The hour and minute fingers are a chic tackle lancets with lengthy stems, geometric ends, and a crease at their facilities for a faceted look. They’re Rhodium-plated and polished, catching gentle together with the utilized markers for a pleasant impact. The sub-seconds hand is the same form in darkish blue that resembles tempered metallic. Nonetheless, they name it “metallic blue,” suggesting it’s a coating.
The PJ1 is out there on both a deer or sturgeon leather-based strap, the latter of which is proven right here. When it comes to Swissness, their description of this strap is delightfully particular: “produced from sturgeon sourced from Frutigen (Switzerland), tanned in Steffisburg (Switzerland), and eventually hand-stitched into completed watch straps in Riedbach (Switzerland).” It doesn’t get extra Swiss than that. When it comes to the strap, effectively, sturgeon is unquestionably an odd materials.
Aesthetically, it seems like a cross between ostrich, cork, and camo, that includes a marbled sample all through with the occasional darker spot. The colour is a curious light brown that’s atypical for leather-based; maybe I’d name it “bark brown.” I’m unsure if it was tanned to be this colour or if it’s the pure colour of sturgeon. Regardless, it’s cool trying and pleasantly totally different. My solely concern with the strap is the feel. It’s stiff and tough in comparison with calf leather-based. Whereas it’d break in additional over time, they used a fold-over building for the strap, so the backing is sturgeon too, and it’s not nice towards pores and skin.
The PJ1 wears effectively on the wrist. It’s a really good dimension for a recent on a regular basis watch. 39mm is a candy spot that may possible match many wrists, and being below 10mm thick makes it really feel extra compact. That stated, given the mid-century styling of the dial and the sub-seconds concern, a smaller diameter would have been welcome. As is, it could be good for a center-seconds model.
As you may inform from this text, there are two conversations available round Piccola & Joffrete: one about its watches and the opposite about its Swissness. Between the 2, it’s the latter that’s extra compelling. The PJ1 is a superbly good watch and one which some may clearly take pleasure in if the seems go well with them, nevertheless it lacks persona and, not less than for my designer eyes, may use some rebalancing. The truth that it’s 100% Swiss-made provides to its appeal and worth, although adjustments nothing concerning the carrying or aesthetic expertise.
Swiss-made is clearly a powerful promoting level for a lot of manufacturers, particularly in retail; the time period equates to high quality in many individuals’s minds. I believe that’s much less the case for watch fans as we’ve extra expertise with watches from everywhere in the world. It’s actually that it’s uncommon to discover a 100% Swiss watch from a model that’s pretty clear about their sourcing (greater than most), and doesn’t price a disproportionate quantity extra for the badge. Whereas 2500 CHF isn’t low cost, it doesn’t really feel exorbitant both. That stated, it’s a really aggressive phase. Will being 100% Swiss give PJ the Swiss edge they want? Piccola & Jofrette
