Jaquet Droz presents The Bird Repeater Geneva
Jaquet Droz The Bird Repeater Geneva
Pierre Jaquet-Droz was a Swiss-born watchmaker who in the late XVIIIth century became famous with his humanoid automatons and mechanic birds that mesmerised kings, emperors and other potentates. The brand that continues his heritage has launched in 2012 an exceptional homage to its namesake, The Bird Repeater. A phenomenal timepiece incorporating eight spectacular animations: the birds feeding their fledgelings, the spreading wings, the flowing water, the hatching egg.
Today, Jaquet Droz has announced the launch of The Bird Repeater Geneva, featuring a white mother-of-pearl dial decorated with all the symbols of the Swiss city. Thus have the engravers, painters and enamelers achieved the feat of reproducing, in miniature, Lake Geneva, its famous Jet d’Eau fountain and lighthouse – Le Phare des Pâquis – as well as the silhouette of the Salève, the pre-Alpine peak considered the city’s “balcony.”
At the centre of the dial, a pair of goldfinches has nested right in the heart of Île Rousseau, the island paradise for birds located precisely at the entrance to the lake. These creatures, their plumage as brightly coloured as a Fauvist canvas, hand-sculpted in gold, are accompanied by their two young, and the group is gathered around an egg in the middle of the nest. The meticulously rendered details, the vivacity of the colours, the attention paid as much to the eyes as to each wisp of straw, is a testament to the illustrative talent of the La Chaux-de-Fonds artisans.
The two sides of The Bird Repeater Geneva
The animated three-dimensional landscape is contrasting with the austere elegance of the off-centered hours and minutes dial. The red gold lancine hands are in strong contrast with the black onyx disc, offering an excellent readability. The magic behind is performed by the RMA88 hand-wound movement, offering 48-hours of power reserve. Everything is packaged in a 47 mm red gold case. The Bird Repeater Geneva will be produced in a limited edition of eight pieces.
The bird taking shape under the craftsman’s chisel.
Before you go, here is short video presenting the animations on the debut model of The Bird Repeater.
