Jaquet Droz: Grande Seconde Paillonnée “Fleur de Lys” & Petite Heure Minute Paillonnée “Fleur de Vie”

Jaquet Droz presents Grande Seconde Paillonnée “Fleur de Lys” and Petite Heure Minute Paillonnée “Fleur de Vie”. Two new models in red gold that form the shape through the art of paillonné enameling, an ancestral technique dating back three centuries ago which is based on the same principle as the Grand Feu enamel dials.

First, guilloché work is done on a gold dial. It is then covered in translucent colored enamel that lets the guilloché patterns shine through. Next, several layers of enamel are applied, each one individually fired in the oven. Then comes the phase that demands the dexterity of Jaquet Droz artisans because every new layer of enamel and firing can introduce cracks or flaws, which would mean starting from scratch. At this stage, the piece still shows slight variations in color. It also depends on each firing process. 

It isn’t until the next phase that dainty motifs cut from a thin gold leaf, the paillons (or strips), are placed by hand one by one to create a figure. Once the design is done, the figures are also covered with another layer of enamel and fired in the same oven. This translucent coat will protect the paillonné motif for centuries to come, as if freezing it in place for all eternity. 

Each of these new pieces is extremely limited to series of eight pieces, Jaquet Droz opted for two distinctive ornamental designs: Fleur de Lys, the former symbolizes kings and emperors for the Grande Seconde Paillonnée “Fleur de Lys” with 43mm red gold case and Fleur de Vie, a geometric design, for the Petite Heure Minute Paillonnée “Fleur de Vie” with 35mm red gold case set with 232 diamonds.

Both watches are equipped with the Jaquet Droz selw-winding caliber with silicon balance spring and pallet horns, double barel for 68 hours of power reserve and 18 karat red gold oscillating weight.