This is one of the most spectacular of all known oval watches by Jaquet-Droz, which are extremely rare. A similar one is in the collection of the Jaquet-Droz museum, however with not so lavishly a decorated front. Jaquet-Droz was the first to introduce oval shaped watches destined for the Chinese market, Subsequently William Anthony also made several pairs of oval watches for the same market. Jaquet-Droz was also one of the first to base the decoration of his watches on paillon design - tiny pieces of gold or silver foil cut into flowers or leaves and arranged in a number of different patterns over enamel and under the flux overglaze. The present watch is a splendid example of this art. Jaquet-Droz was also the first in Switzerland to introduce Lepine caliber in his movements, again, this watch demonstrates this clearly. Pierre Jaquet-Droz 1721-1790. Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Pierre Jaquet-Droz studied mathematics and theology, and then became interested in horology. He founded a firm for the making of fine horological, automaton and musical pieces. He sent his son, Henri-Louis 1752-1791, to ancy in France to study mathematics, physics, music and drawing. Later, Henri-Louis joined the firm, in which Jean Frédéric Leschot 1746-1824 was already actively working. Leschot became a partner in the firm, which was known as Jaquet-Droz & Lesch t. In 1784 the company moved from La Chaux-de-Fonds to Geneva. In the late 1770's, Jaquet Droz had become famous throughout Europe for their exceptional automata, the Writer, the Draughtsman, and the Lady Musician. In the 1780's, Jaquet-Droz was the first to make singing bird boxes and enjoyed an excellent reputation for complicated clocks, euchâtel clocks and automaton timepieces. They are responsible for introducing complicated timepieces in Geneva. For a time, the firm's main activities were the export of luxury and unusual complicated watches, and the manufacture of mechanical singing birds. These items were destined for the Chinese market and were sold through English merchants. In order to facilitate the sale of these items, they opened a branch in London in 1783, which was managed by Henry Maillardet. The London Branch of the Jaquet Droz firm supplied magnificent watches to Cox and Beale, the successors of J. Cox & Son in Canton, who supplied luxury watches and clocks to the Chi ese Market. Although unsigned or bearing the signature of Henry Maillardet or of other makers, manywatches destined for the Chinese Market and sold through London were in fact produced in Switzerland in the workshop of Pierre Jaquet-Droz. Pierre Jaquet-Droz died in Bienne in 1790 and Henri-Louis Jaquet-Droz in aples in 1791. They were succeeded by Jean Frédéric Leschot who took over the firm after the death of Henri-Louis Jaquet Droz.