Jaquet Droz Rolling Stones Automaton Only Watch 2023

For the Only Watch 2023 charity auction, Jaquet Droz has created a unique piece from the Rolling Stones Automaton series.

Jaquet Droz has supported Only Watch right from the start. In 2022, to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the Rolling Stones, it has teamed up with the iconic music band to create a collection of unique pieces. Now, the brand presents a one-of-a-kind Rolling Stones Automaton model specially crafted for Only Watch 2023.

With this unique piece, Jaquet Droz gives the Rolling Stones Automaton a new face. The brief was to create a fun timepiece bringing to mind children at play with the kind of colours and movements that fascinate kids.

Beneath the offset hours and minutes display at twelve o’clock, a first disc showcases the Stones’ instruments, recalling their first records, their early concerts, and the first broken taboos.

Ron Wood’s guitar and Charlie Watts’ drum kit are instantly recognisable, and accompanied by Ron Wood’s and Keith Richards’ other guitars. All the instruments have been crafted from gold blocks and painted, including Mick Jagger’s harmonica. The gear is arrayed on a satin black vinyl-coloured disc replicating the LPs of the day.

The scene is surrounded by a second disc that comes to life when the pusher is activated, completing 8 rotations lasting 30 seconds each.

The Stones’ iconic tongue rises and falls, moving from left to right as it does so. The power reserve is shown at nine o’clock by a cam replicating the tone-arm and stylus of a traditional record turntable. As it rotates, the brightly-coloured spiral creates an optical illusion just like a child’s spinning top.

Each colour has been hand-painted to match the Only Watch 2023 palette with artisanal skill, using only natural pigments; each sits impeccably next to the next, without any physical separation.

In the centre of the piece, another Rolling Stones tongue glows in the dark, calling to mind the nightlight in a child’s bedroom.

Technical details

Model: Jaquet Droz Rolling Stones Automaton Only Watch 2023

Case
18K white gold case
Diameter: 43mm
Thickness: 16.96mm
Hand engraved case back

Dial
Hand painted black Onyx subdial with hand painted fluorescent mouth and fluorescent logo, Hand-painted brass rotating disc, Hand-painted golden static disc with hand engraved and hand painted instruments

Movement
Calibre Jaquet Droz 2653AT2
Silicon balance spring and pallet horns, double barrel, flat bridges
White gold oscillating weight
Automaton: rotating disc and mouth
Power reserve: 68 hours, animation: 4 minutes

Bracelet
Fabric strap, rubber printed pattern
White gold folding clasp

Estimate
CHF 250,000 – 300,000
USD 275,000 – 330,000
EUR 257,500 – 309,000