Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Dragon comes to life

Jaquet Droz's "Atelier of Art" collection has announced the new "Petite Heure Minute Relief Dragon," a watch themed around the year of the Dog and Dragon, one of the 8 Chinese zodiac signs. This model, decorated with a dynamic dragon, will be sold in a limited edition of eight pieces worldwide.

Dragons are invincible in the East

　The Western and Eastern worlds have very different perceptions of dragons. In the West, dragons are often depicted with devilish wings, and are seen as "terrifying creatures" and "beings to be defeated," but in the East, they are regarded as water gods or sacred beasts, and are positioned as sacred beings. The shapes they are depicted in are also very different, with Eastern dragons looking more like snakes.

　The motif of this new work is the oriental dragon. The "nine similarities" theory on the King's Seal of the Later Han Dynasty specifically describes the appearance of this oriental dragon. "Nine similarities" means that each of the nine parts of the dragon resembles a different animal. It is said that the horns resemble a deer, the ears a cow, the head a camel, the eyes a rabbit (some say they are demons), the scales a carp, the claws a hawk, the hands a tiger, the belly a water snake, and the neck a snake. Historically in China, the dragon has also been a symbol of the emperor, an invincible being who rules over the world.

A delicate piece of art that conveys respect for the Orient

　The 18K yellow gold dragon that pierces the dial is hand-carved, down to its scales, claws, and fangs. The orb the dragon is holding is made of lustrous onyx. The dial is made of Spider-Man jasper with a spider web-like pattern. Each piece is individually cut, beveled, and polished by hand, giving it a unique look.

　The movement is the Jaquet Droz 2653.Si caliber, with a silicon balance spring and pallet tip that are insensitive to temperature changes and magnetic fields. Visible through the rotor, the movement is adorned with Côtes de Genève. This model, embodying Jaquet Droz's "Philosophy of the Unique," comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by the craftsman.