Among the head-turning novelties showcased at the Baselworld 2018 is this incredible one-of-a-kind pocket watch that has been created by Jaquet Droz to celebrate its 280th anniversary. Meet the Jaquet Droz Parrot Repeater Pocket Watch, a scintillating work of art that took more than three years in development. The La Chaux-de-Fonds watchmaker for the first time brought together all of its artistic crafts in a single watch creation to make the Parrot Repeater truly unique. The Parrot Repeater pocket watch continues with the long tradition of automata originally established by Pierre Jaquet-Droz.
The ornate watch features painting, engraving, sculpture, grand feu enamelling and a completely new technique called grand feu enamel painting. In this, hand-ground enamel powder is mixed with oil and used to paint a miniature scene. It is then fired in an enamel kiln. At the heart of the nature-inspired composition are five macaws that are animated, along with the waterfall. The macaw on the left hand side moves its entire body, while its partner on the right wiggles its head. The first chick hatches from its egg and its sibling hops back and forth. The mechanical caliber powering the watch is miniature minute repeater with 668 components and follows the spirit of Jaquet Droz’s bird repeaters, with the addition of an haute horlogerie complication of two cathedral gongs. The secret latch mechanism concealed inside the watch bow to open the two covers and the crown that has been moved to 12 o’clock both are subject to patents. The pullout piece at 9 o’clock activates the automata as well as the chimes that ring the hours, quarter-hours and minutes.
[Via:Watchonista]
