Back in 2019, Jacob & Co. and Bugatti Automobiles set out to disrupt the world of watchmaking by bridging the grandeur of haute horlogerie with adrenaline-fuelled engineering. Their shared vision gave rise to complex mechanisms such as the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon in 2020 and the Bugatti Tourbillon in 2024. This year, the partnership takes on a new expression with the Bugatti Calandre—a piece that references the signature horseshoe grille Bugatti vehicles are known for. Limited to just 99 pieces, this $240,000 collector’s table clock is hand-finished in collaboration with French glassmaker Lalique.
A visual and mechanical homage to Bugatti’s storied design archive, the piece recalls the historic Type 41 Royale, most notably the pair of Dancing Elephants originally sculpted by Rembrandt Bugatti. These figures now appear leaning symmetrically toward one another, a hallmark composition seen in many Lalique clock designs. Each crystal case, moulded in Lalique’s workshop in Wingen-sur-Moder, France, undergoes months of artisanal finishing—sharpening contours, polishing surfaces, and frosting textures to stringent standards. This elaborate process heightens visual depth, animating the sculpted elephants through light and shadow.
Crowning the grille sits the unmistakable red Bugatti Macaron, while behind it lies a Jacob & Co. vertical flying tourbillon. Glinting atop is a 30mm red gemstone, chosen to mirror the Macaron’s emblematic hue. It features the patented Jacob Cut, carved with 288 facets in a near-round silhouette. The 189-part Calibre JCAM58 is manually wound with an eight-day power reserve, with time-setting and winding adjustments made using a dedicated caseback key. Much like the cockpit of a Bugatti, the Calandre is housed in a custom-made tan leather trunk.
