Among the most exclusive and complicated timepieces exhibited at last weekend’s WatchTime New York event at Gotham Hall were two Jaquet Droz chiming automatons: The Charming Bird and the Loving Butterfly, introduced this year. A masterpiece of watchmaking and craftsmanship, the new automaton from Jaquet Droz features an exquisite animated tableau, depicting an allegory of love and nature. This new creation tells a story, that of genius watchmaker, Henri-Louis Jaquet-Droz, who, 242 years ago, created an android automaton delivering breathtaking sketches – including a cherub seated on a chariot pulled by a butterfly, celebrating love and passion. The same emotion is sparked today when, with just one push on the crown button, a world of poetry comes to life under the crystal. With grace and refinement, the butterfly comes to life, pulling a cherub in an animated chariot.
The brand also showcased Baselworld 2017 novelties such as the Grande Seconde Moon equipped with a new movement, called an astronomical moonphase. Requiring adjustment only once every 122 years and 46 days, the specially developed “mechanism 135” for the moon-phase has a carefully studied gear ratio that makes it much more precise than the 59-toothed mechanism in a traditional moon-phase, which accumulates an error of one day in approximately two years, seven months, and 20 days. The upper sub-dial discreetly displays the hours and minutes.
“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.