GEM-SETTING
Case and inner rings: Invisibly-set with 134 Baguette-cut Icy Blue Sapphires (≈6.1 ct.)
Clasp: Invisibly-set with 44 Icy Blue Sapphires (≈0.76 ct.)
Central Flower: 1 Jacob-cut, 288-facet Tsavorite (≈0.8 ct.) and 12 Kite-cut Rubies
Satellite Flowers: 8 Flowers made of Kite-cut Multi-colored Sapphires
DESIGN INSPIRATION
Flowers are an essential part of the high jewelry repertoire. Jacob & Co. decided to add horological roots to this classic and created Fleurs de Jardin (French for Garden Flowers). Over 30 years of experience in the highest spheres of gemology allowed the crafting of petals out of gems using the signature kite-cut.
This wrist-sized garden is a colorful enchantment for the senses. The tourbillon carriage is shaped like a butterfly, pollinating the surrounding flowers. Making fruitful use of the vast color range of sapphires, Jacob & Co. crafted 9 of them. The central one is the queen of this garden, a large Jacob-cut gem surrounded by more gem petals.
The Fleurs de Jardin case is designed like a greenhouse. Made of transparent sapphire, it offers a unique view on an ever-changing landscape. A gold and baguette-cut-gems frame underlines this botanical timepiece.
THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Creating a miniature, mechanical, rotating garden required going beyond all preconceptions, innovating and breaking barriers. Caliber JCAM31 is one of the most advanced and complex movements in the Jacob & Co. catalog. Its role is to provide life and energy to all flowers, while making one full rotation every 10 minutes.
Caliber JCAM31 is a three-dimensional movement with a central, vertical axis. It carries spinning gem-made flowers. Its platform base, made of mother-of-pearl, bears more flowers rotating in the opposite direction of the rest of the movement.
This perpetual motion imitates the cycle of life. The precious stones selection and setting process devised by Jacob & Co. is extremely demanding. Drawing from over 30 years of experience in high jewelry, it results in perfectly smooth, seamless surfaces of gleaming gems. The rare and demanding kite-cut is the root of all flowers in Fleurs de Jardin. The highest, largest one uses the patented, signature Jacob Cut. Carved from a large rough of extremely high quality, it receives the exclusive, spherical, 288-facet cut.
THE COMPLICATIONS AND FEATURES
Fleurs de Jardin fertilizes constant motion with poetry. It is a composition of spinning plants that are actually complications, achieved by exclusive, hand-wound Caliber JCAM31.
THE ROTATING PLATFORM
The most visually striking feature of Fleurs de Jardin is its structure. From the mother-of-pearl back-dial emerges a vertical platform. It revolves on its own axis in 10 minutes. Its constant motion powers all the movement's flowers and indications.
THE DOUBLE-AXIS FLYING TOURBILLION
At the end of one satellite arm hangs a flying tourbillon. It's held inside an butterfly-shaped, openworked carriage. It revolves on its axis in 60 seconds. Since it travels along with the central platform, this adds a second axis, with a 10-minute rotation period.
THE ORBITAL DIAL
At the end of another satellite arm lies the hour and minute dial. The platform rotation would normally shift the numbers and make their reading impossible. Jacob & Co. has fitted the dial with a patented differential system. It spins in the opposite direction of the platform, at the same speed. As a result, it remains constantly upright and readable.
THE FLOWERS
The satellites of Fleurs de Jardin's rotating structure are individual flowers. One flowerbed is located on the movement's base dial, rotating counterclockwise every 10 minutes. The frame above it hosts three more static flowers, rotating at the same speed as the platform. On the same level as the dial and flying tourbillon, a double flower spins in 60 seconds.
THE BUTTERFLY BUCKLE
All gardens have hidden parts. For Fleurs de Jardin, a surprise awaits every time the wearer takes their timepiece on or off. The delicate strap is held shut by a gold, openworked butterfly-shaped buckle.
THE LIFESTYLE
Blending poetry with high watchmaking and high jewelry, Fleurs de Jardin is a delicate blossom of light and colors. Don't be surprised if you lose yourself in this dreamlike garden. Fleurs de Jardin is meant to be a distraction from the world.
