Birds have long been a recurring theme in the history of Jaquet Droz. As early as the 18th century, Pierre Jaquet-Droz captivated European courts with his automata, capable of singing and mimicking the movements of living creatures. Three centuries on, this heritage continues to take flight through exceptional creations.
Charming Bird Titanium
Having made its mark in the 18th century with automata that brought lifelike scenes to life, Jaquet Droz continues to preserve and reinvent this mechanical legacy. The Charming Bird quickly stood out as one of the marvels of contemporary watchmaking. Just two years after its debut, it was awarded the Mechanical Exception Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2015, a fitting recognition for this unique timepiece, the first wristwatch to feature a musical automaton capable of reproducing birdsong.
This piece is, of course, not the easiest to wear on a daily basis. Yet its grade 5 titanium cas, both lightweight and highly scratch-resistant, almost invites it, with a weight reduced by around 20% compared to earlier versions.
The watch’s architecture draws a clear distinction between timekeeping and spectacle. At 12 o’clock, a metallized sapphire dial displays the hours and minutes, while at 6 o’clock, a 13.5 mm automaton bird, entirely hand-engraved and painted, comes to life within its own dedicated aperture.
The domed sapphire crystal enveloping the piece creates a genuine bubble of space above the automaton, giving the bird ample room to fully express the grace of its movements.
Let the show begin.
At the press of the pusher integrated into the crown, the bird comes to life: it opens its beak, flutters its wings, turns on itself, and performs its melody for around thirty seconds.
The automaton operates on its own power reserve, entirely independent from the one driving the time display. To bring it to life, Jaquet Droz has replaced certain friction points within the whistle mechanism with contactless magnetic connections. This innovative approach minimizes unwanted noise and preserves the purity of the bird’s song.
Bird Repeater “300th Anniversary Edition”: an animated landscape
The Bird Repeater “300th Anniversary Edition” celebrates the birth of Pierre Jaquet Droz in 1721, paying tribute to the landscapes that witnessed his early years. Entirely crafted by hand, the dial depicts a scene of abundant nature, inspired by the surroundings of the Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Amid lush vegetation, red berries, holly leaves, and wildflowers, a pair of robins watches over its young. When the animation is activated, the scene comes to life: the parent birds bend down to feed their chicks, while the eggs in the nest hatch before the viewer’s eyes. The choice of robins is no coincidence, they can be heard singing throughout the surroundings of the Manufacture.
The decoration is rich in detail. Keen observers will discover several animals discreetly hidden within the scene: a dragonfly, a grasshopper, and even a butterfly.
In the background, two elements subtly recount the story of the House. At 2 o’clock, a miniature farm evokes the birthplace of Pierre Jaquet Droz. To the left, the river depicted is the Ronde, winding its way through the valley of La Chaux-de-Fonds.
This mechanical theatre could almost make one forget an essential detail: beyond animating a remarkable automaton, the piece also houses a minute repeater. The automaton nearly steals the spotlight from this grand complication, yet it, too, makes its presence known, striking the hours, quarters, and minutes on demand.
Parrot Repeater: the jungle in motion
The Parrot Repeater takes this fusion of watchmaking and automaton even further. This unique creation stands among the most ambitious ever produced by Jaquet Droz.
Its development brought together ten artisans from the Manufacture over the course of nearly a full year. Gem-setters, engravers, enamelers, and miniature painters worked in unison to bring this vibrant tropical scene to life. The intention is clear: to unite, within a single piece, the full breadth of expertise embodied by the Maison’s Ateliers d’Art.
The piece once again combines a minute repeater with an automaton, this time activated in perfect synchrony. As the chimes are set in motion, the miniature jungle awakens: parrots beat their wings and attentively feed their young, while a third chick hatches before the viewer’s eyes. In the background, a waterfall gently cascades through the foliage. A truly three-dimensional tableau, fully unfolding within the 56 mm case.
The dial brings together mother-of-pearl, engraving, and miniature painting to evoke this lush, vibrant vegetation. Even more intricate than that of the Bird Repeater, the animation is housed within a spectacular case set with over 1,200 stones, emeralds, sapphires, and rubies, forming a vivid jungle that envelops the scene.
