Winner. Trendsetting Watch of the Year 2014.
Nothing, not even the price tag on Graff’s Hallucination, stood out at BaselWorld this year as much as JeanRichard’s colourful addition to its Terrascope collection. Was it a joke? Was it a child’s watch? Was it one of the more left-field examples of a designer’s brainstorming session?
These questions and more sprang to mind after being shown it. But then it dawns on you that this lightweight aluminium watch (of which there were many in Basel this year) was just fun, playful and probably made more sense in sunnier climes. The model is an extreme showcase of what is possible with JeanRichard’s oh so clever modular case construction and features green, red and blue satin-brushed case components on a matching blue rubber strap.
But the outlandish watch also has a serious side with an automatic JR60 calibre, based on either an ETA 2824 or Sellita SW200 base movement: both fit and are used to protect the supply chain. Somehow it just works and might well be the starting point of a regular series of similarly colourful combinations from the brand. The use of treated, hardened aluminium will also no doubt continue to be employed in sports watches as it’s both cheaper than titanium and easier to machine.
