We discuss the very cool (let’s call them amazing) 18th century Watches Like Jaquet Droz Replica android automatons and the art of miniaturization and technology after a hands-on look.
We discuss what a driver’s style watch is, and a limited edition Vacheron Constantin model for the American market, the Historiques American 1921 Boutique New York Watch.
We then turn our noses up a bit to talk about the new “insanely thin” men’s watch from Van Cleef & Arpels.
We proceed to remark on a hands-on review of the HD3 Slyde digital touchscreen… luxury watch and John wants to take – the Slyde Challenge.
Listen to the HourTime Show watch podcast episode 111 here.
Download the MP3 here.
The animations may exceed 12 minutes and play out four different scenarios, which is a serious level of automation to pack into a 47mm-wide by 18.95mm-thick wristwatch case. Every element on this dial is adorned by hand, with an off-centre subdial in onyx near 12 o’clock to indicate hours and minutes.The case of this Jaquet Droz Tropical Bird Repeater is made of 18 karat red gold and contains more hand-applied engraving along the sides and lugs. It comes supplied with a rolled-edge dark green alligator strap that well matches the flora from the depicted scene. The watch is not water-resistant, though I don’t envision many owners will attempt to swim or shower with them on anyway.Visible through the sapphire exhibition caseback is the Jaquet Droz RMA89 hand-wound second repeater movement with one barrel which offers a 60-hour power book. That power reserve is upward from the RMA88’s 48 hours utilised in previous Bird Repeater watches, and we’ll assume that maximum energy reserve refers to use of this watch with no conducting its massively complex and definitely power-consuming chiming and automata mechanics – the hummingbird’s wings beating 40 times per second is quicker than some larger species of actual hummingbirds. Excellent to respect in and of itself, a few past Bird Repeater watches went much more next-level by engraving the motion with, as an example, foliage motifs (see the above linked-to Bird Repeater article) that sense even more congruous with the total watch than this conventional finishing. The movement features 86 stones plus a balance spring which oscillates at 21,600 vph, or 3Hz. A clef symbol etched to a spur of red gold only underneath the striking hammers refers to the musical nature of this motion.