Jaquet Droz Add Charlie to Automaton Family

Jaquet Droz Add Charlie to Automaton Family

Adrienne Faurote
By Adrienne Faurote June 7, 2013

Today we’re taking a close up look at the Charlie, a new automaton unveiled by Jaquet Droz in honor of BaselWorld 2013.

Jaquet Droz has been creating automata for nearly two centuries, ever since Pierre Jaquet-Droz began the tradition at Versailles in 1775. Jaquet-Droz presented the royal court with three humanoid creations; an organ player, a draftsman and a writer. The automata were driven by mechanisms which allowed them to move, wowing the court to such a degree that the La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture received a spectacular boost.

In 2012 Jaquet Droz revisited the tradition with The Magician, an automaton which played with birds, unveiled at the exhibition “Automates & Merveilles” dedicated to Jaquet-Droz and Leschot. Now, to mark its 275th anniversary, the watchmaker is has unveiled Charlie, a 1.65 meter tall sculptural work who will serve as a brand ambassador. According to the manufacture, Charlie can make a four-minute performance presenting the brand’s new watches.

Photos courtesy Jaquet Droz.