Rock as a source of inspiration.
Many expected there'd be some changes after the head of Swatch Group transferred Alain Delamuraz from Blancpain to the post of CEO at Jaquet Droz. And a new strategy was eventually announced.
The changes they began talking about in spring were set to be radical: Jaquet Droz would be discontinuing all collections and work with retailers in favor of placing all bets on artisan creations and pieces made for custom orders. There wasn’t any news from the brand for half a year following this shocking announcement.
Jaquet Droz Rolling Stones Automaton
And now as the year draws to a close, the company has unveiled a new model called The Rolling Stones Automaton. How does it live up to the new concept and which emblematic traits is the brand holding onto? This automaton may have a surprisingly colorful appearance but it still continues the automaton-making tradition established by the one and only Pierre Jaquet-Droz.
The brand used to prefer limiting availability to 88 pieces or their favorite limited edition of just 8 pieces. Now they've set the limit at 23 pieces, but there's one important detail: each of the 23 models is unique and custom-made according to the client's desired composition.
So the future owner needs to decide which album covers will decorate the main moving element: a disk which completes a full rotation in half a minute, activated by pressing the push-piece at 3 o'clock. Another element which can be set in motion is the tongue that sticks out at 8 o'clock.
The dial no longer hosts idyllic illustrations of nesting birds, cascading waterfalls or angels riding on butterfly-pulled chariots. It's all rock and roll now! What has remained indispensable is the highest quality finishing on miniature elements and scrupulous attention to detail.
The dial's central stage is set with group members' musical instruments: Ronnie Wood's Fender Stratocaster, Mick Jagger's harmonica alongside his microphone, Charlie Watts' drum set, as well as other guitars played by Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards, including Richards' most famous five-string. Color, shape and scale are all surprisingly accurate.
The watch is equipped with the self-winding Jaquet Droz 2653 AT2 movement. Its rotor is engraved with the name of a chosen Stones album. The 68-hour power reserve is displayed at 8 o'clock using a cam restoring the articulated arm and the diamond of a vinyl record player.