Charming Bird Titanium:
The bird takes flight again
The "Disruptive Legacy" philosophy of Jaquet Droz mainly finds its expression as original creations, however that is not its only inspiration. In 2025, 10 years after winning the "Mechanical Exception" category at the GPHG, the Charming Bird is being reinterpreted in a Grade 5 Titanium case. It is the world's first wristwatch with musical automaton to be made from this metal, which is as difficult to work as it is modern.
Rarely has the 'Disruptive Legacy' philosophy been interpreted so aptly. Here, this legacy is that of musical automata. A tradition which, at Jaquet Droz, will soon be three centuries old. Back then, the family workshop amazed courts around the world with its amazingly realistic singing birds, capable of whistling a melody in perfect tune. There are several examples still in perfect working order around the world.
However, since 1738, clockwork mechanisms have undergone not one, but many disruptions. The most important was miniaturisation. It enabled the workshop, still based in its La Chaux-de-Fonds stronghold, to move on from the music box and life-sized automaton to the wristwatch. The other revolution was in materials. Jaquet Droz has embraced this in all its dimensions: sapphire, silicon and plasma ceramic are the most recent examples. But titanium has always been resistant, both literally and figuratively.
Reputed to be one of the most difficult metals to work with, and with an unfortunate propensity to set fire to the tools used to try and tame it, titanium has long resisted machining, finishing and decoration techniques. It has also long resisted the attraction of collectors, who did not instantly appreciate its perceived value, technical prowess and immediate benefits. These include a well-proven resistance to impacts and scratches, as well as an incredible lightness on the wrist.
This is what Jaquet Droz wanted to highlight in its new Charming Bird Titanium. The watch is 20% lighter, weighing 42 grams less on the wrist. The whistling bird is more ethereal than ever.
In addition to this lightness, and despite the difficulty of machining titanium, Jaquet Droz has managed to preserve the distinctive geometry of its case. It has two unique features. First, a double sapphire crystal, which protects the movement on the dial side and, separately, protects the bird automaton at 6 o'clock. Then there's a narrow lateral opening, between 8 and 10 o'clock, which allows the air – and therefore the melody – to circulate from inside the case to the outside world. All with a satin-brushed finish executed to perfection.
As for the movement, Jaquet Droz has retained the automaton which has been delighting the most discerning collectors for over a decade. It is fully visible through a metallic sapphire dial at 12 o'clock, which allows the hours and minutes to be read against a black background. The bird, which measures 13.5 mm, sits proudly at 6 o'clock. Hand-engraved and hand-painted, it flies through an opening in the dial towards its owner. It whistles, opens its beak, spins around, and beats its wings and tail.
The automaton has its own power reserve, wound by the crown at 2 o'clock. A simple press on its coaxial push-button triggers the sequence. It can be stopped when required by a second press. If the owner does not intervene, it can last for around thirty seconds, during which time the three notes of the bird's whistle can be clearly distinguished. The speed of its movements and singing is not controlled mechanically, to avoid friction between metal parts that would inevitably cause wear, but magnetically. As there is no contact, there is also no noise interference, resulting in a purer melody. Made as a one-off piece, the Charming Bird Titanium is taking flight to new horizons.
