Pierre Jaquet-Droz founded its clockmaking workshop in 1738. He quickly became worldwide famous for its watches, singing birds and automata. 280 years later, the brand Jaquet Droz is the recognized master in the creation of timepieces that combine haute horlogerie, artistic crafts, and mechanical automation.
To celebrate the 280th anniversary, the Maison based in La Chaux-de-Fonds created an exceptional one-of-a-kind piece: the Parrot Repeater Pocket Watch, a true work of art which represents the entire spectrum of Jaquet Droz craftsmanship in a single timepiece.
Carrying on the long tradition of automata originally established by Pierre Jaquet-Droz, the Parrot Repeater Pocket Watch depicts an animated naturalist scene. A beloved motif for Jaquet Droz, the birds that take center stage bring romance to the representation.
At the heart of the composition, an adult pair of colourful long-tailed macaws watches over the three chicks. All of the family members are animated including the younger chick hatching from its egg. They are sighted in a lush jungle of vines and hibiscus where it is possible to recognize a bird of paradise and even two tigers, one in the background resting at the foot of an animated waterfall and a closer one at 6 o’clock.
Two gold hands indicates the time upon a precious mother-of-pearl dial around which the animated scene takes life.
Seveveral decorative techniques are used. Miniature painting is used to produce the vivid, lush colors of the vegetation. Miniature engraving adds relief and depth to each of the motifs. The tree trunk, birds and nest are gold appliqués, painted and then applied by hand to the dial. The rim of the red gold case glitters with a rainbow of colours emanating from the traditional gem-setting.
The case is protected by two covers. The dial cover is adorned with vines and tropical foliage produced in Grand Feu enamel and set with gemstones. The climbing vegetation affords glimpses of the animated marvels of the dial through the leaves.
On the case back, we find a Grand Feu enamel painting decorated with spangles representing a macaw. Instead of traditional pigments, Jaquet Droz used real enamel, which are ground by hand into a fine powder and mixed with oil rather than water.
The heart of this pocket is not less exceptional than the exterior: a mechanical caliber comprising 668 components featuring an automaton with minute repeater and cathedral gongs! A pull-out piece positioned on the case at 9 o’clock is used to activate the automata as well as the chimes that ring the hours, quarter-hours and minutes.
Credited to:https://www.timeandwatches.com/
