Simply Abu Dhabi XI

T he Lady 8 is a fine jewellery watch that evokes the sensuality of time with a curvaceous form. Embracing the figure 8 – the symbol of infinity and completeness – and Jaquet Droz’s lucky number. A permanent source of inspiration, it appears here for the first time on the case and the buckle of this highly feminine model. The bezel is intertwined with gem-set highlights that give a simple refinement to the piece. The effects of volume and depth of the crown enhance the rounded shape of the case, while the domed sapphire glass, the dial and the hands accentuate the three-dimensionality of this timepiece. A final coquettish touch is found in a choice of either a pearl or a round precious stone to accentuate the precious aspect of the watch. In order to give the Lady 8 more fluid lines, the lugs have givenway to a satin or alligator strap attached to the case, which comes in gem-set white or red gold or stainless steel. The new folding clasp, specially created for this model, also takes the shape of a figure of eight, reaffirming the striking identity of the Lady 8 on the inside of the wrist. TECHNICAL FEATURES: Lady 8 Movement: Jaquet Droz 1153, self-winding mechanical movement, double barrel, 22-carat white gold oscillating weight Functions: Hours and minutes Case: Stainless steel with 50 diamonds Dial: Aventurine Glass: Sapphire anti-reflective crystal Water-resistance: 30 metres Straps: Hand-made blue alligator leather P ierre Jaquet-Droz was a Swiss-born watchmaker who was born in the early eighteenth century and lived almost until the beginning of the nineteenth. He founded his eponymous watch brand in 1738 at the tender age of 17-years-old, and today the illustrious heritage of this revered historical brand continues to inspire wonder in admirers of precious timepieces. Jaquet-Droz was a true pioneer and a genius with small-scale construction, making not only timepieces but also mechanical birds and all manner of functional toys known as automata. The most famous of these – the ‘Musician’, the ‘Draughtsman’ and the ‘Writer’ – can be seen at the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire of Neuchâtel, in Switzerland. These fascinating creations are essentially the forerunners of modern day computers, as they have a programmable memory. These mechanical automata were comprised of thousands of pieces and could perform their own distinct actions. The Writer can dip his goose feather quill into ink and write any chosenmessage up to 40 letters long; the Musician is a lady playing the organ, who actually presses the keys and moves her head and eyes according to the keys; and the Draughtsman is a young child who can draw four different images: a portrait of Louis XV, a royal couple (believed to beMarie Antoinette and Louis XVI, a dog with "Mon toutou" (my doggy) written beneath it, and a scene of Cupid driving a chariot pulled by a butterfly. Some of the finest examples of humanmechanical problem solving, the world's kings and emperors of Europe, China, India and Japan were astounded by these inventions. To this day the dreams and accomplishments of Jacquet-Droz still inspire the products of the brand. This year saw the unveiling of new models, The Charming Bird and Lady 8. Jaquet-Droz C O L L E C T I O N Lady 8 1 0 8 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I