JEANRICHARD Aquascope
- a very successful neo-vintage aspect
- a manufacture watch, that is worth knowing
- a very good readability
- the strap made of veal, doubtlessly very successful, but which is not adapted to diving
- the strapping system of the folding clasp
- a watch that is more adapted to dive in lounges rather than in deep water
| Brand | JEANRICHARD |
| Model name |
Aquascope
|
| Reference |
60140
|
| Case material |
Steel
|
| Case diameter (without crown) |
44,50 mm x 40 mm
|
| Case diameter (crown included) |
48 mm x 40 mm
|
| Movement type |
Automatic
|
| Caliber |
JR1000
|
| Base Caliber |
Manufacture
|
| Functions |
Date
Hour
Minute
Second
Secured rotating bezel
|
| Crystal |
Single-face crystal with anti-reflective coating
|
| Power reserve |
48h
|
| Transparent back |
No
|
| Lug width |
22,13 mm
|
| Length from lug to lug |
45,72 mm
|
| Case thickness |
11,97 mm
|
| Clasp type |
Deployment clasp
|
| Clasp material |
Steel
|
| Total weight |
100 grammes
|
| Retail price USA at October 8th, 2010 |
5,400.00 $
|
| Comfort (/15) | 14 |
| Movement (/20) | 11.5 |
| Movement Optimisation / Garnishment (/5) | 3.5 |
| Ease of handling and adjustment (/5) | 5 |
| Movement control proceeded by the Manufacture / horlogical awards (/3) | 1 |
| Power reserve (/2) | 1 |
| Complications (/5) | 1 |
| Finishing (/20) | 14 |
| Dial finishing (/6) | 5 |
| Case finishing (/6) | 4.5 |
| Quality of garnishment / caseback engraving quality (/2) | 1 |
| Crystal quality (/4) | 2 |
| Clasp finishing (inner and extern) (/2) | 1.5 |
| Functionality (/20) | 15.5 |
| Diurnal legibility (/5) | 5 |
| Night legibility (/4) | 4 |
| Water resistance (/3) | 2 |
| Strap : ease of size adjustment + ease of substitution (/4) | 3 |
| Clasp : quality and safety (/4) | 1.5 |
| Additional items (/10) | 4 |
| Limited edition (/3) | 0 |
| Watch delivered with several straps (/2) | 0 |
| Quality of the watch box (/1) | 1 |
| Portability with shirtsleeves buttoned (/2) | 2 |
| Goodies included (/1) | 0 |
| Understandability of the brochure (/1) | 1 |
| Value for money (/15) | 13 |
|
|
|
I discovered this JeanRichard Aquascope by putting it around my wrist, in order to test it for you.
Very quickly, the charm works and I feel like on a familiar ground.
Yet, I did not know anything about this dive watch the previous minute.
How is it possible?
A neo-vintage design
Coming back home, the woman of my life tells me: “your watch is nice, it looks like the Kelton I had when I was young!”.
Well, well, it did not occur to my mind…
But yes, in the 1970’s, Kelton produced general public watches while integrating with verve the synthesis of the stylistic codes of its era.
The comparison ends there since this Aquascope is inspired from a historic model of the JeanRichard brand from the 1960’s.
Its neo-vintage design leans on a past that belongs to itself.
The characteristics of a diver’s watch
The cushion-shaped case protects efficiently the two screwed crowns.
The first crown, set at three o’clock, stops the seconds and allows setting the hour and the minute, as well as the quick date.
The second one, at nine o’clock, is a security that allows blocking the bidirectional bezel, in order to avoid the theoretical decompression accidents.
We can notice with satisfaction that this bezel has gradations on every minute, as on the Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver 200 or the Omega Ploprof, already tested by The Watch Observer.
The glass is a slightly convex sapphire treated anti-reflective on its internal face, a proof of good performance through the old days.
An excellent legibility
The black gloss dial has Super-LumiNova coated markers and a circled “12”, allowing an excellent daytime and nighttime legibility.
The red date on a white background, the hand of the hours in the shape of arrows, the second hand with a red end: all this reminds of great tradition of diver’s watches and contributes to the charm of this JeanRichard.
The important diameter of the case suits well the wrist thanks to its tightened lugs.
The alternation of the polished and brushed parts plays the contrast on a tensed profile.
The back, full and sober, only reminds the brand, the model and the waterproofness.
A comfortable strap
The wave strap (or with chevron design) is of an aspect that maybe will remind you some memories: the Z22 by Seiko.
Its specificity is to be constituted by a synthetic material covered by treated veal. The result is a comfortable and strong strap.
It is however advised to equip your Aquascope with a rubber strap if you wan to dive with it!
The folding clasp, supplied with a security, is comfortable and allows a quick adjustment of the strap.
But its strapping system with only one point jeopardizes its safety in case of violent choc.
An automatic in-house caliber
The movement JR1000 that equips it is the result of the Group Sowind’s* will to develop an automatic caliber that is proper to it and on which modular basis can be added regarding the complications.
It is hence a manufacture caliber. And it is rare enough to underline it.
* Sowind Group: holding company of the Girard Perregeaux and JeanRichard manufactures.
What to remember
The JeanRichard Aquascope is a watch that you will enjoy to wear.
It nicely combines the stylistic and technical codes that an active man does appreciate: comfort, design and legibility.
But it is as a matter of fact a “chic diver’s watch” and not a real “tool watch”.
This is not that important anyway. So let’s not deny ourselves the pleasure!
And to go all the way, “Monsieur JeanRichard”, please add the transparent back that lacks to admire the JR1000!
