Jaquet Droz  PETITE HEURE MINUTE  Watches

Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute: The Best Things Come in Small Packages

The best things come in small packages, as a popular saying goes. That applies to Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute timepieces because they are eye-catching despite having small inner rings and case diameters. These watches from the Swiss watch manufacturer Jaquet Droz typically have the hour and minute ring occupying only the upper half of the main dial and spanning 11 to 1 o’clock. The disc underneath the ring is made of the same or different material from the main dial.

The main dial is fitted to a 35mm stainless steel or gold case, which is more compact than standard luxury watches that measure 40mm or bigger. It is made of mother-of-pearl, aventurine, astorite, cuprite, or ivory enamel. The precious materials have nice and natural patterns that can be seen directly on the watches’ faces. As for the extra detailing, Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute watches can have engravings and studs on the dials or diamonds on the bezels.

Prices at a Glance: Most Popular Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Watches

How much is a Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute watch?

Because of their unconventional design, it is little surprise that Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute prices are typically in five-digit figures. To be more exact, the cost ranges from $15,000 USD to $35,000 USD except for two stainless steel-encased models that are below $10,000 USD. 

Materials and embellishments have a lot to do with how Petite Heure Minute watches are priced. To explain further, here are the bestselling models and their designs, materials, and cost:

Prices for the Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Aventurine – $6,500 to $15,400 USD

The Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Aventurine watch is inspired by the beauty of the night. Its dial flawlessly depicts the evening sky for it is made of dark blue aventurine with grains that shine like the distant stars. Aventurine is a precious stone that typically comes in an emerald hue, so the blue ones used for the timepieces are unique.

The watch’s signature off-center inner hour ring and its hands are made of 18k white gold that matches the stainless-steel case. Those are also on a disc that is in dark blue aventurine, making the ring seem to levitate on the night sky-themed backdrop.

There are two popular versions of the timepiece, the $6,500 USD Petite Heure Minute 35mm Ref. J005000570 and $15,400 USD Petite Heure Minute Aventurine Ref. J005000271. The only difference between the two models is that the latter is decorated with hundreds of diamonds on the bezel.

Prices for the Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Mother of Pearl – $8,400 to $30,800 USD

If the Aventurine watch is as dark as the night, the Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Mother of Pearl timepiece is as bright as day. The latter’s pearlescent dial is either clean or detailed with a radial sunray-patterned engraving and white gold sparkle- or star-shaped studs.

The watch’s offset disc likewise comes in Mother-of-Pearl, but the rest of the features are in different materials. To elaborate, the surrounding hour ring and its hands are in 18K white or red gold. The case that protects the dial and disc is available in stainless steel or gold and decorated with diamonds, which dictates the pricing.

The stainless steel-encased Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Mother of Pearl Ref. J005000273 and its diamond-embellished counterpart Ref. J005000274 go for $8,400 USD and $15,200 USD, respectively. The red gold version labeled as Ref. J005003572 is listed for about $30,800 USD.

Prices for the Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Astorite – $30,000 USD and Up

The Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Astorite watch gets a romantic motif through its pink appearance. The hue is made possible through the use of astorite, a rare rock. The prestigious material is named in honor of John Jacob Astor, an Astorite mine owner and businessman who was a casualty of the sunken Titanic.

The timepiece’s main dial showcases the nice black blemishes and pink marbling of Astorite surrounding the off-center Mother-of-Pearl disc. It is encased in diamond-encrusted 18k red gold, the same material used for the watch’s internal hour ring and hands. The strap that is connected to the case is handmade from satin and not the typical alligator leather. The Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Astorite Ref. J005003580 is priced for about $33,000 USD. It is one of the most expensive models in the collection.

Prices for the Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Cuprite – $30,000 USD and Up

The Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Cuprite watch is lovely like the Astorite timepiece but bold, style-wise. It is strikingly red from the dial to the strap because it is inspired and released for Valentine’s Day.

The timepiece’s face is made of cuprite, a blood-red gemstone accentuated by black veins and lighter red marbling that somehow resembles that of the heart. On it is the smaller Mother-of-Pearl disc with an 18k red gold hour ring and hands. The dial is encased in 18K red gold with diamonds all over and is attached to a red alligator leather strap. The Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Cuprite Ref. J005003581 watch is another top-of-the-line release that goes for about $33,000 USD. 

Prices for the Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Ivory Enamel – $15,000 and Up

The Ivory Enamel timepiece is among the oldest Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute models from the collection. It is also one of the most basic, with the offset internal hour and minute ring printed instead of added as a different material on a light-toned ivory Grand Feu enamel dial.

Even if it is simpler than the rest of the Petite Heure Minute watches, the timepiece’s case is premium, being made of 18k red gold. It complements well the earthy brown alligator leather strap it is attached to. The Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute 35mm Ivory Enamel Ref. J005003200 has an estimated price of $15,800 USD.

Jaquet Droz's History: Timelessly Prestigious 

Ever since the introduction of the Petite Heure Minute collection, the timepieces from the catalog have been prestigious in terms of appearance and build. 

The first 35mm creations were sold in 2011. Jaquet Droz wanted to display its artisans’ skills in working on smaller timepieces that look harmonized from the dial to the strap. The three releases that year achieved that. The Petite Heure Minute Aventurine, for example, had the dark blue stone dial and leather strap that fully exudes the evening look. The Petite Heure Minute Ivory Enamel, meanwhile, had a red gold case and brown leather strap for an earthy overall appearance. The Petite Heure Minute Mother of Pearl also follow the trend with a white pearlescent dial and satin strap that shine as bright as day.

In the same year, a Petite Heure Minute watch with a painted ivory enamel dial was crafted. Although made exclusively for the Only Watch 2011 charity auction, it is among the oldest timepieces that have shown to the industry Jaquet Droz’s limitless creativity. Later iterations were part of another collection, the Jaquet Droz Ateliers d'Art that highlights miniature paintings and sculptures on the dials.

The Petite Heure Minute Mother of Pearl was the first watch from the collection to get fresh designs in 2013. The Ref. J005000170 timepiece made prettier with sunray engraving and star-shaped studs instead of a plain pearlescent dial is an example.

Most present-day bestsellers of the Petite Heure Minute collection were initially rolled out in the market in 2014. They retained the 35mm build inspired by the original models but came in variations that are even more prestigious than their predecessors. Examples are the Aventurine and Mother-of-Pearl watches adorned with diamonds on the bezels.

Come 2017 and 2018, the Petite Heure Minute Astorite and Cuprite watches were launched, respectively. The releases reflected Jaquet Droz's emphasis on the feminine motif through their stunning red and pink gemstone dials combined with diamonds, the only mineral dubbed as girls’ best friends. 

5 Reasons to Buy Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Watches

Why are Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute timepieces worth every penny for many enthusiasts despite the premium prices? There is more than one answer to that. Here are the best five:

1. The Watches are Unique

Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute timepieces are one-of-a-kind accessories. Not many manufacturers make watches with off-center discs and rings that are as sophisticated as Jaquet Droz’s versions. 

2. The Timepieces Come in Rare Materials

Astorite and cuprite are rare stones or minerals used in some Petite Heure Minute watches. Those being hard to obtain for many watchmakers and expertly combined with premium materials make the timepieces extraordinary.

3. The Watches Have Powerful Calibers

Although the design is the best thing about Petite Heure Minute watches, the caliber 2653 inside them is also worthy of praise. The movement delivers a 68-hour power reserve, which is beyond the standard. Also, the fact that it has been the caliber adopted since the original release shows how reliable it is.

4. The Timepieces Almost Look Like Jewelry

With Petite Heure Minute watches coming in precious materials and decorated with diamonds, they can already double as jewelry. That is a boost for the timepieces' wearability.

5. The Watches Are from a Trusted Brand

Jaquet Droz is a watchmaker that has been in the industry since 1738. Its milestones and awards through the years make it a competitive and trustworthy brand.

Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute: Small is Beautiful

Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute watches are worth the money for fashionistas who want to be stylish without wearing huge accessories on their wrist. The timepieces may be small but are beautiful because of Jaquet Droz’s excellent material picks and unconventional design choices.