Pictures of the
Terrascope by JeanRichard (apparently pronounced "zhahn ree SHARD" in French):
Impressions
Lesser Known Brand - JeanRichard (JR) is not as well-known as it should be, given that it is a sister company of high-end Swiss watchmaker Girard-Perregaux (GP). Based in La Chaux De-Fonds Switzerland, JR is named after Daniel JeanRichard who pioneered the development of the watchmaking industry in that region in 1681. The GP and JR brands are owned by the Sowind Group whose majority shareholder – Kering, also owns Bottega, Gucci and a number of other brands.
Unique Case - The Terrascope can probably be classified as a 'dressy' sports watch, ie: pretty versatile in use. It has a very unique cushion-shaped case with a flat brushed bezel which I like a lot. Added bonus is that the Terrascope bears a passing resemblance to the Patek Philippe Nautilus but still very original in design. At 44mm (excluding crown), the Terrascope has a very imposing wrist presence which is great for a sports watch (my wrist size is about 6.75 inches). Thickness-wise, it is relatively svelte at 12.6 mm.
Nice Finishing - The Terrascope looks to be very well made; beautifully combining both polished and brushed finishes on its stainless steel case and gorgeous bracelet. Both watch and bracelet weigh a very hefty 220g which makes the watch feel real solid but something to get used to. Makes all my other watches feel like toys ...
. I was not sure whether I like the rather weird arrow-shaped hour hand but it does give the watch some character ...
Nice Name - Call me shallow but I also like the name "Terrascope" which is rather appropriate given that JR has two other complementary collections - Aquascope (dive watches) and Aeroscope (pilot-type watches).
Standard Movement - It's a pity that the Terrascope does not come with an exhibition case-back to showcase its automatic movement. According to web reviews, the Terrascope uses a modified ETA/Sellita movement (the JR60) rather than JR's own in-house movement (the JR1000) which it reserves for its more expensive collections. There might not be much to see for an ETA/Sellita-based movement but still ... Water-resistance is also rather weak at 100m but I suppose that’s why it’s the Terrascope and not the Aquascope
Great Alternative - Overall, I think the Terrascope is a great alternative for someone looking for a versatile dressy sports watch that is unique, imposing, well-made and that costs significantly less than S$4,000/- after discount at its Authorised Distributor.
Watch Snob - It's also interesting to read what the insufferable Watch Snob on the AskMen website
has to say about the Terrascope,
"... when we talk about steel sports watches, there are really only two that matter: the Patek Nautilus and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. Suitably high end, thankfully not dive watches, and easily resistant to your leisurely back stroking, either will meet your criteria. Should you find the prices a bit too steep on those options, a worthy alternative would be the Terrascope from Girard-Perregaux’s poor cousin, JeanRichard."
Cheers !
