Very first Automaton collection fully dedicated to women, the Lady 8 Flower unveiled by Jaquet Droz in 2015 marked a turning point in the history of the brand. Tapped into some 280 years of experience in designing timepieces, this ex nihilo creation draws on a legacy of mastery in mechanics of which the brand is one of a handful of custodians and conjures up the essence of Fine Watchmaking: creativity, precision and mechanical mastery, with the signature Jaquet Droz touch – the Art of Astonishment – handcrafted by specialized artisans. And finally, the Lady 8 Flower is an expression of the naturalism that permeates the brand’s work and can be traced directly back to bird cages, snuffboxes, and numerous richly decorated automatons created almost two centuries ago by Pierre Jaquet-Droz.
This rich heritage is honored in the two latest incarnations, each issued in a limited edition of 8 pieces, with floral motifs that honor the naturalist tradition. The white gold variation, bears a Lotus. Chosen as a spiritual symbol, this flower representing beauty and the cycles of life go very well with the values of the signature Jaquet Droz figure 8, symbolizing perfection and harmony. On the Lady 8 Flower, it is formed by the watch dial overlaid with the dial of the automaton.
Showcasing the artistic skill of Jaquet Droz, the watch dial is decorated with floral motifs and features a pair of hand-crafted gold hands sweeping across it. The white gold model has a dome-shaped Grand Feu enamel dial blooming with Lotus flowers engraved in bas-relief. The intensity and depth of the palette of blues are tweaked by adjusting the amount of enamel powder applied in each firing. The final step is to carefully polish the surface of the dial to produce a perfect dome shape. The dial of the red gold version showcases a lace-like bouquet of flowers carved from mother-of-pearl. Each model is set with 249 diamonds on the bezel, ring and buckle.
The automaton is positioned at the top of the Lady 8 Flower, animated by a pusher at 2 o’clock. When the pusher is pressed, it activates a lotus flower with gold petals that open to reveal either a diamond or a sapphire. The precious stone is also animated, swiveling in opposite directions as the Lotus opens and closes to display every facet of the glittering briolette cut. The 8-second animation is in perfect harmony with the serenity of the Lotus on the dial. The Lady 8 Flower poetically evokes the tender secret a woman reveals to her beloved, in captivating soft curves designed to elicit the Art of Astonishment.
