JB200 Tide Gauge
The Marseille Tide Gauge — France's zero point
Built in 1883 and entrusted to the National Institute of Geographical and Forest Information (IGN), the Marseille Tide Gauge has been measuring the average level of the Mediterranean Sea for over 140 years. From this measurement, France established its "normal zero": the official altimetric benchmark from which all altitudes on the continental territory are calculated. From the Old Port quay to the summit of Mont Blanc—everything is measured from this point in Marseille.
It is also one of the longest continuous sea level records in the world. Since its commissioning, the instrument has uninterruptedly traced the tide curve, providing contemporary science with one of its most valuable bases for studying sea level rise—approximately 18 centimeters since the end of the 19th century at the Marseille point.
A dial that tells the altitude
The azure blue dial reproduces, on its surface, the contour lines of nautical charts — those topographic lines that delineate underwater and terrestrial reliefs. More than just a decorative motif, this design is a direct tribute to the very function of the Marégraphe: to measure altitude, establish reference points, and interpret terrain.
Beyond aesthetics, these lines create unexpected plays of light under the Mediterranean sun. The red 24-hour marking — a nod to the brand's vintage models — and the oversized "Maxi Dial" indices ensure perfect legibility.
The case back is engraved with the stylized silhouette of the Marégraphe: the watch bears on its back, etched in steel, the building it celebrates.
Why the Mediterranean, and not the Atlantic
The question may come as a surprise. Atlantic sailors, accustomed to tides of several meters, may wonder why the tide gauge was installed in the Mediterranean — a sea with modest tidal ranges. But it was precisely this stability that motivated the choice of Marseille.
A sea with discreet tides allows for a purer measurement, less affected by extreme amplitudes. To set a reference zero — an indisputable point — a calm, readable sea was needed, whose variations are part of a regularity accessible to the instrument. Marseille stood out for this stability, not in spite of it.
First crown on the right: a clear break
The JB200 Maregraphe marks an unexpected turning point in the brand's history. For the first time, the winding crown is positioned to the right of the dial — a break from the "destro" (left-hand crown) tradition that previously characterized JB200 models.
This choice is not insignificant. The brand, until now faithful to the configuration inherited from 1980s military watches, is opening a new ergonomic path. More than just a change of position, it's a statement: a brand's identity evolves by moving forward, and the JB200 Maregraphe inaugurates this possibility.
A donation to the Friends of the Tide Gauge
Beyond the aesthetic tribute, the JB200 Marégraphe is backed by a concrete commitment. A portion of the profits from the limited edition was donated to the Association des Amis du Marégraphe, dedicated to promoting the building and raising awareness of environmental issues related to sea level rise.
On September 16, 2024, in Marseille, the company officially presented the association with a check for €11,115, taken from the sales of the JB200 Marégraphe.
This sum is dedicated to preserving the building, promoting its scientific role, and raising public awareness of the climate issues that the instrument has been documenting for over 140 years.
SPECIFICATIONS
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DIAL
MOVEMENT
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WATER RESISTANCE
Clément Secchi, house ambassador
Bronze medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, swimmer for the Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille and ambassador for Jacques Bianchi Marseille, Clément Secchi wears the JB200 Marégraphe on his wrist. Photographed the day after his race, medal still around his neck, on the banks of the Seine, he embodies—without seeking it—the encounter that the house wanted to capture in this edition: a Marseilles Olympian wearing his country's altimetric benchmark. The zero point of France on the wrist of a champion who knows how to measure his own time.
A promise from Marseille
Since its founding by Greek colonists from Phocaea around 600 BC, Marseille has always maintained an intimate relationship with the sea and with time. The Tide Gauge is the most precise, the most discreet, and the most enduring expression of this relationship. With the JB200 Marégraphe, Jacques Bianchi Marseille pays homage to this continuity — where the sea measures time, where the city keeps track, where a watch can be both an object and a landmark.