E-book Assessment: ‘The Worlds Of Jaquet Droz’

One of many youngest manufacturers to affix the Swatch Group lineup has one of many oldest watch model names: Jaquet Droz. And in 2021 the model celebrates the 300^th anniversary of the start of its founder, Pierre Jaquet-Droz, who was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland in 1721.

Though originally Jaquet Droz was not supposed to compete with the group’s top-shelf manufacturers – Breguet, Blancpain, and extra not too long ago Glashütte Authentic and Harry Winston – the younger marque quietly entered the operating with out attempting. Its restricted and comparatively uncommon timepieces are created utilizing the entire mixed information and technical firepower the Swatch Group has at its disposal with a beneficiant serving to of inventive wizardry. And that appeals.

What significantly appeals to me is that inside the Swatch Group’s 190 separate corporations, together with 18 manufacturers, Jaquet Droz operates very very like an impartial watchmaker. And its clever timepieces replicate this.

‘The Worlds Of Jaquet Droz’ guide cowl

To have a good time Jaquet Droz’s milestone yr, the model commissioned a giant, lovely guide written by Swiss historian Dr. Sandrine Girardier, whose 2018 doctorate thesis in fashionable historical past was devoted to watchmakers Pierre Jaquet-Droz and Jean-Frédéric Leschot.

As the present museum curator of the Musée d’artwork et d’histoire in La Neuveville, Girardier devotes herself to the administration of collections and the creation of non permanent exhibitions. In her work as a contract historian, she practices cultural and academic mediation along with her analysis and publication actions.

The Worlds Of Jaquet Droz: construction

The Worlds Of Jaquet Droz is damaged down into 9 predominant chapters (discounting the forewords and appendices as chapters). The best way these are structured appear very tutorial to me, even going to as far as to clarify sources – together with the issue of getting them for the years between 1747 and 1774.

‘The Worlds Of Jaquet Droz’

The chapters comprise a lot data on Pierre Jaquet-Droz’s beginnings, the well-known automatons, the worldwide nature of Pierre Jaquet-Droz’s enterprise, the business distribution of his firm’s treasures, its technical highlights, what got here after Pierre Jaquet-Droz’s dying, and a fantastically illustrated “catalogue” of 9 basic items from the time of the grasp.

In all, the chapters are simply identifiable and digestible in addition to fantastically illustrated.

The Worlds Of Jaquet Droz: content material

The main target of this guide is unquestionably on the vintage period of this well-known horological title, again earlier than it was a model, though Half VIII (chapter 8) is totally dedicated to “What Got here Subsequent: The Jaquet-Droz in Watchmaking Historical past,” which explains what got here after the dying of the eponymous founder, his associates, and his household. It additionally accommodates a bit on 20 years of patents, all of that are from the fashionable period.

‘The Worlds Of Jaquet Droz’

A justifiably giant chapter is dedicated to the world-renowned androids, the lifelike automatons that grew to become the declare to fame of Pierre Jaquet-Droz (1721-1790). The significantly well-known trio of realistic-looking androids bearing the names the Author, the Draughtsman, and the Musician have been at residence in Neuchâtel’s Museum of Artwork and Historical past since 1909. These had been begun in 1774 by Pierre Jaquet-Droz and accomplished by his son. (In case you’re ever within the space, it’s worthwhile to cease in and see them; usually the really lifelike objects are activated each first Sunday of the month at 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00 pm in order that guests might even see them in motion.)

‘The Worlds Of Jaquet Droz’

The Worlds Of Jaquet Droz: high quality

In all, this guide accommodates partaking, well-written textual content that has been very clearly fastidiously translated and copyedited. It additionally boasts nice paper high quality; good, clear, pleasing-to-the-eye design; tremendous images; and an interesting material.

I’ve not seen the French version of this guide, however seeing how detailed it’s in a historic sense I can solely think about this was not a straightforward one for Susan Jaquet to translate. Nonetheless, the English is masterful; the professional translator repeatedly spoils the watch world with the superb high quality of her work.

‘The Worlds Of Jaquet Droz’

The appendices embody detailed sources, an in depth bibliography, and loads of endnotes, making this guide a real reference work. The Worlds Of Jaquet Droz is just not solely lovely, it’s informative, scientifically structured, and simple to make use of both as leisure studying or as a reference guide.

I might extremely advocate The Worlds Of Jaquet Droz to anybody within the early days of excessive watchmaking and/or Jaquet-Droz’s biggest reward to micro mechanics: the androids.

Fast Info The Worlds Of Jaquet Droz
Writer: Watchprint
ISBN: 978-2-940506-39-2
Pages: 248 pages
Pictures: 159
Binding: hardcover
Language: English (French model additionally accessible)
Value: CHF 85 / $95

For extra data or to order, please go to:
www.watchprint.com/en/books-on-watches/540-the-worlds-of-jaquet-droz.html

www.amazon.com/gp/product/2940506396/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0

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