Swiss watch brand
Jaquet Droz: history, models and value
Jaquet Droz takes its name from Pierre Jaquet-Droz, an 18th-century watchmaker famous for his writing and drawing automata. Today it is a small luxury brand of the Swatch Group, known for enamel dials and mechanical birds.
- Founded
- 1738
- Founder(s)
- Pierre Jaquet-Droz
- Headquarters
- La Chaux-de-Fonds
- Owner / group
- Swatch Group
Jaquet Droz: origins and founding
The brand traces its roots to 1738, when Pierre Jaquet-Droz opened a workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds, in the Swiss Jura. He made watches and clocks, but he became famous across Europe for something else: mechanical figures, or automata, that could write, draw and play music.
Founders and family
Pierre Jaquet-Droz died in 1790. His son Henri-Louis Jaquet-Droz worked with him and died a year later, in 1791, aged 39. Jean-Frédéric Leschot, who was not a relative, was a close collaborator of the family. Together they built the three automata that made the name famous.
Jaquet Droz history and milestones
- 1768–1774: the Writer, the Draughtsman and the Musician are built. The Writer alone has about 6,000 parts. All three still work and can be seen at the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire in Neuchâtel.
- 20th century: the name passed through several unrelated companies. A firm called Jaquet Droz SA was dissolved in 1963, and the name was later used as a shared label by a group of Swiss manufacturers. That venture failed in the early 1980s.
- Late 20th century: the investment firm Investcorp acquired the name and relaunched it as a luxury watch brand.
- 2000: the Swatch Group bought Montres Jaquet Droz SA and based it in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
- 2002: launch of the Grande Seconde, now the brand's best-known line.
- 2012: the brand returned to automata in wristwatch form with the Bird Repeater.
So if you own a Jaquet Droz, the date matters. A watch from the 1960s to 1980s comes from a different business than today's Swatch Group brand.
Famous Jaquet Droz models
- Grande Seconde: an off-centre hours and minutes dial above a large seconds sub-dial, shaped like a figure eight. Made in many versions, often with enamel dials.
- Bird Repeater and Charming Bird: automaton watches with moving birds, inspired by the 18th-century singing-bird pieces.
- Loving Butterfly and Magic Lotus: other automaton pieces. The Magic Lotus movement has more than 500 parts.
- Ateliers d'Art pieces: watches with hand-painted enamel, engraving and stone dials, often in limited editions of 8, 28 or 88 pieces.
Movements and technique
Jaquet Droz uses mechanical movements made within the Swatch Group, largely supplied by the Blancpain manufacture. Many dials use Grand Feu enamel, which is fired at high temperature and is hard to make without flaws. The founder's cloverleaf signature appears on current movements or dials.
Jaquet Droz today
The brand is part of the Swatch Group and is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It sits in the luxury and high-complication segment, with a strong focus on artistic crafts. Production is small: in 2013 the company said it made between 4,000 and 5,000 watches a year.
Jaquet Droz prices on the pre-owned market
Simple Grande Seconde models in steel or gold are the pieces you see most often on the pre-owned market. Like many luxury brands with a small following, they usually resell well below their original retail price. Automaton watches, minute repeaters and rare art pieces with hand-painted enamel are a different story: they are made in small numbers and attract collectors. Condition of the enamel dial is critical, because chips or hairline cracks cannot be invisibly repaired. Original box, papers and a service history help.
How to recognise a genuine Jaquet Droz
A modern Jaquet Droz should have a clean, well-finished movement visible through a sapphire caseback on most models, with the brand name and the cloverleaf signature. Enamel dials should be smooth and glassy, with sharp printing. Check that the reference and serial number on the case match the papers. Be careful with watches from before 2000: these are often simple watches from the older, unrelated companies and should not be valued like modern pieces. Read our guide on how to spot a fake watch for general checks.
What is your Jaquet Droz worth?
Send a few clear photos of the dial, case and caseback and get a free watch value estimate within minutes. If you need a documented value for an estate, a divorce or insurance, you can order a written watch appraisal.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Jaquet Droz?
Jaquet Droz has belonged to the Swatch Group since 2000. The brand is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
Is an old Jaquet Droz watch from the 1970s valuable?
Watches sold under the Jaquet Droz name between the 1960s and 1980s came from earlier companies unrelated to today's brand. They are usually simple watches and are valued much lower than modern Swatch Group pieces.
What is the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde?
The Grande Seconde, launched in 2002, is the brand's signature model. It has a small hours and minutes dial above a large seconds sub-dial, forming a figure eight.
Find out what your watch is worth
Upload a photo and get a free estimate in about a minute. No sign-up needed.