In 2012, The Bird Repeater featured two blue tits and their young – birds close to the heart of the company’s founder Pierre Jaquet-Droz. This remarkable model reaffirmed the virtuoso expertise of Jaquet Droz, passed down from the 18th century and realized here in miniature. The following year, The Charming Bird watch marked the brand’s 275th anniversary with a new interpretation of the bird in an ultra-modern decorative setting and this time singing.
Now, the story continues with a previously unseen version of The Bird Repeater – a more streamlined, contemporary-looking model that has nonetheless retained intact the animated features that made it a success: a duo of blue tit birds feeding their fledglings, the spreading wings, the tumbling waterfall and the hatching egg. It displays a poetic naturalism all the more surprising for the subtle aesthetic changes that the Jaquet Droz craftsmen have decided to make in the name of modernization.
Behind the sapphire crystal dial, the automated movement has been "exposed" so that each of the colored animations are more visible and the components of the black, anthracite and gray automaton are revealed. This new depth and contrast in color enhance the artisans’ work and accentuate every minute detail – the feathers, the eyes, the curve of the bird’s body, the flowing water – as well as the delicacy of the engraving and paint work.
The new Bird Repeater comes in white gold on a black alligator leather strap. It is the ultimate expression to date of the Jaquet Droz spirit, merging historic watchmaking tradition and avant-garde design. The Bird Repeater Openwork is available as a limited edition of eight pieces, each one equipped with 508 components.
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.