After the last year’s Highlands CDC Carbon limited edition, the Swiss watchmaking house is making the final preparations to put on sale its new Aeroscope-based JeanRichard Neroscope automatic chronograph. As the name implies (and, um, quite explicitly at that,) the timekeeper comes in an all-black color scheme with only minor accents of dark gray and white on its brushed dial. While the Highlands was offered in a rugged steel body, this Neroscope All-Black comes in a lightweight, yet still, extremely scratch resistant case crafted from DLC-coated titanium.
Limited to just 500 numbered pieces, the watch belongs to the Swiss brand’s highly successful Aeroscope line, but differs from the rest of the family with its radical, monochromatic “all-black” color scheme (hence the “nero” part, which means “black” in Italian) that makes the watch look even more menacing than the original. Also, the DLC treatment that was applied to metal that is otherwise soft and prone to scratches, significantly improved its ability to withstand daily abuse: it is actually more difficult to put a dent on it than on a more common steel case.
When it comes to styling, the new watch doesn’t differ too much from the JeanRichard AeroScope that was presented back in June 2013.
It comes in the same cushion-shaped, complex-looking body with elongated chronograph push-pieces on its right side. The hands are still skeletonized and the dial still features the same vertical brushing that matches that on the elegantly proportioned bezel with engraved Arabic numerals on it.
The automatic movement that animates this black beauty is, too, the same Caliber JR66 in-house job that features the same level of decoration: an oscillating weight with thin vertical stripes pattern that matches the same pattern on the black rubber strap (it will be secured on your wrist with a black PVD-treated stainless steel folding buckle) and the signature Geneva Stripes on the bridges that make the engine even more elegant.
Besides the color scheme, the main difference between the two is, of course, size. Compared to the “original”, the new watch is considerably smaller (although by no means small) measuring 44 millimeters in width and less than 13 millimeters in height.
It is a pleasure to note that, while playing in the same segment as Panerai that virtually made the “cushion” body its trademark, JeanRichard’s Aeroscope family still looks highly original without really trying to do so.
It’s just different.
See also: JeanRichard Aquascope Diver Monocoque
Photos: JeanRichard
WWR preliminary verdict:
Originality 4/5
Build quality: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Legibility: 4/5
Value for money: 4.5/5
JeanRichard Neroscope All-Black in DLC Titanium specification
Price: $6200 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, Caliber JR66, in-house, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 43
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 42 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Case: Titanium, DLC-treated
Shape: Cushion
Bezel shape: Round
Size: 44.00 mm
Case height: 12.67 mm
Dial: Black
Numerals: Arabic, black
Hour markers: Black
Hands: Skeletonized
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Black rubber strap on black PVD-coated stainless steel folding buckle
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Titanium, screw-down, engraved