Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XIX

1 0 5 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I L eave it to the masters at Jaquet Droz to find a way to infuse modern aesthetics and enchanting artistry with a strong historic relevance into a single, limited-edition timepiece. For that’s exactly what the expert watchmakers at the storied horology brand have done by creating the Charming Bird, a truly phenomenal and nonpareil bridge between the past and the present. For nearly three centuries, the Swiss watchmaker has been producing captivating timepieces adorned with – or inspired by – the natural beauty of birds, including singing automata. In honour of that celebrated legacy, the brand’s modern artisans have crafted the Charming Bird, which revives the founding techniques of automation and the miniature for a whole new generation to admire and appreciate. The 47-millimetre Charming Bird timepiece, cast in white or red gold, houses a miniature singing bird underneath a dome of sapphire crystal, which enhances the effect of each ray of sunlight that passes through it. More than a stationary accent, the handcrafted bird is painstakingly fashioned – requiring more than 20 hours of exacting precision – by craftsmen at Jaquet Droz Ateliers d’Art. The miniature bird is finished with contrasting tiny strokes of paint, the colour of which contrasts with the black and anthracite lines of the dial.