage a Daniel 60119-52-70A-AA6 specification
Movement: Automatic, caliber JR1000, in-house, 27 jewels, 28,800 vph, 25.94 mm in diameter, Swiss Made
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Power reserve: 48 hours
Case: Rose gold
Shape: Round
Size: 38.00 mm
Lug width: 20 mm
Case height: 9.30 mm
Dial: White, lacquered
Numerals: Roman
Hands: Steel, blued
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Black alligator leather with an 18-karat rose gold buckle
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Sapphire