Clock And Automaton Restoration
Clocks and automata are rarities within the world of watchmaking and fine mechanics. The ancestors of today’s wristwatches, some are as complicated as the most special examples on the wrist today. The science of timekeeping can be viewed as a daughter of micro mechanics. And this craftsmanship was used also to build highly complicated mechanical items such as automata. Among the most famous of these are the androids created by Pierre Jaquet-Droz between 1768 and 1774. Thierry Amstutz and his son Gregory are watchmakers specialized in refurbishing clocks. They had the immense privilege to also restore the Draughtsman, the Musician, and the Writer, the three remaining creations by Jaquet-Droz. These masterpieces deserve the spotlight as they embody a unique facet in the art of watchmaking. So we visited the Amstutzes’ workshop called the Carillon d’Or, which is located in the charming little village of Auvernier on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel. And just for good measure: they invented an erotic clock.
