JEANRICHARD | Comprehensive Report from the Geneva Salon!

JEANRICHARD | The Father of Swiss Watchmaking

Supporting African Wildlife Conservation with Limited Editions!

In recent years, JEANRICHARD has focused on sports models equipped with in-house movements, such as the "Aquascope" diver's watch and the "Highlands" field watch. In 2012, a limited edition of the "Highlands" was released to support Nick Brandt, a photographer who uniquely captures African wildlife.

Text & Event Photographs by SHIBUYA Yasuhito

Founded in the 17th century by a blacksmith, Daniel JEANRICHARD is revered as the "Father of Swiss Watchmaking" for his pioneering role in mechanical watch production and watchmaker training in Switzerland. Revived in 1995 by the Sowind Group, which also owns Girard-Perregaux, this brand, like Girard-Perregaux, is characterized by its manufacture capabilities, producing movements in-house. With a focus on dress and sports watches, JEANRICHARD has earned high praise among those knowledgeable about Swiss watches for its relatively accessible price point for in-house movement watches and its sophisticated design.

In recent years, the brand has particularly emphasized sports watches, releasing new models centered around divers, chronographs, and field watches. The "Highlands" from 2011 is a recent example that comes to mind.

And in 2012, the most noteworthy new release is the limited edition of the "Highlands" named "Big Life." "Big Life" is a foundation established in September 2010 by wildlife photographer Nick Brandt to save wild animals living in the African savanna. Unable to stand by while magnificent wild animals like elephants and lions, photographed with respect and without telephoto lenses, are brutally killed by poachers for ivory and pelts, the foundation is engaged in activities to protect animals and apprehend poachers.

JEANRICHARD began supporting this foundation in 2011 and has adopted Nick Brandt's photographs for its advertising visuals. The result is this limited edition model. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the foundation to support wildlife conservation efforts in the African savanna. This is a model we highly recommend to animal lovers and encourage them to wear.

Furthermore, the brand plans to release mechanical models with the same design but without in-house movements, making them more accessible to a wider audience. This is welcome news for those who desire the watch but find the price point a bit high.

Highlands "Big Life"
A limited edition of 100 pieces, distinguished by its green bezel.
This special limited edition, based on the "Highlands" model, is a collaboration between Nick Brandt's Big Life Foundation and JEANRICHARD. The case is crafted from stainless steel with a black PVD coating, complemented by a matte black dial. It features a bidirectional rotating bezel in green, reminiscent of the savanna grasslands, which can also be used for the second time zone display. The sapphire crystal is treated with an anti-reflective coating, a thoughtful detail designed not to startle the wild animals during photography sessions in the savanna. The watch is powered by JEANRICHARD's in-house "JR1000" movement with a date display. The case thickness is notably slim for this type of watch, ensuring comfortable wear. The sapphire case back is printed with an image of an African elephant. This is a rare model, limited to just 100 pieces worldwide.

Automatic, stainless steel case with black PVD coating, fabric strap. Case dimensions: 40mm (height) x 44.5mm (width) x 11.96mm (thickness). Price: 525,000 yen. Scheduled for release in September.

Diverscope LPR
Power reserve indicated by the color at the 12 o'clock position.
An evolution of the popular 300m water-resistant "Diverscope," first introduced at SIHH in 2009, known for its unique cushion-shaped case with a round bezel. The index at 12 o'clock also functions as a power reserve indicator; the color of the numeral changes linearly based on the winding level of the mainspring, a distinctive mechanical feature. The "LPR" in the model name is an abbreviation for this Linear Power Reserve mechanism. The crown at 9 o'clock is used to rotate the inner bezel for time marking. Includes a date display.

Automatic, stainless steel case, rubber strap. Case dimensions: 43mm x 43mm. Water resistance: 300m. Price: 945,000 yen. Scheduled for release in June.

Sowind Japan
Tel. 03-5211-1791
http://www.jeanrichard.com/