Jaquet Droz is known for its excellence in traditional decoration methods as well as their use of automata in which mechanical creations imitate real life. The La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture’s mechanical artistry has spawned a one-of-a-kind timepiece that celebrates the brand founder’s passion for birds and nature. The new one-off Tropical Bird Repeater depicts a tone-on-tone nature scene with an animated hummingbird in motion against a completely hand-engraved and hand-painted tropical backdrop. The mother-of-pearl dial acts as the canvas for the artwork that shows a lush wilderness with frolicking peacock, toucan, dragonfly, and hummingbird. The animation of the hummingbird flutters its wings 40 times per second – a feat never been achieved before in the world of watchmaking.
The peacock at 5 o’clock fans and folds up its tail, while the toucan pops out from behind the leaves of a Monstera deliciosa plant and opens its beak at 3 o’clock. At 9:00, three graceful dragonflies can be seen dancing in the air with their tiny wings painted with Super-LumiNova that glows in the dark. A total of seven animations can be played by the timepiece that can last over 12 seconds and are capable of up to four different scenarios. The small-sized dial at 12 o’clock is decorated with 180 baguette-cut diamonds (total 1.8 carats) that are invisibly set in the center. The 47mm case, as well as the hour and minute hands, are all made of 18k red gold. The horns side, the case middle as well as the lugs have been hand-engraved in the Ateliers d’Art. The case is set with an additional 36 baguette-cut diamonds, a total of 2.76 carats. The Tropical Bird Repeater is powered by Jaquet Droz RMA89 movement is equipped with a virtually silent wheeled regulator and offers a 50-hour power reserve. The one-off creation is paired with a rolled-edge, hand-made dark green alligator strap, which is equipped with an 18-karat red gold folding clasp.
[Via:Worldtempus]
