Jaquet Droz and designer Shirley Zhang unveiled their joint minute repeater watch, alongside its NFT counterpart, at the inaugural Shanghai Jiahe winter auction. A first for both Jaquet Droz and the Shanghai Jiahe auction house.
On New Year’s Eve 2021, the ‘Shanghai Jiahe First Winter Auction’ recorded outstanding results. More than 87% of its 2,600 lots were sold over 21 special sessions. Total sales exceeded $80 million (RMB 523 million. Yuan Renminbi).
Among them was the Shirley Grande Seconde Minute Repeater, alongside its NFT counterpart (a digital work of art), which was co-created by Jaquet Droz and world-renowned designer Shirley Zhang.
The Shirley Grande Seconde Minute Repeater and its NFT, which was expected to reach CHF 250,000, attracted a lot of enthusiasm from new collectors at the ‘Shanghai Jiahe” auction, and was finally sold for CHF 530,413 (more than double the initial estimate) after a tough competition between many collectors.
Jaquet Droz is continuing its momentum from 2021 with this auction. After exceptional sales at Only Watch (where the Grande Seconde Tourbillon ‘Only Watch’ valued at CHF 160,000 was sold for CHF 200,000) and Christie’s (with a pair of historic watches valued at CHF 50,000 that finally sold for CHF 250,000), Jaquet Droz is once again demonstrating the strength of its heritage and contemporary value, which has been confirmed by the overwhelming interest in its timepieces, both historic and current.
“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.