For Ladies / Swiss
The new Pierre DeRoche GrandCliff Milady Chrono delivers that winning combination of features that you will rarely see when it comes to wristwatches designed for ladies. It somehow manages to combine an “exclusive” caliber made by its parent company, a brilliantly decorated dial, as well as finely sculpted body and just the right number of precious stone in a unique package that makes this timepiece immediately adorable and extremely desirable. Frankly, I wasn’t able to find a single flaw with this beautiful device.
Pierre DeRoche, a Swiss watchmaking brand that is closely connected to the well-known Dubois-Depraz -a manufacture that supplies dozens of brands with its complication modules- and is mostly famous for its Royal Retro family of wristwatches that come equipped with whole six retrograde seconds hands, has presented this year yet another masterpiece.
Based on a 2010 year model, the new timekeeper adds a number of details that not just make it more expensive: they almost turn this wonderful trinket into a lot classier accessory.
Equipped with an “exclusive” automatic movement made by the aforementioned Dubois-Depraz, the new Pierre DeRoche GrandCliff Milady Chrono features an impressive exterior design that effectively combines open-worked, heat-blued hands with nice guilloche patterns on its silver-toned dial and 64 diamonds on its delicate bezel.
Speaking of bezel, it is interesting to see how the part that looked a bit too thick and a bit too massive on the model from 2010 became such a refined work of art thanks to the 64 precious stones. With just the right weight and just the right cut, the diamonds not only make the watch shine (both literally and figuratively), they also make it look a lot lighter!
The whole blue-and-grey theme is successfully supported by four precious stones set in the bezel flange (the look like blue sapphires, although the watchmaker doesn’t specify the type of stones in its press release), as well as playful (if not flirtatious) blue bodice-style lacing on its expensive alligator leather strap.
At 42.5 millimeters in diameter, the watch is a bit too big for my taste (not that I plan to wear it myself, anyway), but in return you get an extremely good view at the dial with is pair of off-centered sunray guilloche patterns, a big date display in a lovely aperture, as well as a single 60-minute chronograph totalizer at 9 hours (the “Soixante Minutes” on the ring means “Sixty Minutes” in French).
Also thanks to the chosen size, the watch also looks quite slender even despite being powered by a self-winding caliber that clearly doesn’t belong to the rare “ultra-thin” kind.
The form-factor’s only drawback is that the accessory would probably only look good on a tall, lean lady subtly accenting her delicate, thin wrists.
As far as the ergonomics goes, the watch seems to be, well, okay. The crown is large enough for a comfortable grip and its notches will probably make it easy to set time once in a while. The chronograph push-pieces are wide enough to operate the chronograph function without hurting your fingers, although their placement looks a bit banal. Well, maybe that was the idea.
See also: Chopard Mille Miglia for the Porsche Club of America (PCA)
Photos: Pierre DeRoche
WWR preliminary verdict
Originality 5/5
Build quality: 5/5
Usability: 4/5
Legibility: 4.5/5
Value for money: 4/5
Pierre DeRoche GrandCliff Milady Chrono Automatic watch specification
Price: CHF 18,700 / USD $19,900 / €15,700
Movement: Automatic, Dubois-Depraz, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: No data
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 42 hours
Movement decoration: No data
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, big date, chronograph
Case material: Stainless steel
Bezel material: Matches case, 64 diamonds (1.28 cts)
Crown material: Matches case
Case shape: Round
Bezel shape: Round
Case size: 42.50 mm
Case height: No data
Lug width: No data
Dial: Sunray guilloche
Numerals: Arabic
Hour markers: Four sapphires, eight printed dots
Hands: Open-worked
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Light grey alligator strap with bodice lacing on steel folding clasp
Crystal: Sapphire
Case back: Sapphire