As we all know, it’s chiefly the look of a dial that will attract someone to a certain wristwatch. Jaquet Droz’s dials are some of the most beautiful in the world of watches due to their simplicity (a simplicity that doesn’t get old, I might add), proportions, and use of materials like enamel and delicate, artistic, applied elements.
The ivory-colored rendition of Jaquet Droz’s pen
To me, it makes perfect sense to translate this beautiful, minimistically inclined design to other lifestyle objects, in this case a high-quality writing instrument and matching cufflinks – especially as the writing theme is also authentically present at Jaquet Droz thanks to two of the original androids (the Writer and the Draughtsman) begun in 1774 by Pierre Jaquet Droz.
Jaquet Droz’s Writer in operation at the Museum of Art and History in Neuchâtel
As I don’t wear French cuff shirts (though I have seen other women do that and I think it’s a very attractive option), I opted to give the pen a try for a few weeks and test out Jaquet Droz’s first foray into this area.
Jaquet Droz cufflinks in ivory enamel
First off, Jaquet Droz did a marvelous job of choosing to cooperate with one of the pen industry’s quality names in order to get the technical elements of pen-making in order: Montegrappa.
Montegrappa’s involvement makes it understandable as to how this first-time pen manufacturer was able to really get the details down just right. The twist mechanism to extend and retract the ballpoint was smooth, the entire balance of the pen was ideal, and the ink flowed effortlessly.
The Jaquet Droz pen is perfectly balanced in the hand and writes smoothly
The weight of the pen was just right, too. It was perfectly balanced for writing, making it a real joy to use in every situation.
As a journalist, I still take pen to paper probably a lot more often than most in this digital era. And I use pens in a multitude of situations: sitting at a desk, standing in a factory taking notes, and to jot down notes during interviews.
In every case, the Jaquet Droz pen was a pure joy to use. And even prettier to look at.
Jaquet Droz double star motif in 18-karat red gold applied to enamel underneath the sapphire crystal dome
The visuals
The flawless visuals of the creamy, ivory-colored resin barrel are just magnificent. The barrel tapers to a square conclusion, topped off by an enamel disk featuring two 18-karat gold stars underneath a little sapphire crystal dome.
In case you might not remember how much I love Jaquet Droz’s romantic little double star logo, please see Jaquet Droz Grande Séconde Quantième: Blending Purity And Design.
This is what I call intelligent design: the square end of the Jaquet Droz pen prevents it from rolling off inclined surfaces
The enamel, gold, and sapphire crystal combine to provide just the right amount of weight for the pen’s aforementioned perfect balance, while its square shape prevents the pen from rolling away when it is set down.
One very nice little detail I appreciate is the use of visible red gold-plated screws to attach the aforementioned square tip, an element alluding to Jaquet Droz’s dials; the subdial rings are often attached with very visible screws.
The Jaquet Droz “ateliers d’art” version of the pen featuring a hand-engraved bird over mother-of-pearl
The pen (and cufflinks) are also available in black comprising stainless steel and onyx, as well as an “ateliers d’art” version featuring a hand-engraved bird on top of a mother-of-pearl plate underneath the sapphire crystal dome instead of the two little stars. This version is limited to just 88 pieces, while the black and ivory-colored pens are unlimited.
The complete Jaquet Droz line-up of ivory-colored accessories featuring watch, cufflinks, and pen
For more information, please visit www.jaquet-droz.com.
Quick Facts Jaquet Droz ballpoint pen
Pen body: 148.5 mm, ivory-colored resin and 18-karat red gold-plated brass; individual serial number engraved under clip; enamel disk and applied double star logo in 18-karat red gold underneath sapphire crystal dome
Clip: 18-karat red gold-plated brass
Cap: none
Price: €2,800
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People tease me because I love pens; I never pass up the opportunity to view new ones. This is the most beautiful pen I have ever seen, thanks for sharing.