Jaquet Droz's Charming Bird Watch

Jaquet Droz's Charming Bird watch could be too cute. It could be too complicated. It could be too energetic.

Instead, it is too beautiful.

This 29-jewel automatic operates at a frequency of 21,600 vph. It has an 18K gold case with a sapphire crystal and platinum numbers. Virtually the entire watch is visible through the crystal. But it’s what the watch does that’s pick-me-up-off-the-floor amazing. To witness the full amazingness of this watch, you need to watch a video of it:

The bird sings! There's a small piston tube inside the watch that moves in and out of a shaft to make the birdsong.

The Charming Bird is the nexus of art and automation, of design and engineering, of beauty and fun.

Aren’t watchmakers brilliant?

The Charming Bird costs $500,000 dollars.

The Charming Bird. If you haven't seen the video, be sure
to take a look. Photo from Jaquet Droz.