Jaquet Droz celebrates its 280th anniversary with an exceptional piece: the Parrot Repeater pocket watch with minute repeater. This exceptional one-of-a-kind piece, Numerus Clausus 1/1, represents the entire spectrum of Jaquet Droz craftsmanship in a single pocket watch, with watchmaking skill showcased alongside decorative techniques. The Parrot Repeater Pocket Watch carries on the long tradition of automata originally established by Pierre Jaquet-Droz, spurring it today to push new technical, creative and artistic boundaries.
A true work of art, it depicts an animated naturalist scene. The birds that take center stage here are a beloved motif for Jaquet Droz, admired for their romance as much as their song. At the heart of the composition, a pair of Macaws chosen for their beauty and colorful plumage watch over their two chicks. Each of the five macaws is animated: the bird on the left hand side moves its entire body; its partner on the right wiggles its head and wings. One chick is hatching from its egg while the other chicks hop back and forth.
A lush jungle flourishes on a mother-of-pearl dial, entirely engraved and painted by hand, where jungle vines, hibiscus and birds of paradise bloom. At the foot of an effervescent waterfall, a tiger pauses for a drink. The entire family of Jaquet Droz decorative techniques come together to bring this scene to life. 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 color emanating from a painstaking traditional gem-setting. The engraved case back features a painted Macaw in Grand Feu enamel, covered in translucent green enamel and equipped with spangles.
Both covers can be opened individually by a “double secret” system concealed inside the pendant. Positioned at 12 o’clock – thus allowing the watch to be suspended on a chain – this mechanism alone contains two patented Jaquet Droz inventions. The first concerns the manipulation performed in order to open each of the covers. The second concerns the crown, located at 12 o’clock – a first for Jaquet Droz for this type of automaton. 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.