Have you ever seen a wheel rim oscillate?

Watches and automobiles have always enjoyed an almost natural affinity. Few watch enthusiasts are entirely indifferent to cars, and the reverse is equally true. The fact is that these two objects share something rather special: a form of mechanical life. An engine, like a movement, is nothing more than an inert assembly of materials when at rest. Yet all it takes is an input of energy for pistons, exhaust, crankshaft or balance wheel to spring into action, each following a carefully regulated choreography. In both cases, function becomes spectacle, and mechanics ultimately inspire an attachment that goes far beyond their primary purpose.

This affinity takes a very tangible form at Jaquet Droz through its partnership with the Supercar Owners Circle. The club brings collectors together for drives along some of the world's most beautiful roads. Jaquet Droz accompanies it, notably at gatherings in Switzerland. This unique piece was born during an excursion around Andermatt and the Oberalp Pass. At dinner, one of the club's members tells the Jaquet Droz team about his new car, a Ferrari 812 Competizione A. The designers get to work–and the first sketches of a bespoke timepiece are presented to him the following morning.

A little automotive insight

Beneath its long bonnet, the 812 Competizione A houses one of Ferrari's great mechanical masterpieces: a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12. There is no turbocharger forcing compressed air into the engine; power builds with engine speed, and the whole experience lies precisely in pushing it higher and higher. Throttle response is immediate, acceleration intensifies as the needle climbs and, above all, the engine changes its voice. At Ferrari, this acoustic dimension is the subject of genuine engineering work: intake, exhaust and acoustics are tuned to accompany the rise in revs like a series of mechanical vocalizations. This fine adjustment, in its level of precision, is ultimately not so far removed from the regulation of a tourbillon in watchmaking. In the 812 Competizione A, this pursuit reaches its peak at 9,500 rpm, an exceptional speed for a V12 of this displacement!

The Tourbillon Céramique Plasma – Oberalp directly incorporates several automotive-inspired elements. Its 42mm case is made of Plasma ceramic, with a matte, sandblasted finish reminiscent of asphalt. The movement has a black galvanic treatment, while the tourbillon at 12 o'clock stands out visually. On the dial, a hand-painted miniature on a sapphire crystal plate depicts the Ferrari taking a bend on the Oberalp Pass, with the peaks around Andermatt in the background.

The oscillating wheel rim

The most striking mechanical parallel can be found on the back of the watch. The owner wanted to see the rim of his 812 Competizione A reproduced there, so Jaquet Droz recreated its geometry to form the movement's oscillating weight.

Its six spokes are profiled across several levels and follow a helical geometry. On the weight's axis of rotation, the yellow hub cover also echoes that of the car. The entire component is made of white gold, a material chosen to provide the mass required to drive the winding system. Jaquet Droz describes this creation as the most complex rotor ever machined by its teams.

The correspondence between the two mechanical systems is particularly direct. In the Ferrari, the wheel transfers the energy generated by the engine to the road. In the watch, the oscillating rim follows the reverse path: it captures the movements of the wrist, drives the winding mechanism and winds the mainspring in the barrel. The same shape, two opposite uses of energy: propelling the car forward or keeping the watch movement running.