Jaquet Droz Bird Repeater ‘300th anniversary edition’
The Jaquet Droz Bird Repeater ‘300th anniversary edition’ celebrates Pierre Jaquet-Droz, a man synonymous with automatons, who was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1721. This particular exemplar of Haute Horlogerie unites an automaton and a minute repeater. The model’s design pays homage to the fauna and flora close to the Maison’s present-day home. 
Recently, I searched the internet keen to establish when the first automaton was made. My online enquiry led to many results appearing on Google, each suggesting potential dates. Allegedly, Archytas of Tarentum (circa 400 – 350 BC) made a wooden model of a pigeon that was suspended from a bar and revolved courtesy of steam or compressed air.
Leonardo Da Vinci wrote about automatons on many occasions and his notebooks are filled with numerous drawings of mechanical creations. The multi-talented Italian conceived the idea of an artificial man, resembling a knight. The system was said to have used cables and pulleys, causing the automaton to sit, stand and turn its head. Moreover, the automaton could allegedly lift up its metal visor. The ingenuity of Da Vinci remains breathtaking to this day.
Jaques de Vaucanson created a ‘digesting duck’ that could flap its wings, splash in water and eat grain. Remarkably, the duck even defecated onto a silver platter.
However, perhaps the most remarkable automatons were created in the 18th century. In 1768, Pierre Jaquet-Droz, a son of La Chaux-de-Fonds, created ‘The Writer’, a boy-like automaton that could scribe a name on a piece of paper. The mechanical performance employed an elaborate system of cams. Moreover, the automaton looked incredibly lifelike. The name applied to the paper could even be personalised if necessary.
Over a six-year period, Jaquet-Droz completed ‘The Writer’ as well as making ‘The draughtsman’ and ‘The musician’. While other companies made automatons in the past, especially bird-themed examples, today, there is one firm that is synonymous with this esoteric genre, Jaquet Droz.
In 2014, Jaquet Droz released its ‘Machine à Signer’, a modern-day writing machine. This features a hand-wound mechanical movement that scribes the owner’s signature on a piece of paper. The device measures a comparatively modest, 158mm x 82mm x 21mm, hence it is far smaller than the aforementioned ‘The Writer’. The brand continues to offer the model in its present-day collection.
Another spellbinding creation is The ‘Charming Bird’, a contemporary watch housed in a 47mm case. The hours and minutes are presented off-centre and powered by a self-winding movement. The bird whistles using compressed air, delivered via a series of pistons. The bird also turns, opens its beak and moves its wings and tail using a series of cams. In 2015, The Charming Bird received the ‘Mechanical Exception Watch Prize’ at the GPHG.
This year (2021), marks the 300th anniversary of Jaquet Droz’s birth. The Maison from La Chaux-de-Fonds has created an exceptional watch to mark the event, the Jaquet Droz Bird Repeater ‘300th anniversary edition’. This new model, limited to just eight pieces, pairs an automaton with a minute repeater, widely considered one of the most challenging complications to produce. The minute repeater employs two hammers and two gongs, to aurally convey the hours, quarters and minutes.
The animated scene, encompassing various nature-themed elements, moves in sympathy with the minute repeater. Moreover, the two robins, dragonfly, hatching eggs, grasshopper and verdant landscape are beautifully depicted using miniature painting, a further speciality of the Maison.
Over the years, automatons have become increasingly complex and the Maison from La Chaux-de-Fonds has been at the vanguard of this horological genre employing some cutting-edge know-how. However, what the Jaquet Droz Bird Repeater ‘300th anniversary edition’ also demonstrates is that traditional artistic crafts and high-end watchmaking are alive and well in the prestigious marques’ contemporary atelier.
The brand’s press release
Issued in eight pieces to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founder Pierre Jaquet-Droz, the Bird Repeater, an automaton with a minute repeater, embodies the essence of the House. Its dial in white mother-of-pearl and black onyx features appliqués in 18K red gold. Multiple bird animations, eggs hatching and the river in the background breathe life into this creation. This weave of intricate animations, completely engraved and painted by hand, resonates with a minute repeater, which is housed at the heart of its 18K red gold case in 47mm, one of fine watchmaking’s most virtuoso complications.
In 2012, Jaquet Droz revolutionized wristwatches by creating the Bird Repeater collection. These Haute Horlogerie innovations are the culmination of all the House’s Ateliers d’Art techniques in a single piece, combining traditional watchmaking aesthetic with their one-of-a-kind automaton expertise, in the same movement. In short, this watch displays the Jaquet Droz quintessence and three centuries of heritage, in a single resolutely contemporary creation.
For this anniversary edition, Jaquet Droz returns to the theme of nature to animate its automatons. In the foreground are two robins, one male and one female, like those that can be seen and heard all around the Swiss Valleys, known for their song and proximity to mankind. In the background, to the right, is a farmhouse. However, it’s not just any farmhouse: it’s a replica of the farmhouse where Pierre Jaquet-Droz was born exactly 300 years ago. This historical nod is coupled with a verdant valley and river flowing through it on the left. Again, there is no room for doubt – this is La Ronde, encircling the La Chaux-de-Fonds valley. There is also a Gentian flower in the foreground, whose especially fine wood grain is used by watchmakers for the ultimate polishing of their components. The plant is also used for its medicinal values and alcoholic beverages that have contributed to the region’s success.
Left, right and centre, the natural characteristics of La Chaux-de-Fonds are present: red berries and holly leaves, a blue butterfly announcing the arrival of summer and other animals hidden in the scene. A dragonfly can also be spotted, a symbol of strength and fighting spirit, a grasshopper is also featured, whose powerful leap forward embodies risk-taking, the ability to seize opportunities and move oneself forward, much like Jaquet Droz does today, while drawing on three centuries of heritage to move forward in the 21st century built on art and wonders.
Further reading