First bloom of the season

When it comes to automaton timepieces, the men had always had it better at Jaquet Droz – until now. In one of its biggest releases for women, the brand has refreshed its Lady 8 collection with its first feminine automaton timepiece, Lady 8 Flower. The piece de resistance is in the small dial (or the top circle of the eight). Replacing the pearl that usually sits here is a sapphire crystal dome housing a lotus flower bud. With the push of a button, it unfurls to reveal six delicately hand-engraved and enamelled red gold petals. In the centre is a briolette-cut diamond that glitters as it swivels both ways.

In the 35mm main dial below is a red gold butterfly, which rests on a guilloche background and is engraved and painted in translucent red enamel to match the lotus flower. Framing this masterpiece are 114 diamonds around the bezel.

The timepiece also comes in a second version with a blue sapphire butterfly. Only eight pieces of each version are available worldwide.

Jaquet Droz