Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Smalta Clara Hummingbird

With this refined and colorful summer creation, the House demonstrates its mastery of plique-à-jour enameling, a technique that demands a rare dexterity for a naturalistic, lively and unique composition.

Precious and dreamlike: the new Petite Heure Minute Smalta Clara Hummingbird shines with individuality and delicacy, drawing collectors in to appreciate the technical mastery of its gold partitions. With this creation, Jaquet Droz has established itself as one of the rare artisanal ateliers to use the ancestral technique of plique-à-jour enameling which first appeared 1500 years ago and can be compared to a miniature stained-glass window.

Different to the art of cloisonné or champlevé, it consists of applying the enamel to bottomless molds. A gold dial with partitions of different shapes and sizes is created. Each empty space is filled with different colors of enamel before undergoing several successive firings. Each passage in the oven gives the enamel its color and density, yet with the constant risk that only a few degrees hotter will break it. Just like a miniature stained-glass window, this plique-à-jour process results in a perfectly transparent enamel which plays with light, shadows and reflections, and which gives the motif featured as much volume as it does life.

Today, this motif is a hummingbird crafted in a subtle gradient of green. Jaquet Droz created no less than seven different shades to express its summery and joyful vision of this famous bird. By choosing the Petite Heure Minute as its canvas and with an off-centered dial at two o’clock, the House offers the hummingbird a large space where it can express the richness of its tones and the virtuosity of the plique-à-jour (smalta clara in Latin).

Part of a numerus clausus limited edition of only eight pieces, this is a rare and refined piece set with 100 diamonds on the bezel and pallet lugs, featuring a mother-of-pearl dial, and a case measuring 35 mm which sits on a hand-embroidered green satin strap. 

Technical specifications: 

Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Smalta Clara Humming Bird

Reference: J005503502

Limited edition of 8 pieces

Case

• Material: 18k red gold case set with 100 diamonds (0.89 carat)
• Diameter: 35 mm
• Thickness: 10.83 mm
• Glass: Sapphire crystal front and caseback
• Water-resistant to 30 meters (3 bar)

Dial and hands

• 18k white gold dial with "plique-à-jour" Grand Feu enamel, white mother-of-pearl subdial
• 18k red gold applied ring
• 18k red gold hands

Movement

• Jaquet Droz Calibre 6150
• Self-winding mechanical movement
• Number of jewels: 29
• Frequency: 21,600 vph
• Silicon balance spring and pallet horns
• Platinum oscillating weight with 18-karat red gold applique.
• Power reserve of 38 hours

Functions/Indications

• Off-centered hours and minutes

Strap and buckle

• Rolled-edge hand-made green satin strap
• 18k red gold ardillon

Total carat weight / diamonds

• IF to VVSI, Full Cut, D to G
• Total number of diamonds: 100 diamonds
• Total carat weight: 0.89 carat

MSRP: TBC 

For more information, please visit jaquet-droz.com