Jaquet Droz unveils new hummingbird design in transparent enamel

Jaquet Droz has unveiled the new Petite Heure Minute Smalta Clara Hummingbird, crafted using the plique-à-jour enamel technique. The off-center dial features a vibrant hummingbird depicted with a translucent effect reminiscent of stained glass. This limited edition model is limited to eight pieces worldwide.

A vibrant hummingbird painted in plique-à-jour enamel

　Jaquet Droz has announced a new addition to its "Atelier of Art" collection, which is made using traditional techniques and is produced in its permanent atelier at its headquarters. This piece, titled "Petite Heure Minute Smalta Clara Hummingbird," depicts a hummingbird, a small bird native to Central and South America, taking flight.

　The hummingbird motif is expressed primarily in gradations of green, blue, and yellow, and its exquisite contrasts bring it to life. The model name, "Smalta Clara," is Latin for "plique-à-jour," a type of enamel decoration. This is a very ancient technique, and it is extremely rare for an atelier to still use it on its dials.

　Plique-à-jour enamel is completely different from the "cloisonné" technique, which uses gold wire and is used by many brands, or the "champlevé" technique, which creates a base through engraving. Because it has a transparent appearance, there is no base for the dial, and colorful enamel is poured into a honeycomb-shaped frame shaped like a motif.

　After each cavity is filled with enamel, the piece is fired multiple times, each time at a high temperature that determines the color of the enamel, but also carries the risk of cracking if the temperature exceeds the required limit.

　The dials, created through a series of processes that require skilled techniques, have a transparency similar to stained glass. The light passes through them, giving the depicted motifs a three-dimensional appearance.

　The mother-of-pearl dial with hour and minute displays and the crown are positioned at the 2 o'clock position, providing ample space for the motif to be drawn. The movement, Cal. Jaquet Droz 6150, is located on the back of the dial, so it does not interfere with the light-transmitting plique-à-jour enamel. In addition, the bezel and lugs of the 18K red gold case are set with 100 diamonds.

The Petite Heure Minute Smalta Clara Hummingbird is a rare limited edition model with only eight pieces produced, which is a reasonable number considering the process involved in creating the dial.