Jaquet Droz opts for sleek minimalistic beauty with the latest Petite Heure Minute.
The timepiece harks back to its signature off-center displays with a single circle for the hours and minutes positioned at 12 o’clock. The two soft-tinted midnight blue hands swinging inside match the hand-made rolled-edged alligator leather strap.
White mother-of-pearl fills in the dial with iridescent gray and white reflections that add to the look of the moon’s nocturnal glow. It is the perfect luminescence for the surprisingly thin 35 mm steel case. Finished with a white gold ring, it is an aesthetic expression of the meticulous attention to detail Jaquet Droz lavishes on its creations. The metals shine with slightly different intensities that complement one another to accent the distinctive properties of the mother-of-pearl on the dial.
This latest Petite Heure Minute Mother-of-Pearl exists in two versions with one featuring a bezel studded with 160 diamonds (0.97 carat). As a final touch for the white gold, steel and mother-of-pearl, the diamonds cast flecks of light on the case’s contours for a piece with rare radiance. This sleekly finished studded model is a classy alternative to the gold and steel version that is more modern and streamlined. Both versions are powered by a self-winding mechanical movement with double barrels that provide up to a 68-hour power reserve.
“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.