It seems that everyone is eager to dispense with the year of the mischievous Monkey and quickly usher in the year of the Fire Rooster. The Rooster is often attributed to have a civil virtue, good combat skills and military presence, courage and a sense of protection, as well as the unique ability to mark the rising of the sun through song. Will this new year bring the industry much needed relief from the drought years? Only time will tell. In the meantime, we celebrate the Year of the Rooster with a great welcome. Jacquet Droz celebrates the Year of the Rooster with a continuation in their series of miniature enamels on the dial of their Petite Heuer Minute watches.
The two styles of the Ateliers d’Art are used in the new Rooster watches for the Jaquet Droz Heuer Minute watches.
Since its founding, Jaquet Droz have featured strongly in China’s history. Being one of the first brands to be shown and fascinated the Emperor of the 18th Century China. Many historical places are still on display within the walls of the Forbidden City, and bears testimony to the long relationship between the Swiss brand and the Chinese Dynasties. For the occassion of the Chinese New Year 2017, where the year of the Rooster is being ushered in, the craftsmen at the Ateliers d’Arts have created two new models based on the iconic Petite Heure Minute that are each available in two versions.
Jaquet Droz Petite Heuer Minute Miniature Painting
The first two watches pay tribute to miniature painting.
Jaquet Droz Petite Heuer Minute Rooster in red gold, 35mm case with diamond set bezel.
This extraordinary discipline passed down from the Enlightenment masters is expressed in the form of two Grand Feu enamel dials which are housed in 39 mm red gold cases and set with diamonds for the 35 mm model. The rooster, which is accompanied by peonies (known as “the Queen of Flowers”) to represent springtime renewal, is depicted on the underside of the hand-engraved oscillating weight in a watercolor style to echo Chinese calligraphy masterpieces. Each model is unique, depicting true miniature paintings that reflect the artist’s skilled hand. To the left of the dial, bamboo shoots represent yet another promise of happiness, that of a year full of youth, rectitude and resilience in the face of adversity.
Jaquet Droz Petite Heuer Minute Relief
The miniature sculpture technique was used for the other two precious models.
Jaquet Droz Petite Heuer Minute Relief Rooster. Limited to 28 pieces, in red gold case.
Limited to 28 pieces, the first Petite Heure Minute Rooster combines volumes of red gold and its unique light with a dial inlaid with jadeite and mother-of-pearl, which are hand-engraved in the Jaquet Droz workshops.
Hand engraving the rooster.
This miniature masterpiece celebrates one of the most symbolic materials in Asia: jade, the symbol of luck and health, which is given as a gift to mark life’s most important moments. The dial is then patinated and hand-painted in monochromatic shades that enhance each relief. Ultimately, the splendor of this remarkable creation evokes both the brilliance of the Jaquet Droz Ateliers d’Art and the ingenuity of traditional Chinese painting.
A special limited edition series of only 8 pieces are made with hand painted feathers on the rooster.
Jaquet Droz has also created a limited edition of eight entirely hand-painted pieces illuminated by glistening rooster feathers. These extraordinarily realistic paintings beautifully complement the radiance of the diamonds featured on the pieces. The soft sun rising in the mist, the sloping mountainside and delicate peony petals rendered in a black and white palette are further enhanced by the brilliance of precious stones. This exceptional work is repeated again on the oscillating weight, which is crafted in gold, engraved, patinated and decorated in jadeite.
The detail of the completed hand-painted rooster on the dial.
The movement
The movement used in all the watches is the Jaquet Droz 2653.P, self-winding mechanical movement, balance-spring and pallet-fork horns in silicon, double barrel, flat bridges, 22-karat red gold oscillating weight with hand-engraved rooster applique.
Singapore retail prices
Petite Heure Minute miniature grand feu painting Rooster Red Gold Case 35mm diamond set J005003222 S$ 59,000 incl GST. Limited Edition 28 pieces.
Petite Heure Minute miniature grand feu painting Rooster Red Gold Case 39mm J005013216 S$ 49,000 incl GST. Limited Edition 28 pieces.
Petite Heure Minute Relief Rooster Red Gold 39mm J005023282 S$ 109,000 incl GST. Limited Edition 28 pieces.
Petite Heure Minute Relief Rooster White Gold 39mm with Diamonds and hand painted rooster J005024282 S$ 127,000 incl GST. Limited Edition 8 pieces.
