‘Some watches tell time, others tell a story.’
After 280 years of crafting intricate timepieces that showcase the grandeur of dial enameling, Jaquet Droz is finally embarking into Malaysia via Swiss Watch Gallery.
We welcomed the partnership with an enamel painting workshop at Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur, guided by one of the master painters from Jaquet Droz Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Heidi Speisser was part of the team that worked in secrecy for three years on a breathtaking horology feat that marks an exciting anniversary for Jaquet Droz.
We’re referring, of course, to the Parrot Repeater Pocket Watch. An animated nature scene is brought to life with one of the brand’s favourite motifs – the bird.
A colourful macaw guards the green pocket watch face in a Grand Feu enamel, while at its heart, another pair looks over its two chicks.
These family of five wiggle and hop about lush vines and flowers in small but adorable ways, sharing the ecosystem with other birds and tigers.
A gorgeous mother-of-pearl-dial awaits inside, also given the Grand Feu treatment. Miniature painting, engraving, and gem-setting come together to form a piece that is precious as it is exciting.
Recommended: Grand feu, champlevé, cloisonné, and other dial enamelling techniques, explained
The Parrot Repeater Pocket Watch encapsulates 280 years of astonishing craftsmanship at Jaquet Droz , sporting not one but two patented innovations: dual case-spring mechanism opening each cover, and the crown at 12 o’clock.
This automaton with minute repeater and cathedral gongs comprises 668 miniature pieces that collectively represent Jaquet Droz’s value in the Swiss watch landscape.
A brand with such extensive history has more to offer – seen here in the flagship collection introduced for the Malaysian market. Though we’re partial to skeleton dials, this selection sure leaves us spoilt for choice.
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Head over to Swiss Watch Gallery at Pavilion KL to see these Jaquet Droz masterpieces for yourself. For more, visit Swiss Watch Gallery on Facebook or Instagram.
Images: Swiss Watch Gallery