Pierre Jaquet-Droz was a clockmaker who travelled far and wide to showcase his sophisticated clocks and automata. He had a life-long fascination with nature and animals, and he took every opportunity to incorporate them into the design of his clocks, pocket watches and automata.

The year 2000 marked a revival for Jaquet Droz when it was acquired by the Swatch Group to preserve the exceptional heritage of its founder. The Grande Seconde was launched in 2002. 2013 marked its 275th anniversary, an occasion for Jaquet Droz to release its first singing bird automaton on a wristwatch: the Charming Bird. The masterpiece won the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in the “Mechanical Exception” category two years later.