Switzerland’s luxury watch brand Jaquet Droz and Glashütte Original have unveiled their newly renovated shared boutique. Marc Aellen, Vice President and Head of International Sales at Jaquet Droz, and Christophe Savioz, President and Chief Representative of Swatch Group Japan, cut the red ribbon at the opening ceremony. A large number of Japanese mainstream fashion media editors and professional watch journalists gathered at the opening press event on November 10th, joined by Jaquet Droz’s VIP guests invited on November 11th. The brand brought in an enamel artist from its Ateliers d’Art to give an exclusive demonstration of the impossibly delicate craft of miniature painting on a dial, allowing guests to see Jaquet Droz’s passion for master watchmaking and time-old watch culture, a legacy that has continued for over three centuries.
The Nicolas G. Hayek Center is located at the heart of Ginza, Japan’s iconic luxury shopping area. Tradition meets innovation in this high temple of Fine Watchmaking. Standing apart from neighboring structures thanks to a striking plant wall that descends from the roof down to street level, the building features elements of ecology, art, and luxury and is home to the Swatch Group and boutiques for Breguet, Blancpain, Glashütte Original & Jaquet Droz, Omega, Longines, Swatch, and an after-sales center that spans three floors. Hydraulic elevators carry customers directly from the ground floor to the respective showrooms of each brand. Customers can complete the whole process, from choosing and buying watches to watch maintenance and repair all in one building.
The 60 m2 boutique seamlessly links the two brand worlds: on the left in the new boutique Jaquet Droz welcomes its guests in designer style with a pared-down palette of black, grey and silver, while Glashütte Original on the right presents a tasteful blend of ebony oak and beige enamel surfaces in a refined, well-lit setting. Both brands use an elegant and minimalist style to create an atmosphere that is comfortable and welcoming.
Established in 1738, Jaquet Droz has been developing unique, exceptionally crafted collections that stay true to its founder’s legacy for more than three centuries. The automata models and the Ateliers d’Art limited editions never cease to amaze connoisseurs. In the boutique, customers can leisurely browse the Jaquet Droz collections and avail of a unique and exclusive dial customizing service offered to discerning clients that honors the brand’s long-standing tradition of watches handcrafted in the Jaquet Droz Ateliers d’Art.
On the occasion of this reopening, to celebrate the brand’s future in Japan, Grande Seconde Quantième Meteorite makes its world premiere in the boutique. A delight for watch enthusiasts, this exclusive new collection of meteorite models applies the extreme precision of the art of watchmaking to the mysteries of the universe and its infinite possibilities.
A warmed up stage, a drum kit, a few guitars and a harmonica: “It’s only rock’n’roll!” Today, Jaquet Droz unveils the first out of the 23 unique timepieces to retrace the world of the Rolling Stones through motion. Beside the arm of a record player that hovers over a platinum album replica (the power reserve), a scene depicts their signature instruments in miniature paintings and gold thread. The external disc rotates up to 8 consecutive times for 30 seconds and is adorned with the albums that the collector will choose for his unique timepiece. At 9 o'clock, the iconic tongue beats rhythmically, from left to right and from top to bottom. “And I like it!”
After three years of work, Jaquet Droz and John Howe have developed an Art Watch dedicated to emotion, wonder and fantasy. Draped in gold and rare stones, their dragon has a record 9 distinct animations. Inside a 43 mm case, the piece is entirely handmade and can be customized almost without limit by the client. Thanks to a Studio in the heart of the Jaquet Droz head quarter, clients will be offered an immersive phygital experience that will allow them to witness the live creation of their timepieces. There is no series to be announced, only unique pieces.
The “Effinger” clock dated from 1783 and signed Jaquet-Droz, has been sold at CHF 256,000.-, which is more than three times the starting bid of CHF 70,000.-, during the Koller auction on March the 31st 2022.