Simply Abu Dhabi XI

1 0 9 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I T he Charming Bird is a perfect contemporary tribute to the brand’s founder. Whether purely decorative or conceived as genuine singing automata, birds have been part of the brand’s creative adventure for nearly three centuries. The timepiece celebrates the 275th anniversary of Jaquet Droz and also represents the fourth instalment of a watchmaking saga that began in 2010 with the introduction of miniature painting, followed by engraving and sculpture in 2011, that linked the following year to the brand’s longstanding association with automata. In 2013, after years of research in order to succeed in an exploit requiring great technical andmechanical prowess, Jaquet Droz has now combined the automata for The Charming Bird. This ground-breaking timepiece, for which a patent has been filed, differs from its historic predecessors in its modern, pared- down aesthetic, in which we find a miniature singing bird ensconced in a 47mm-diameter timepiece featuring black, charcoal-gray and transparent elements. Against a background of a transparent sapphire dial that allows the onlooker to admire the complexity of the watch’s gear train, bridges, and plate, the representation of this songbird is stunningly realistic down to the tiniest detail. Every part of its body, from its feathers to its beak and even its eyes, forms an exact reproduction of the birds’ delicate proportions and magnificent radiance. And Jaquet Droz goes even further: thanks to an amazingly intricatemechanism, the bird turns, flaps its wings, moves its head and tail, and opens its beak to chirp. In The Charming Bird, the Jaquet Droz craftsmen have succeeded creating a singing automaton by developing a piston-driven bellows system and miniaturising the techniques inherited from the 18th century. In contrast with the complexity of this model, Jaquet Droz has opted for a case of great simplicity. Made of white gold, it combines a sober design with a dome-shaped sapphire crystal specially conceived to enhance the effect of each ray of light that passes through it. A bridge between past and present, this exceptional wristwatch represents the apotheosis of the great watchmaker’s creativity and the longstanding fidelity of the master craftsmen who have followed in his footsteps. Produced in a limited edition of 28 pieces, The Charming Bird is a wonderful ode to the rich creativity of the past and the promises of today that encapsulates the fabulous history of Jaquet Droz. TECHNICAL FEATURES: The Charming Bird Movement: Jaquet Droz 610, hand-winding mechanical movement, single barrel Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and singing bird automaton movement, hand-winding mechanical movement and push button automaton triggering mechanism. Plus a sapphire crystal whistle system. Case: 18K White gold Dial: Metallized sapphire crystal Glass: Sapphire anti-reflective crystal Water-resistance: 30 metres Straps: Rolled-edge hand-made black alligator leather, with black stitches The Charming Bird