In a rare fusion of high art and haute horlogerie, Jaquet Droz unveils the Tourbillon Dragon John Howe — a singular timepiece that blurs the boundary between fantasy illustration and Swiss craftsmanship. This one-of-a-kind creation is the result of a bespoke collaboration uniting a collector, legendary fantasy artist John Howe, and the artisans of Jaquet Droz, marking a new pinnacle in artistic watchmaking.
The collector-driven triptych began with a request to bring a beloved painting by Howe — best known as the artistic director of The Lord of the Rings trilogy — to life on a mechanical canvas. The result? A 43mm white gold Grande Seconde Tourbillon with a dial that features a miniature hand-painted replica of the original artwork. Crafted with exquisite precision, the dragon curls around the timekeeping elements in a dramatic yet harmonious display.
A long-time resident of Neuchâtel, Howe shares both geography and a love for the fantastical with Jaquet Droz. Their five-year friendship paved the way for this immersive partnership, one that allows collectors to wear an extension of their art collections on the wrist — a novel form of private expression that transforms timekeeping into storytelling.
The dial is made of white gold and coated in a uniform layer of Grand Feu enamel in midnight blue. Over this deep canvas, Jaquet Droz artists meticulously rendered Howe’s dragon in varying shades of grey, achieving a stunning illusion of depth and movement. The pearl in the dragon’s claw appears to glow, while the beast itself seems to emerge from the dial, wrapping around the Roman numerals and minute tracks with breathtaking precision.
Technically, the timepiece remains uncompromising. Its blued bridge hand traces the seconds above a silicon escapement, ensuring high precision across an 8-day power reserve. The hours and minutes occupy the lower half of the dial at 6 o’clock, while the tourbillon spins elegantly at 12 o’clock — a poetic positioning that balances energy and stillness.
One of the greatest challenges in the project lay in integrating the artwork with the watch’s indexes without disrupting legibility or technical integrity. Every detail, from the glimmer of the pearl to the dragon’s three-dimensional form, was achieved with micro-strokes applied via a single-bristle brush. This is craftsmanship at its most exacting — and artistic.
This piece does more than tell time; it tells a story — one that lives both on canvas and within the contours of a mechanical heart. The original painting, now in the possession of the collector, serves as a parallel to the watch, completing the creative circle. Together, they offer a poetic duality: one to be displayed, the other to be worn close.
