WatchTime India in collaboration with watchmaker Jaquet Droz, showcased some of the brand’s exceptional timepieces at Johnson Watch Company, Delhi, on Friday.
During the showcase, Jaquet Droz didn’t just unveil its latest novelties but also displayed two of its rare timepieces, including the Charming Bird and the Grande Seconde Skelet-One Tourbillon, for the first time in India. Launched in 2013, the Charming Bird was the first-ever wristwatch to feature a singing bird and came housed in a 47mm case, which was available in either white gold or red gold and limited to just 28 pieces each. The timepiece perfectly exemplified the techniques of the automaton and the miniature and combined them with the artistic skills of the Ateliers d’Art. Needless to say, the Charming Bird quickly gained prominence among critics and watch enthusiasts alike and went on to win the 2015 GPHP (Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève).
Meanwhile, the other watch displayed at the event was the last year’s Grande Seconde Skelet-One Tourbillon, which took its design cues from a pocket watch created by Pierre Jaquet-Droz back in 1784. The timepiece came with the Grande Seconde collection’s signature motif—the figure ‘eight’ on the dial. Featuring the symmetry of straight lines and angles that lend a complex framework to an otherwise exposed movement, the display was delightfully attractive and legible.
The event was attended by Delhi’s and Mumbai’s watch aficionados, who spent time appreciating the several timepieces, and trying them on. Admiring Jaquet-Droz’s ingenious craftsmanship skill, the wine and cheese evening also witnessed conversation about love for watches and the art of Haute Horlogerie.
