Jaquet Droz, one of the very few watch Maisons to make automata, unveils a new version of its Loving Butterfly Automaton, following the success of its onyx and meteorite models. Continuing in the naturalistic exploration that has characterised its history for almost three centuries, the Manufacture encapsulates all its watchmaking savoir-faire and creativity in a timepiece available in a limited edition of just 28 pieces. The result is an animated objet d'art inspired by the drawing "Le papillon conduit par l'amour" - which could already be admired in 1774 in the automaton The Draughtsman created by Henri-Louis Jaquet-Droz - reinterpreted today through the three-dimensional journey of a timeless mineral. Framed by a gold forest, the watch sports a dial made of wood that was petrified between 140 and 180 million years ago: the Chinchilla Red, named after a locality in eastern Australia. The history of this mineral is unique. 150 million years ago, the first flower bloomed on Earth, dinosaurs reigned supreme and the first birds were born. It was then that Chinchilla Red appeared, the result of volcanic ash being deposited on conifers that were later buried by lava. Thus was born a mineral of extreme rarity and density. It takes several hours of manual labour even just to smooth its surface. This new version sublimates the cherub and the butterfly, classic metaphors for love impulses. The chariot symbolises victory, while the butterfly is an allegorical representation of Cupid and, like the chariot, is composed of dozens of fixed and movable sconces chiselled by hand by Jaquet Droz's jewellery craftsmen. The scene takes place in an authentic natural gold landscape that literally emerges on both sides of the dial. The multiple layers give the timepiece an unprecedented depth of field in which the gaze can explore, lose itself and wander. The scene is characterised by a surprising realism, rich in details that animate the glittering background. Thus, a sophisticated horological complication is born on which an animated naturalistic design comes to life. With a regular rhythm, the butterfly flaps its wings. The chariot wheels are also animated, but only some of the spokes are movable, others are fixed: this creates an optical illusion whose secrets Pierre Jaquet Droz already knew almost three centuries ago. The gold setting that forms the backdrop to the scene is entirely handmade. On each tree, only 0.2 mm thick, fine veins are engraved one by one with the help of tools specially designed for this function. The trees are also worked one by one within the painting they will help to form. This limited edition in 'Chinchilla Red' petrified wood plays with colour harmony by combining the autumnal tones of the stone with the warmth of 18-carat red gold. Each timepiece, made unique by the design of its mineral dial, embodies the savoir-faire of the Ateliers d'Art of Jaquet Droz, a Maison that has perpetuated "the Art of Wonder" since 1738. In addition, part of the sales of the Loving Butterfly Automaton will be donated to reforestation. In fact, Jaquet Droz has long been very sensitive to the problem of deforestation around the world, and in particular the fires that have affected Australia in recent months. For this reason, it has announced that part of the sales of the Loving Butterfly Chinchilla Red automaton will be donated directly to charities working to reforest and protect endemic species, such as "Plant a Tree for Me" or "One Tree Planted". The creation of this exceptional timepiece was made possible thanks to wood that was petrified in Australia some 150 million years ago: Jaquet Droz thus affirms its desire to give back to the Earth what it gives us, in a responsible, ethical and sharing dynamic, perfectly represented by Loving Butterfly Automaton "Chinchilla Red", a true hymn to love.
