Jacques Bianchi quickly found a place in the hearts of watch enthusiasts who love the brand’s history and watches. With a number of notable releases, the brand has stood out many times over the past three years. The first thing that comes to mind is probably a model with an illustration drawn on the dial. From the diver on the dial of the JB200 Medusa to the octopus on the dial of the JB200 Pole Pro and the limited edition JB200 Night Diver in collaboration with the brand, they are instantly noticeable. Another future fan favorite is the new JB200 Maxi Dial. This model takes a more authentic approach and will be part of the brand’s permanent collection from early 2025.
When Jacques Bianchi’s name came back into the spotlight in 2021, many watch fans jumped at the chance to purchase a watch from the famous French brand. The first new model immediately stood out thanks to the outline of a diver on the dial. This is certainly an acquired taste, and as Robert Jean explained, some people aren’t fans, while others love this interesting detail. I generally don’t like funny watches, so I was happy to see that the brand also released a version of the JB200 without the diver or octopus on the dial.
The story of the new Jack Bianchi JB200 Maxi Dial
With the release of the new JB200 maxi dial, the brand has introduced a nice, clean version of its popular diver that features no patterns or illustrations on the dial. This model follows in the footsteps of the blue dial JB200 malegraph, a limited edition of 150 pieces released a while ago. The main visual differences are easy to spot. First, this new version has a black dial. Additionally, it does not feature the line pattern that is one of the hallmarks of blue-dial malegraphs.
What remains is the distinctive maxi dial layout with slightly larger hour markers and red 13-24 hour markings. For those familiar with the brand’s history, this dial is based on the classic JB300 dial from the 1980s. In this new version, the brand has combined its dial with the JB200 case. In my opinion, this is one of the reborn brand’s best releases to date.
JB200 maxi dial details
The watch features the familiar 42mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 13.3mm and a lug length of 47mm. Water resistant to 200 meters, the crown can be used on either the left or right hand. The case has a simple combination of finishes, with a brushed top and a high polish on the sides halfway up the lugs. The 60-click bezel is fitted with a black aluminum insert with a SuperLumiNova diving scale and a full set of hash marks.
As mentioned earlier, Jacques Bianchi paired the case with a matte black dial. It features oversized luminous hour markers surrounded by a 60-minute track. Vintage-inspired lume on the hour markers is matched by lume on the bezel insert and signature handset. At 6 o’clock, there is a white date disc and a date window with numbers printed in black. It would have been nice if the date disc had the same color as the night light.
Alternatively, it could be a black disc with white numbers on it. The crisp white discs here add a slight dissonance to the overall design. That being said, it does match the white text on the dial. However, as for the overall structure, I would have liked to have seen a date disc with luminous lighting.
Swiss Soprod movement
Inside the case, Jack Bianchi uses the Soprod P024. This Swiss-made automatic movement replaced the Japanese-made Seiko NH series caliber that the brand had used in some of its previous models. Soprod’s P024 caliber operates at 28,800vph, has 25 jewels, and offers a 38-hour power reserve. If these specs seem familiar, it’s because this caliber is a “clone” of the ETA 2824-2. Advertised accuracy is -0/+15 seconds per day. However, it must be said that owners often report different figures. Some are more accurate, others run a few seconds slower or faster.
The watch has a black rubber Tropic-style strap with a brushed stainless steel buckle. The strap provides a beautiful finishing touch and perfectly complements the personality of your watch. Overall, I really like the look of the JB200 Maxi Dial.
Jack Bianchi JB200 Maxi Dial Wear
I found this watch to fit my 18.5mm wrist very well. The JB200 strikes the perfect balance between its classic purpose as an 80’s diving tool and today’s everyday wearer. It’s big without being too big, and it’s voluminous without being thick. Plus, it has so much personality that you’ll keep coming back to stare at the dial.
On top of that, there’s a clever visual trick. The mirror-finished reholes beautifully reflect the bright hour markers, allowing them to be seen beyond the edges of the dial and into the depths of their surroundings. Of course not, but that kept me going back to the dial.
Final thoughts on Jack Bianchi JB200 Maxi Dial
Additionally, the watch feels like a solid tool watch. The build quality is what you would expect from a diver’s watch. Happily, the bezel and crown are easy to operate, yet still exude the luxury you’d expect from a diver’s watch of this type. All in all, it’s hard to fault this new Jack Bianchi model. If there’s one detail I’m not a fan of, it would be the color of the date disc. Other than that, this is a very solid release from the French brand.
If you follow Jacques Bianchi’s social media pages, you may have seen that the JB200 Maxi Dial was offered for 48 hours for 890 euros back in August. If you missed this limited-time offer, the brand plans to launch this watch as part of its permanent collection in early 2025 for 1,295 euros. Sure, you may be missing out on a good deal, but the future price range will be on par with similarly styled dive watches from some well-known brands.
If you can’t wait that long and want to add a Jacques Bianchi watch to your collection, the brand is still selling a small number of the Jacques Bianchi Marseille x Fratello JB200 Pole Pro Night Diver Limited Edition. Contact the brand directly to get your hands on a few items left. If you want the new JB200 Maxi Dial, check out the latest information on Jacques Bianchi’s website. Let us know what you think about the JB200 Maxi Dial in the comments section.
