Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Art Deco

Pierre Jaquet-Droz, founder of the manufacture, was a Swiss-born watchmaker of the late eighteenth century. His works were amazing examples of mechanical problem solving, and some even consider that devices made by him were the oldest examples of computers.

Pierre Jaquet-Droz became famous when some of the most important people of the era, including kings and emperors of Europe, China, India and Japan, became fascinated with his animated dolls, also known as automata. These dolls had an input device to set tabs that form a programmable memory. Even though they were original and fascinating for that time, the dolls were used only to help the manufacture sell the watches and mechanical birds.



Jaquet Droz manufacture is still inspired by dreams of its founder. The brand revives traditional, almost disappearing crafts (such as Grand Feu enamel), draws the inspiration from the past, and remains one of the most important brands in the world of luxury watchmaking.



One of their latest models is Petite Heure Minute Art Deco that captures the creativity of the early twentieth century and revives the splendor of Art Deco movement. This style is recognizable in geometric and angular shapes, theatrical contrasts and shiny materials. In the spirit of Art Deco, the new watches are made in red or white gold, some of them adorned with diamonds, boasting a wasp-waisted bezel and mother-of-pearl dial.



Embossed ornaments on the dial are made using the Ramolayé technique. They were first sculptured with the graver and then smoothed with small files known as “riffles”. Mother of pearl dials are decorated by moiré pattern, formed by interference between two sets of fine lines.

The watches are powered by self winding mechanical movement and offer power reserve of 68 hours. Their cases have 39 millimeters in diameter. Diamond set model boasts 248 diamonds, buckle set with 24 diamonds, total of 1.99 carats. All watches are mounted on matching satin straps. Each of them issued in a Numerus Clausus edition, limited to 88 pieces.



White gold: J005014570
Red gold: J005013570
White gold with diamonds: J005014571