Art horloger Suisse
Depuis 1738
Jaquet Droz is an almost 300-year-old start-up, founded in 1738 by a visionary: Pierre Jaquet-Droz. Its clocks, automata and humanoid automata were a mechanical and cultural revolution. The family company was a pioneer of watch exporting with items in multiple royal and imperial courts across Europe and Asia. In 2000, it joined the Swatch Group.
With the arrival in 2022 of the new CEO, Alain Delamuraz, the company has refocused on its disruptive character. Supported by the Hayek family and driven by its new strategy “JD 8.0: A Disruptive Legacy”, the company has enhanced its audacious vision of animated Haute Horlogerie and custom-designed Masterpieces. Bringing together exceptional movements and next generation materials, Jaquet Droz emphasizes a unique and personalized experience. Each piece is created by and for a specific collector, delivered in person during an unboxing ceremony in the presence of the CEO.
The single sales location at the Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds is favouring direct contact between the artists, artisans and collectors. Studio 8 combines a physical and digital presence to remotely follow the work of the artists and artisans in real time. Collectors can virtually lean over the shoulder of the artisan.
Disruptive
Legacy
To stand still is to fall behind. Or as Darwin put it:
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.” Today, Jaquet Droz finds itself at a crossroads – the perfect opportunity for a new direction and a new dynamic. Ever stronger and more firmly grounded in its distinctive identity, Jaquet Droz remains unchanged even as it enters new and surprising territories – a herald of visionary disruption.
Jaquet Droz Masterpieces embody the very essence of the art of watchmaking: a blend of Grandes Complications, arts and crafts bringing together artisanry, traditional tools and daring feats of technology. Building on close to three centuries’ worth of expertise, the workshop is propelling its output into a decidedly disruptive twenty-first century using state-of-the-art materials (such as silicon and sapphire) amid a constant stream of new patent applications.
This unique pocket watch epitomises the master crafts of Jaquet Droz that embodies the brand's Disruptive Legacy. The new Pocket Watch Automaton - Parrot Repeater takes these talents and condenses them into a dazzling creation.
The movement features a Minute Repeater coupled with an automaton boasting eight animations: as the waterfall flows, the two parent parrots move, their egg hatches and their chicks shuffle. The scene is created entirely by the Artisans at Jaquet Droz: micro-painting, engraving, Grand Feu enamel. The case features a secret mechanism in an opening hidden within the bow. The Masterpiece has 1240 hand-set jewels, including 486 emeralds, 727 sapphires and 16 rubies.
Ten artisans spent a year on the aesthetic choices made by the future owner: three gem-setters, three engravers, two enamellers, an expert in miniature painting and an escapement fitter for adjusting the secret case opening mechanism. Expert eyes will note the curved and ribbed Grand Feu enamel on the leaf covering it, where the angled enamelled surface is considerably harder to create than a flat surface.
Everlasting
Grande Seconde
The historic Grande Seconde finds its home in the heart of the Tourbillon's 100% sapphire case and skeleton architecture – an explosive marriage that defies convention.
The tension between past and present comes from its Disruptive Legacy philosphy. Respecting our heritage while learning to break free from it to create something unique. In this Grande Seconde Skelet Sapphire, the design of the Grande Seconde has embodied the heritage of Jaquet Droz since its foundation, but the skeleton architecture and sapphire case are pure 21st century. One hundred percent Swiss Made, the latter has neither screws nor inserts – the only case of its kind in the whole of watchmaking. The two features have now come together to create a first in the history of the Atelier, with its unique representation of time that has survived nearly three centuries of fine watchmaking without even a wrinkle.
Fantastic
John Howe
John Howe was born in Canada but has lived in Neuchâtel, Switzerland for over 30 years. He created the visual universe of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings franchise, followed by The Hobbit trilogy, designing an awe-inspiring setting to bring Tolkien's work to the big screen.
It was the first time he had been approached by a Fine Watchmaking brand. He worked alongside artists and craftsmen, one scene at a time. Along the way, he encountered new constraints, those of haute horlogerie, making the process all the more interesting.
“The craftsmen and designers at Jaquet Droz strive to bring together precision, poetry and light in their meticulous work when it comes to materials and movements. The technical constraints further stimulated reflection and creativity. Collaborating with Jaquet Droz proved to be challenging - but most of all, a real pleasure,” explains John Howe.
John Howe has codesigned a large number of timepieces with Jaquet Droz since 2020, including the Dragon Automaton, the Imperial Dragon Automaton and the Ophidian Hour.
Pieces that pay homage to snakes are rarities. Jaquet Droz has not created one for 12 years. The atelier is unveiling one with a mother-of-pearl dial, and one a Sonora Sunrise mineral dial, both without a single hand. The solid gold curved body of a serpent is enamelled in graduated colours punctuated by a motif “Ruyi”. The whole snake was designed by John Howe.
Legendary
Jon Bon Jovi
Jaquet Droz CEO Alain Delamuraz presented Jon Bon Jovi with his own unique piece in person, near his home in Palm Beach. Visibly touched by this level of personal interest, the artist spent much of the day with the Jaquet Droz team, chatting and posing for photos with them.
The Tourbillon Skelet Red Gold - Bon Jovi is in keeping with Jaquet Droz's “Philosophy of the Unique”: a one-of-a-kind watch which will be owned by him alone - although his fans will be able to draw inspiration from it to create their own.
Its movement is secured to the case by a complex geometry of linear bridges. At 12 o'clock, the tourbillon seems to float in mid-air. It is set against a large, hand-crafted white gold applique: the logo features two wings spread out on either side of a dagger, plunged into a heart engraved with the number “40” to mark the group's anniversary. The hour and minute hands are set literally 'at the heart' of the watch, creating a rich symbolism, which was particularly important to the artist.
Irreverent
Chantal Thomass
Chantal Thomass is unique, and so is her automaton. Having never before considered a watch, she now wanted to know everything about it. In addition to two physical journeys to Switzerland, the Parisian stylist also regularly connected with the watchmakers via Studio 8. This online space which is equipped with 6 immersive cameras, allows the client to follow the development of their project, almost in real time. It was also via Studio 8 that Chantal Thomass defined, with rare precision, the specifications for her piece which would reflect her visual universe but also her rebellious spirit, identical to that of Jaquet Droz.
This creative alchemy has given life to the "Ronde des Baisers" watch whose aura exudes both hypnotism and poetry.
Ageless
Rolling Stones
My Jaquet Droz watch has the power to stop time, even if it means forgetting what time it is.
Like the Rolling Stones, Jaquet Droz also has a history of touring the world. Created in 1738, Jaquet-Droz was the first watchmaker to travel the globe exhibiting his creations to the kings and emperors. In a 43 mm red gold case, the Jaquet Droz craftsmen have reproduced the Stones stage set: Ronnie Wood's Fender Strat and double stack, minimalist drums of the late Charlie Watts, Keith Richard’s guitar. These mythical grooves are also represented, with their original cover, in the form of six iconic albums from 1971 to present day. Each collector will be able to choose the covers of these albums. They will be reproduced by hand on a disc able to rotate, on demand, around the central stage.
Jaquet Droz is taking on an icon of rock history: the “Some Girls” album from The Rolling Stones. Its cover had to be significantly changed to align with the standards of the time. A backdrop that the highly disruptive Jaquet Droz could not help but revisit, devoting a unique piece to this monumental work of graphic art, and paying an irreverent homage to this album, which was released over 45 years ago.
Imperial Bushidô
The last Samouraï
It has been ten years since Jaquet Droz turned its attention to the Japanese arts. Now, an exceptional piece revisits the theme, taking as its central motif the mask of the Japanese warrior and respectfully but freely interpreting its shapes and colours. More than half a dozen master craftspeople and 200 hours of work were required to bring this Tourbillon Skelet Sapphire – Bushidô to life. As always at Jaquet Droz, it will only be produced as a single unique piece.
To create the most powerful visual sensation possible, micro-sculpture takes centre stage. Bushidô mask literally emerges in its three dimensions. The use of a 100% sapphire case gives the illusion of the mask being worn directly on the wrist. This case is 100% Swiss Made, manufactured in La Chaux-de-Fonds - no screws or inserts. The surface of the mask is hand-painted, horns are made of translucent enamel. None of the mask's surfaces are flat: the intaglio engraving on the red gold base underscores the eyes, nose and mouth, outlined in gold. In a first for Jaquet Droz, the face features a setting of Murano glass beads.
Create Your Own
As Unique As You Are
‘JD 8.0: A Disruptive Legacy’ is bringing Jaquet Droz closer to its roots with exquisite timepieces that are truly pieces of Art offering ample scope for the brand’s Philosophy of the Unique. Every unique piece in this magazine is now the proud possession of a collector. The manufacture continues to work ever closer with its customers; now, they too can devise their own unique timepiece, either on site or via the Studio 8 experience. This future unique masterpiece will be delivered during an immersive tailor-made unboxing ceremony at the collector's home or at the Ateliers in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Care and maintenance is available from any Breguet or Blancpain boutiques worldwide. Jaquet Droz is also seeking to build on its digital presence to expand its ‘phygital’ footprint, ever stronger and surer of its identity as it ventures into unexpected new realms. Unique since 1738, Jaquet Droz has always had a visionary outlook – and always will.
1.
Engravers, sculptors, enamellers, jewel-setters, watchmakers, designers and other artisans work together to realise the vision of ‘JD 8.0: A Disruptive Legacy’ in La Chaux-de-Fonds – home to Ateliers Jaquet Droz since 1738.
2.
Studio 8 is a connected workshop where customers and artisans work hand in hand – even at a distance. From the initial brief through to the finished product via technical and design validation, the wildest dreams take form under the watchful gaze of 4K cameras, connecting the physical and digital worlds: the Jaquet Droz ‘phygital’ experience is unlike any other.
3.
Artisans bridge the gap between customers’ visions and the practical realities of watchmaking, fashioning, bevelling, engraving and polishing a timepiece to create a truly arresting artistic finish and the certain knowledge that it’s truly unique – as any work of art should be.
