Today, I want to cover a brand we’ve not really looked at here at WWR – JEANRICHARD. They’ve created a variety of higher-end sports watches, and I want to focus in on one that I don’t know I’ve seen covered recently.
That watch (or, more accurately, that collection of watches) is the Aeroscope. On the surface of it, this is another automatic chronograph – but there are some features that set it apart. The first thing I noticed was the 44mm case. While it follows some familiar lines of the cushion case, it’s got some stylized differences. First, as the edges of the case are actually mounted on (see the diagram below), you end up with a sort of recess (which carries a different tone in some of the models) between the edge of the case and the bezel.
This gives the appearance of lightening the case (though, being titanium, it’s going to be light regardless), as well as breaking up the surfaces we’ve come to expect from a cushion case (here, we’ve also got alternating polished and brushed finishes). Next, you’ve got the chronograph pushers, made of a carbon fiber composite. While they’re obviously there, and functional, they look almost like subtle crown guards when viewed from the front. Then, we move on to the dial. While there are a few in the lineup that offer a painted finish, I prefer the looks of the unpainted metal, as it seems to fit the case finishing better.
While that dial itself carries a matte finish, the subdials have a bit of a shine to them, allowing them to stand out a bit without requiring a whole different color to be applied. The handset is also on the subtle side, being skeletonized and color matched to the numerals and indices on the dial (all of this is luminous, by the way). The exception here would be the bright red seconds hand (well, that, and the black and orange color combination one model exhibits).
All of this is powered by the JR66 automatic movement, which runs at 4 Hz and carries a 42 hour power reserve and 43 jewels. This drives the chronograph registers (minutes at 9 o’clock, hours at 6 o’clock), as well as the small seconds at 3 o’clock, and of course the main handset and chronograph seconds. With the sapphire crystal and titanium case back in place, the Aeroscope carries a 100m WR rating.
All in all, I think this makes for a great affordable luxury chronograph (pricing ranges from $3,100 – $3,800). Yes, an affordable luxury piece is what I’m labeling the piece. What separates it from other chronographs in the same price range, for me, is of course that multi-part case. It just gives it a dimensionality (while retaining a familiar shape) that mixes things up just a little bit, keeping things interesting.
The one item I’m not as crazy about is the silicone strap that many of the models have – though color matched, it just doesn’t keep the same feel. In this regard, the bracelet may be the better option. Whatever choices you make with this lineup, though, you’ll have a chronograph that’s a bit of a break from the norm. jeanrichard.com
