The falcon, national symbol of the United Arab Emirates, is honored in an exclusive new version of the Bird Repeater that draws on 280 years of the Jaquet Droz Art of Astonishment.
The Bird Repeater, launched by Jaquet Droz in 2012, remains a soaring exception in Fine Watchmaking: an automaton wristwatch that pays tribute to the mechanical genius of Jaquet Droz as well as the naturalist art that brings many of the brand’s creations to life.
Today Jaquet Droz dips its toes into the sands of the United Arab Emirates, following in the footsteps of the Bedouins who founded this vast federal state. The Bird Repeater Falcon is a one-of-a-kind piece (numerus clausus 1/1). The 47 mm white gold case presents a desert scene in mother-of-pearl and yellow and red gold, engraved and painted entirely by hand.
Depicted in the scene is the millennia-old art of falconry, a tradition listed as UNESCO intangible heritage since 2012, the same year the Bird Repeater was first released. The falcon is a national treasure in the United Arab Emirates. Used by Bedouins for hunting in the desert for over 4,000 years, it has been central to the country’s identity and international profile and remains prominent in the UAE’s culture to this day, featuring on national emblems and currency. Falcon training remains a noble pursuit, and an incredibly close relationship is fostered between the hunter and its master.
In the foreground of the piece, a pair of falcons tends to two chicks in a red gold nest engraved and painted by hand. One bird bends down to deliver a beakful of food to its baby, while the other spreads its wings, revealing delicate nuances of color. A chick hatches from an egg inside the nest.
In the background Jaquet Droz depicts two falconers –father and son– in white djellaba robes. On the left of the onyx dial, a mother-of-pearl disk hovers over the dunes like a mirage, floating, evanescent. A painted oasis is barely perceptible, seemingly becoming more distant the closer one approaches, like a real-life mirage. The scene unfolds beneath a mother-of-pearl sky that illuminates the yellow gold sands. The delicate relief of the hand-engraved dunes is spotlighted by a polished finish.
This unusually complex automaton comes to life to the sound of an impressive Fine Watchmaking complication: the minute repeater. It can chime the hours, quarter-hours and minutes on demand via the cathedral gongs nestled inside the movement. Activated by a push-piece on the side, the movement is fitted with a wheel regulator so silent that it allows these precious falcons to be heard spreading their wings to the astonishment of the owner. This one-of-a-kind piece is presented for the first time at the Jaquet Droz boutique in Dubai Mall.
“Some watches tell time, some tell a story”
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.