Petite Heure Minute Red Gold - Hummingbird:
a renaissance of floral art in Haute Horlogerie
Jaquet Droz builds on a naturalistic trend that defined its beginnings. Examples can be seen on pocket watches, snuff boxes and automata. These are now on display at the Atelier’s private museum in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Jaquet Droz continues the story with a unique piece that showcases the very finest craftsmanship.
There is no future without the knowledge of one's origins. While Jaquet Droz is currently making headlines with pieces that embody its ‘Disruptive Legacy’ approach, the company has never forgotten its aesthetic heritage. A private collector commissioned the brand’s artisans to create a unique piece in his honour.
It features many signature elements from the world of Jaquet Droz. First, the naturalistic theme, illustrated by two birds gathering nectar from hibiscus flowers. These reflect the interest of Enlightenment scholars in herbariums and, more generally, in botany. Birds have been a feature at Jaquet Droz since 1738. They have been painted, drawn, often animated, caged or placed in boxes designed to enchant courts and empires.
In this case, they are handcrafted using miniature painting techniques. The process allows the decorative plant details to be covered by juxtaposing the two hummingbirds. These literally rise above the landscape. And in spite of appearances, they are not appliques: Rather, they are paintings so thin - around one tenth of a millimetre - that they could be mistaken for appliques. Truly masterful craftsmanship.
Jaquet Droz pays tribute to this culture of plant and bird life in a richly decorated 39 mm case crafted from 18-karat red gold. Its dial, also in 18-karat gold, is entirely handcrafted, down to the most minuscule details of the pollen grains made from gold paillons. Flowers, leaves and birds are engraved and then hand-painted in various shades of enamel. The colours are chosen for their brightness and vibrancy. The tones are infinitely subtle, sometimes applied in a single brushstroke. The craftsmanship is evident in the depth of the colour gradients, which are bold yet gradual: in the flowers, from red to sunny yellow; on the birds’ wings, in the subtlest variations of white; in the sky, from navy blue at 6 o'clock to zenithal brightness at noon. Each of these colours is obtained after multiple firings in the kiln, in line with the tradition of Grand Feu enamelling. It is a high-risk process: firing for too long or at too high a temperature will irreparably compromise all the work done up to that point. The dial will then need to be remade from scratch.
And the mechanics are no less impressive. At 12 o'clock, symbolising the very peak of Haute Horlogerie expertise, floats a tourbillon. Its cage and bridge are made from translucent sapphire. Patented in 1801, when Jaquet Droz was already a thriving company, the tourbillon has evolved with the times, earning its stripes in both in terms of chronometry and autonomy. The Petite Heure Minute Red Gold - Hummingbird is equipped with a silicon escapement, making it impervious to the changing seasons. It also delivers a power reserve of 7 days - among the highest for this type of complication. The oscillating weight that winds the movement, also made from 18-karat gold, has been finely engraved and painted in hummingbird colours.
