Jaquet Droz The Bird Minute Repeater White Gold

amanico · 2015-10-13T03:09:59Z

Explore the Jaquet Droz The Bird Minute Repeater Vue Des Alpes in white gold. amanico shares hands-on impressions, photos, and community debate on its design.

amanico

WPS member · Horological Meandering forum

21 replies2832 views7 photos

amanico's detailed impressions of the Jaquet Droz The Bird Minute Repeater Vue Des Alpes in white gold offer a rare glimpse into a highly complicated and artistically driven timepiece. His hands-on experience, including an hour spent activating the minute repeater and removing protective plastics, provides invaluable insights into the watch's tactile and auditory qualities. This post highlights the enduring appeal of Jaquet Droz's unique blend of horological artistry and mechanical complexity.

Let me call it The Bird MR, please...

Last night, we were invited by a parisian Jaquet Droz AD for a lesson of painting on enamel.

While several of us attended this " enameling master class ", I preferred to focus on a watch they came with... The Bird MR.

You know that, when a minute repeater is mentionned, it is hard to resist playing with it, testing it.

I could do it for one good hour, thanks to the kind cooperation of the Jaquet Droz Team who accepted to remove all the plastic parts wrapping the dial, case and case back. You know me, I am allergic to plastic.

You love or don't love the style of the dial, which may be called romantic by some or too classic by others, it is a watch which cannot let you insensible.

Here, we are speaking of automatons ( the birds ) perched on a dial made of white mother of pearl, the dial and the birds being hand engraved and painted, associated to a minute repeater.

The 18 Kt white gold case is also hand engraved. It is quite huge, as the diameter is 47 mm and 18, 70 mm high. I've been told that the case is not water proof.

The movement has been made in collaboration with Christophe Claret, which explains why it looked so familiar to me. ( See some Ulysse Nardin Minute Repeaters, you will notice this air de famille ).

It is a manual winding movement, beating at the pace of 18000 vibrations per hour, with some generous dimensions: 35 mm big, 8, 80 mm thick.

I can add that it is pretty nice to admire, with a good level of decoration. I would need more time to go deeper in my judgement, here, though. A pity I didn't have enough time!

It is a limited edition of 8 pieces. While we are at it, I asked why all the limited editions from Jaquet Droz had an 8... The explanation is double: Paying an hommage to the 8 shaped subdials we historically see on JD pieces, and 8 is a lucky number for our asian friends.

That is what you can see from my pictures.

Now, I played with it and I could judge it.

The show of the two automatons ( birds ) is just breathtaking.

The case is big, heavy too, but comfortable, even if I wonder how it could sit on the wrist but under a sleeve... That must be pretty challenging.

It is quite hard to imagine that it is 47 mm big. I would have said a good 45 mm. So, a pretty good point.

I am not too fan of hand engraved cases, which I find, most of the time too baroque, but here it is ok.

Now, the crucial question: How does the minute repeater sound?

There are two details which are immediately noticeable...

The level is, for my taste, too low. Ok, the shop was quite noisy, but I heard more " powerful " minute repeaters.

Now, the second thing is that the sound is rich. Certainly due to the cathedral gongs. Good point.

To sum my impressions, I was very positively impressed by the quality of the work on the dial, the automatons, and disappointed by the minute repeater which should be less low, even if the pitch is good.

After, it is a matter of taste, you like or dislike the style of this watch. But, objectively, there are not so many minute repeaters and automatons on the market, and each time you fall on one, it is an intense moment.

Aaah, and an extra bonus, two photos I took of the Lady 28 Butterfly, one side by side with The Bird, and another alone.

Best,

Nicolas

This message has been edited by amanico on 2015-10-13 03:12:11

Key Points from the Discussion

The aesthetic of the Jaquet Droz Bird Minute Repeater, while technically impressive, is considered by some to be too old-fashioned or 'kitsch,' suggesting a disconnect with younger collectors' tastes.
A video showcasing the Bird Repeater's automatons and minute repeater function was shared, emphasizing the visual spectacle over the acoustic volume of the repeater.
The discussion touches on the balance between contemporary design and respecting traditional watchmaking roots, noting that past innovations are now considered tradition.
Additional images of the watch were provided, offering more visual context to amanico's initial post.
The watch's theme, featuring birds, is not universally appealing, with one contributor expressing a preference for more 'erotic' or different automaton themes.
The minute repeater's volume is noted as being low, but the watch's primary appeal is argued to be its intricate automatons.

The Discussion

Ares501 - Mr Green

Oct 13, 2015

movies of this two nice samples Birds are truly masterly executed Miracle of human dexterity is what first comes to my mind each time I see such complicated pieces So no enameling for you? I was sure you love enamel Best D

elliot55

Oct 13, 2015

... Jaquet Droz have stepped up their game in a huge way! I agree that the repeater is way low in volume, but I would argue this repeater is more about the automatons, Still, one gorgeous piece, eh? - Scott

amanico

Oct 13, 2015

I will take some lessons, with Kustoriza.

foversta

Oct 13, 2015

A well executed watch with a Claret base but with a theme so old fashioned that it seems to come from a calendar of the 70s. The day the brands will start to understand that world and tastes have changed, they will realize that they can sell this type of watch to collectors who are not 80 years old. Nothing against J*D, I can say the same to almost all the brands. Honestly, am I fascinated by this kitsch theme? No, absolutely not. A pity for the watchmaking content of the watch. When will we see

amanico

Oct 13, 2015

But I didn't see it in the flesh nor heard it in the real... So, I will only limit myself to some aesthetical impressions. Best, Nicolas

foversta

Oct 13, 2015

Its aesthetic approach is a kind of meeting point between a contemporary style and the tradition of the charming birds of the 18th Century. Of course, it doesn't have the same features than the Bird Repeater. Sorry for the poor picture. Fx

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Jaquet Droz The Bird Minute Repeater White Gold

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