Petite Heure Minute Red Gold - Japanese Garden
Mother-of-pearl engraving at its finest
Jaquet Droz and a collector have joined forces to bring to life a creation that represents a landmark in the history of artistic craftsmanship: the Petite Heure Minute Red Gold - Japanese Garden. It consists of 25 appliques, most of which are made from carved and engraved mother-of-pearl. These are affixed to a dial which is itself made entirely from mother-of-pearl. The work of a precision goldsmith, executed by hand to within a tenth of a millimetre. A unique piece and a synthesis of excellence.
A unique watch for a unique collector. Yet this one is something rather special; it is the embodiment of superlative craftsmanship. The Petite Heure Minute Red Gold - Japanese Garden combines multiple artisanal master strokes. At its heart, the mother-of-pearl is not merely the customary decoration applied to a gold dial: rather, it forms the dial itself, which is carved entirely from ultra-white mother-of-pearl sourced from the farthest reaches of the Pacific.
The composition it depicts has a distinctly dreamlike quality. It brings together all the elements of Japanese culture that foster serenity, harmony and inner peace. At the top of the dial stands a traditional temple. The brilliance of its execution lies not only in the extreme delicacy of its roof, its carved balconies and the perspective of its floors, but specifically in the three-dimensionality conjured by a subtle layer of semi-translucent grey paint. This depicts every shadow cast, allowing the eye to reconstruct the depth of the forms.
Almost all of these elements are mother-of-pearl appliques, with a few exceptions - notably the cherry tree branches and the lantern frame, which are made from yellow gold. At the centre of the dial gleams a mother-of-pearl cabochon which, with an enigmatic touch of realism, reflects the river and its carp. Attention to detail has been taken to the extreme, with even the image projected onto its slightly curved surface faithfully reproduced. The process is reminiscent of that used by Vermeer in his Girl with a Pearl Earring.
Almost all of these elements are mother-of-pearl appliques, with a few exceptions - notably the cherry tree branches and the lantern frame, which are made from yellow gold. At the centre of the dial gleams a mother-of-pearl cabochon which, with an enigmatic touch of realism, reflects the river and its carp. Attention to detail has been taken to the extreme, with even the image projected onto its slightly curved surface faithfully reproduced. The process is reminiscent of that used by Vermeer in his Girl with a Pearl Earring.
A host of other details help to create additional volume and perspective. The hour and minute hands glide beneath the decoration, positioned to within a tenth of a millimetre. The carp swim beneath the water lilies, but their eyes shine with the brilliance of 0.5 mm diamonds so that they sparkle on the surface. The leaves floating on the surface of the river are applied as gold paillons over the ripples and pebbles. The glass box crystal that tops the red gold case gives a glimpse of what lies beneath the appliques. Here, even in this location visible only to the collector, the decoration still reveals itself to be hand-engraved. A refined and singular secret - just like the piece itself.
