Watch Historian
Watches & Watch Brands
Jaquet Droz Watches
Jaquet Droz was founded by Pierre Jaquet Droz, a watchmaker highly esteemed for his amazing inventions, from clocks to watches, to automatons. He created animated timekeepers, such as music watches and songbirds. Jaquet was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds on July 28, 1721, in the same location which he would later establish a successful watchmaking Manufacture. He began making clocks in the 1740’s, constructing long case clocks. His immense efforts led him to successfully open three Manufactures, one in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1738, the other in London in 1774, and the last, in Geneva in 1784. In 1756, Jean-Frédéric Leschot began working with the famous Pierre Jaquet Droz, and in 1769, he became an official business partner with him. After Jaquet’s successful voyage to Spain in 1758, in which the King bought and admired 6 musical and automaton clocks, Pierre Jaquet Droz returned and set up another Manufacture in London. This same London Manufacture would allow him to find success in the Oriental market. The watch Manufacture that he set up in Geneva was the first to ever be set up in this town, and was a very high achievement. His automatons received much admiration from many individuals, including royalty, and are now displayed at the Art and History Museum in Neuchatel, Switzerland. Three in particular are The Lady Musician, the Draughtsman and the Writer, three beautiful masterpieces, which were all finished by 1773. He was not only known for his incredible timepieces and watchmaking, but also for his craftsmanship, for he could craft beautifully intricate works of art.