Messages: 6719 Location: California
Registered: January 2007
Taking a look at the new JEANRICHARD, "A Philosophy of Life"
Sun, 13 January 2013 22:51
Taking a look at the new JEANRICHARD, "A Philosophy of Life"
Daniel JeanRichard was born in Bressels, near La Sagne, in the Jura Mountains in what is now the Swiss canton (equivalent to a state) of Neuchâtel. According to the JeanRichard legend, an English horse trader, while passing through the area, left his watch for repair with the teenaged Jean Richard, who was some sort of craftsman. (Some speculate he was a locksmith. Kathleen Pritchard, in her two-volume Swiss Timepiece Makers 1775-1975 says he was "probably" a goldsmith. No one knows for sure.) The young man took the watch apart and made drawings of the parts. The horse trader picked up the watch on his return trip. Based on his drawings, Jean Richard proceeded to teach himself and his fellow Jura craftsmen and farmers how to make watch parts. In this way he introduced watchmaking to the Jura.
There was not a watch brand called Daniel Jean Richard until the 1990s when the brand was officially started by Gino Macaluso.
In 2013 the brand is starting a new chapter
It is now referred to as JEANRICHARD (Many of you here will remember the brand being referred to as Daniel Jean Richard and Jean Richard). The current line of watches from this manufacturer embodies the philosophy of Sowind CEO Michele Sophisti which focuses on a theory of less is more. JEANRICHARD now has fewer watches than it did in the past but a consistency in design-in the future you will be able to look at a watch and say that is a JEANRICHARD!
Recently I had lunch with Giancarlo Mantuano, International Sales Director for JEANRICHARD and Paul Erhardt, National Sales Director for JEANRICHARD.
We started off the afternoon talking watches in general. We shared out watch stories and how we got into watches. As the lunch went on our conversation focused on the new watches from JEANRICHARD some of which will start to show up in United States ADs in February of this year and others will be introduced after Basel.
The watches I was able to look at where the Terrascope and the 1681.
The Terrascope
The Terrascope is the first model to be introduced in the sporty new collection which will eventually consist of 4 models. The watch will has the option of both a bracelet or strap configuration and three different dials white, black or blue. The case is 44 mm brushed stainless steel with a screw down case back. The crystal is antireflective sapphire. The engine of the watch is a Selita movement that runs at 28,000 vph and has a 42 hour power reserve.
This blue dial is stunning in person it absolutely pops
Add to that the fact that it has a two tone case with a solid gold outline around the perimeter which comes in a little better in this picture
Here is the blue side by side with a white dial. The white dial is on a rubber strap that is easily one of the most comfortable ones I have worn
The black dial has a textured finish with lots of attention to detail. The dial reminds me of the Seiko Snowflake in that each time you look at it the more you find something unique. I wore this one during lunch and most of the afternoon and found myself looking at the watch just to stare and never noticing the time only the finish of the dial
Here is a family shot
Another shot of the white dial on rubber. Again one of the most comfortable rubber straps I have worn.
1681
The 1681 line gets its name from the year that it is believed that the young Daniel JeanRichard made his start into watch making.
The 1681 is the dressier line of JEANRICHARD it will come in two case configurations the smaller shown here at 41 mm is the 1681 Ronde with the in house JR 1000 movement. The watch will have the option of the central second hand or the small second hand. The 27 jewel movement has a power reserve of 48 hours and beats at 28,000 vph. The case which will come in steel or 18 kt. gold has an anti-reflective sapphire crystal on the front and an exhibition back showing the JR 1000 movement.
The next 1681 model features a case with the same bold lines as the Terrascope but with a polished surface and a slightly smaller size of 41 mm.
The case options are steel, 18 kt. gold or a two tone gold and steel option. The watch will have a the option of a small second or central second hand.
In Conclusion
Overall I am very impressed with the line and the amount of thought that went into developing these watches. The 44 mm case is large but the spacing of the lugs makes it a good fit for smaller wrists. The watches I handled were of exceptional quality and the price I was told I believe make these watches a great value for the true watch enthusiasts or someone looking to get into mechanical watches. JEANRICHARD has also made it such that straps can be interchanged between the Terrascope and the 1681 models-you can buy two watches and have numerous looks depending on the amount of straps you purchase.
I look forward to seeing the remaining models from the line when they are introduced later this year.
Best Regards
Kevin
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
― Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning
- kev5366