Jaquet Droz blasts the boundaries of minimalism with this Astrale Grande Heure Minute. On the one hand, this watch gives the recognisable Jaquet Droz aura by upholding many of the maison's signature codes. On the other, it induces excitement by forgoing the iconic 8-shaped dial - a feature that stands in the foreground of the house's design DNA.

Without the 8-shaped pattern on the dial, the watch forwards a more austere appeal. But, to balance this strong sense of understatement, the dial has been rendered in black onyx, a material which carries a dominating personality of its own. As a result, even though the dial is furnished with just the essentials and that too in the most discreet way possible, it bolsters an ineluctable gravitas that also translates beautifully on the wrist. Well-made hands in steel, dot minute markers that contour the dial and a markerless seconds sub-dial at nine o'clock carefully exercise aesthetical restraints through the lens of elegance.

At Second Movement, the pre-owned division of Ethos Watches, we adhere to a rigorous verification process where expert watchmakers carefully inspect every watch to certify its authenticity, ensuring it is not counterfeit. We also go to the maximum extent possible to ensure that the timepiece is not a stolen property and that all duties are paid. However, in the absence of any central database, a 100% verification is unlikely for any pre-owned entity in India. Nevertheless, we can still provide a provenance guarantee for watches purchased from Ethos.