As we've reported, an upcoming auction of fine watches and timepieces in Geneva will number a Breguet carriage clock amongst its highlights.
Breguet is a legend of horology, and everything associated with him demands close attention for aesthetic as well as technical reasons. But the carriage clock is probably most impressive for its functional capacities being grande and petitite sonnerie striking, quarter-repeating, pull-wind alarm timepiece with calendar - rare in a watch and rarer still in a clock.
However there are several pieces in the auction for which timekeeping is at most a secondary concern.
 Frere Rochat musical singing bird box number 1 |
There are two musical bird boxes available in the auction for the singing bird snuff box collector - and if you weren't aware that such as specialism existed, you do now.
Firstly, there is an example credited to Freres Rochat. Made in Geneva, this gold and enamel Singing Bird Snuff Box features a concealed watch, and was made for the Chinese market in the early 19th century.
Made with 18 karat gold and painted on enamel scenes, it is expected to achieve CHF100,000-150,000.
There is another Singing Bird Box (Geneva, No. 61) for which the box itself is credited to Georges Rémond et Compagnie but with the watch (with a repeating function) and musical actions attributed to Frères Rochat.
 Frere Rochat musical singing bird box number 2 |
This too was created for the Chinese market in the early 18th century (many of them were) and crafted in 18 karat gold with enamel, pearl and turquoise embellishing it. The musical movement is independent, and the further complications are: center-seconds and a quarter-repeating function.
This is likely to achieve a little more: CHF120,000-180,000, in the March 11 sale.
