Pierre Jaquet-Droz could very well be the greatest innovator horology has ever seen. His revolutionary automata are living ? yet not breathing ? proof of his technical genius. Lesser known is how he embraced the business side of clockmaking in a thoroughly modern way by becoming one of the first horologists to have an influence that spread from Great Britain all the way to the Far East. On top of all that, he found a way to not only elevate and educate his son, Henri-Louis, but also to adopt a local orphan and bring him along the path to success. Here?s the story of Pierre Jaquet-Droz, split into three parts that analyze his past; the life of his three mechanical children (the famous automata trio); and how Jaquet Droz, the modern brand, embraces the past with new initiatives. From Beginning to End
At the age of 17, Pierre Jaquet-Droz was set on joining the church and started attending theological school in Neuchâtel. He had grown up as the son of a farmer in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and while he would watch his father tinker and repair watches during the winter months, Pierre was expected to lead a more virtuous lifestyle.
Were it not for the encouragement of his older relatives, the Jaquet-Droz name might be lost to the annals of the Good Book. That, and a chance meeting with expert horologist Josué Robert and his two sons David and Louis-Benjamin led to his leaving the church to focus on a potential career in clockmaking. From there, Pierre?s path to success moved rapidly. A...