Explore 400 Years of Horological History in the Masterworks of Time Collection

Explore 400 Years of Horological History in the Masterworks of Time Collection

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  Lange & Söhne, Glashütte
  A gold hunting cased keyless lever perpetual calendar minute repeating split seconds chronograph watch with register, moon phases and original certificate, spare glasses, springs and presentation box, 1924, No. 82003
  Estimate CHF 150,000–250,000
  
  This extraordinary piece is one of an approximately 14 Perpetual Calendar Minute Repeating Split Seconds chronograph watches produced by A. Lange & Söhne from 1888 until 1924. This piece, No. 82003, is the last of the series produced in 1924.

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  E. Buffat
  An exceptional gold two minute tourbillon watch with duplex escapement made for Napoleon III, the wheel bridges in the form of an 'N', circa 1867
  Estimate CHF 50,000–80,000
  
  The movement of the present piece is remarkable, as the three bridges of the tourbillon form the letter ‘N’ inscribed with military honours, and the words “exposition universelle”. Further to this, the hour markers on the dial spell out Napoleon III. This design, along with the inclusion of the Imperial crown and scepter and Napoleon III’s crest of the Imperial Eagle has led many scholars to believe that this piece was presented to Napoleon III at the 1867 Paris Universal Exhibition.

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  Frères Rochat
  A magnificent and exceptionally rare gold, enamel and diamond-set hour striking musical double singing bird cage with timepiece, circa 1815
  Estimate CHF 800,000–1,200,000
  
  Miniature gold and enamel Rochat cages are among the most spectacular of all singing bird pieces. While one-bird cages are extremely rare, those with two birds are even scarcer. This Rochat singing bird cage displays the superb attention to detail and fine individual handcrafting that characterized the pieces made by Jaquet Droz and Leschot in the late 18th century.

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  A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte
  A Very Rare Self-Winding Pink Gold Hunting Cased Lever Watch with Up-And-Down Indication, circa 1895, No. 31505
  Estimate CHF 25,000–45,000
  
  The present lot is one of an approximate 38 pieces made by the firm with a self-winding mechanism. While “self-winding” watches had been around since before 1800, most notably by Breguet, the firm decided to base their design of the movement patented by the more local Dresden company, Dürrstein & Co.

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  A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte/Dresden
  A Pink Gold Hunting Cased Perpetual Calendar Minute Repeating Grande and Petite Sonnerie Keyless Lever Clock Watch with Moon Phases, Split Seconds Chronograph and Register, 1901, No. 41277
  Estimate CHF 400,000–600,000
  
  Grand Complications are the pinnacle of haute horology, so it is no surprise that A. Lange & Söhne mastered the production of such pieces. The term generally encompasses pieces with four or more complications, leading to some creativity in the types of watches that fit this title. The firm created nine minute repeating, split second chronograph, perpetual calendar grand complications between 1901 and 1928. No. 41277 is the earliest known piece in this group, produced in 1901.

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  Swiss
  A Large Gold and Enamel Two-Train Double Dialled Quarter Repeating Automaton Clock Watch with Jacquemarts, Visible Balance and Automata Scene, circa 1790
  Estimate CHF 60,000–80,000
  
  During the 18th century, the luxury automaton pieces gained popularity in Royal courts across Europe and Asia. It was only natural that Swiss watchmakers picked up on the trend and dominated the field of automaton watches throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The present lot depicts a pastural scene commonly seen in luxury timepieces from the time.

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  Henri Mathey-Peytieu
  A Heavy Gold Open-Faced One Minute Touribllon Watch with Pivoted Detent Chronometer Escapement, Perpetual Calendar, Retrograde Date, Leap Year Indication, Moon Phases, Up-and-Down, and Dual Time Zone, circa 1871, 1re Classe, No. 20462.
  Estimate CHF 45,000–50,000
  
  The rise of maritime travel in the 18th century spurred watchmakers to create more and more accurate timepieces. Once produced, these ‘chronometers’ were rigorously tested by prominent astronomical observatories for a period of 30 to 50 days. Only pieces like the present example, which passed satisfied the exceedingly stringent rules set forth by the Neuchatel Observatory, earned the distinction of being a 1re class chronometer.

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  François-Louis Godon, Paris
  A Highly Unusual Pink Gold Coach Watch with Full Calendar, Age and Phase of the Moon, circa 1790
  Estimate CHF 25,000–45,000
  
  Only aristocratic and other extravagantly wealthy members of society could own complicated luxuries such as the present piece. The pink gold metal would have further added to its rarity, making it more attractive to a member in the upper echelons of society. Thus, it is no surprise that the maker, François-Louis Godon, was the clockmaker for the Royal Court in Spain, with a close relationship to both King Charles III and IV of Spain.

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  Swiss
  A Gold and Enamel Quarter Repeating Musical Automata Watch with Additional Concealed Erotic Automata, circa 1820
  Estimate CHF 60,000–80,000
  
  This exquisite watch with concealed erotic automaton scene is a rare example displaying three animation to the dial. Not only do the two musicians arms moves but there is also a pair of billing doves, the one appearing to touch the others beak. The interior erotic scene within a monastic setting is of very high quality. Within the background the young female figure looking upon a skull behind the amorous couple alludes to the brevity of youth. Erotic scenes featuring members of a religious order were common tropes at the time.

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  A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte
  An Exceptional and Very Rare Silver Open-Faced Keyless 1a Quality One Minute Tourbillon Watch with Spring Detent Chronometer Escapement, Up-and-Down Indication and Accompanied by a Blank Certificate and Box, circa 1924, No. 82013
  Estimate CHF 80,000–120,000
  
  A. Lange & Söhne joined the trend of building tourbillon movements relatively late compared to other makers. The present watch no. 82013 is one of 14 tourbillons produced by the firm in 1924. Production of these tourbillons started in 1892 and finished around 1939. As tourbillon watches were notoriously complicated, they were considered prestige pieces, and a sign of high craftsmanship if a firm could successfully create them.

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