Jaquet Droz Dedicates Three New Models to the Year of the Horse

The year 2014 is the year of the horse according to the Chinese zodiac, and Jaquet Droz is celebrating in style. The luxury watchmaker has unveiled three new timepieces dedicated to the sign.

According to the manufacture, the company’s founder Pierre Jaquet-Droz was the first watchmaker to walk through the gates of Beijing’s Forbidden City. As such, the brand makes its a point to honor China each year with its Ateliers d’Art series. The series’ three new models showcase the know-how of Jaquet Droz’s master craftsmen with engraving, painting and Grand Feu enamel. Here is your look at the three pieces:

Petite Heure Minute 39mm

Housed in a red gold case (as are all three models), the Petite Heure Minute 39mm features two Arab thoroughbreds, which are considered to be the most beautiful horses in the world.

The galloping horses are painted directly on the ivory enamel dial. The caseback features a horse’s head on the white gold oscillating weight.

Petite Heure Minute 43mm

This timepiece features a wild mustang depicted in red gold and engraved in bas-relief on the black enamel dial. The champlevé technique, used here for the first time by Jaquet Droz, highlights the movement of the mane and the tail, both filled in with black Grand Feu enamel. Again, the caseback features a horse’s head on the white gold oscillating weight.

Petite Heure Minute 41mm

Finally, the mother-of-pearl dial of the 41mm model features a horse rearing up on its hind legs against the backdrop of the Great Wall of China, which is engraved and patinated by hand. The elegant horse is rendered in 18K red gold.

The caseback features a hand-engraving of the Great Wall on the 22K red gold oscillating weight, next to the Jaquet Droz signature of two stars.

Each of the three models is completed by either a brown or black alligator leather strap. The models are each limited to 88-piece editions.

Photos courtesy Jaquet Droz.