Jean Dunand is a tiny watch brand, perhaps <500 pieces per year, that is tightly coupled to the movement maker Christophe Claret. They don't make usual watches, or simple, time-only pieces, only strange complications. Their new Palace model is a perfect example of that, a tourbillon chronograph with some unusual linear indications, one as the power-reserve and the other a 24-hour scale for a second time zone.
Despite what one may think of the aesthetics of the watch, Claret is technically exceptional. The second pictures shows the bicycle-like chain(perhaps 1mm thick) that drives the minute counter, the unusually cut and painted sapphire chapter ring and the tranverse shafts (they run from the top to the bottom, 90 degrees from the usual front to back orientation) that drive the 24 hour and power-reserve indicators
They keep referring to the design as Steam-Punk, but I'm not really seeing it. This in mind the Palace of the name is the Crystal Palace, built in London in 1851, and the side of the case does have an "iron truss" feel to it.
(pictures from Timezone)
I think the following video gives a better impression of the unusual mechanics of the piece. I can't quite figure out why the first picture in their press pack has a huge glare across the crystal, but....
Despite what one may think of the aesthetics of the watch, Claret is technically exceptional. The second pictures shows the bicycle-like chain(perhaps 1mm thick) that drives the minute counter, the unusually cut and painted sapphire chapter ring and the tranverse shafts (they run from the top to the bottom, 90 degrees from the usual front to back orientation) that drive the 24 hour and power-reserve indicators
They keep referring to the design as Steam-Punk, but I'm not really seeing it. This in mind the Palace of the name is the Crystal Palace, built in London in 1851, and the side of the case does have an "iron truss" feel to it.
(pictures from Timezone)
I think the following video gives a better impression of the unusual mechanics of the piece. I can't quite figure out why the first picture in their press pack has a huge glare across the crystal, but....
