JAQUET DROZ
In the rarefied world of haute horology, few names evoke such profound reverence as Jaquet Droz. More than a watch manufacturer, this is a heritage maison where 18th-century enlightenment ideals of wonder and artistry remain encoded in every timepiece. For collectors seeking substance beyond status, Jaquet Droz offers something increasingly precious in modern luxury: authentic lineage, transformative craftsmanship, and the courage to preserve beauty for beauty's sake.
A Legacy Forged in Mechanical Marvels
The story begins in 1721 with Pierre Jaquet Droz, born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Unlike his contemporaries, Jaquet Droz applied his genius to automata—mechanized figures capable of writing, drawing, and playing music with eerie, lifelike precision. His masterpieces—The Writer, The Draughtsman, and The Musician—astounded the royal courts of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette in Paris, Catherine the Great in Russia, and the Qianlong Emperor in China, who acquired over 600 pieces for his Forbidden City court. This spirit of mechanical whimsy and exacting engineering continues to define the brand three centuries later.
The Atelier d'Art: Where Dials Become Canvases
What distinguishes Jaquet Droz in modern watchmaking is its unwavering commitment to decorative arts that most brands have abandoned as too costly, too slow, or too difficult. The manufacture houses specialized ateliers where master artisans practice techniques largely unchanged since the Enlightenment:
Grand Feu Enamel: A notoriously challenging process requiring multiple firings at 800°C, where each dial risks destruction to achieve that inimitable depth and luster
Miniature Painting: Microscopic brushstrokes create scenes of extraordinary detail, each requiring weeks of solitary concentration
Paillonné Enamel: Tiny gold spangles are hand-placed between enamel layers, creating luminous, shifting patterns
Hand Engraving: Three-dimensional relief work that transforms gold cases into sculptural objects
These aren't mere decorations—they're the brand's DNA. As Nicolas G. Hayek, who took leadership in 2009, and his successor Marc A. Hayek have cultivated, Jaquet Droz exists to preserve these "notions of sentiment and lyricism" in an age of mass production.n
Automata Collection
True to its roots, Jaquet Droz creates contemporary mechanical wonders that move, chirp, and enchant:
The Charming Bird: A wristwatch featuring a sapphire-crystal whistle system that produces actual birdsong
Loving Butterfly Automaton: A scene where a chariot drawn by a butterfly comes to life on the dial
The Dragon Mask: A 21st-Century Myth Reborn
Interested in requesting a unique piece? Contact us
