GENEVA.- Sotheby’s Spring sale of Important Watches on Saturday 14 May will feature at its heart an exceptional and rare musical automaton clock, shaped as a bird cage, with double singing birds and a butterfly. This masterwork of horology will lead a rich and varied selection, including timepieces showcasing the history of watchmaking, elegant and rare vintage wristwatches, and striking modern watches.

Speaking ahead of the sale, Pedro Reiser, Department Manager, Sotheby’s Watch Division Geneva, commented, “We greatly look forward to welcoming collectors on Saturday the 14th. At centre stage will be the unique and beautiful bird-cage musical automaton and we are honoured to have been entrusted with such a rarity. The wider sale will offer a broad range of tempting opportunities: those with an eye for history will find rare and fascinating pieces; the finest manufacturers are represented, including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Jaeger-LeCoultre; and lovers of the finest vintage and modern wristwatches will find stunning examples to instantly complement their personal style.”

An Exceptional Musical Automaton Bird Cage Clock
This stunning object proudly showcases the very finest of Swiss craftsmanship: its external appearance combines exquisite design and great attention to detail, while its inner mechanics represent the most advanced horological complications of the age. The bird cage features two charming singing birds as well as a captivating butterfly.

The ornate cage, of chiselled golden bronze, sits on four lion paw-shaped feet atop a pedestal. Inside the rectangular cage are two singing birds, which jump from one perch to another, opening and closing their beaks alongside an animated fountain.

The mechanism articulating these delicate movements, built in brass and steel, is ingeniously concealed inside the lower section of the cage. The birdsong, mimicking canaries and nightingales, is reproduced by a combination of bellows, whistles and cams, enabled by an intricate fusee-and-chain mechanism. The music box, which is concealed inside the base of this striking piece, plays three melodies which are triggered on the passing of each hour or on demand. This exceptional piece will be offered with an estimate of CHF 400,000 – 800,000 ($411,000 – 825,000), Lot 176.

The Changing Face of Watchmaking History: from Rieussec to Vacheron Constantin
In May, lovers of horological history will be fascinated to discover a glimpse into the past which illustrates the evolution of watchmaking and its practical applications. A very rare and historically important cylinder inking chronograph made for the horse races offers a window into the world of the highly talented Rieussec brothers. Nicolas Mathieu Rieussec (1781-1866) was an important French watchmaker and inventor. Showing talent from a young age, he was already established as a leading watchmaker in Paris by the age of 24. In 1817, at the age of 36, he was watchmaker to the king. Rieussec’s brother, Nicolas Joseph, was heavily involved in the equestrian world in Paris, and it is therefore no coincidence that Nicolas Mathieu seized the opportunity to develop a timing instrument which, in 1821 became the first chronograph. Lot 165, estimate: CHF 80,000 – 120,000 / US $ 82,500 – 124,000.

Beautifully encapsulating the spirit of Art Deco design, this superb and very important gem-set desk clock in yellow gold and platinum showcases the talents of some of the finest and most celebrated watchmaking houses of the 1920s. Created in 1926, this stunning and intricate piece boasts a movement signed by Vacheron Constantin, who worked in close collaboration with master craftsmen including Verger Frères (for the case, brilliantly combining carved hardstones to depict exotic scenes and creatures), and with Vladimir Makovsky (for the intricately detailed mother-of-pearl dial). The minute scale of the work is breathtaking. Lot 170, estimate: CHF 80,000 – 120,000 / US $ 82,500 – 124,000.

Covetable Vintage Patek Philippe
Offered for the first time at auction, this very rare stainless steel wristwatch with black dial and Breguet numerals by Patek Philippe bears the rare reference 1504, which was only produced between 1941 and 1944. This watch – produced in 1941 - is all the more unusual: it is only the fifth known example of this reference in stainless steel. It is also the only known example of this reference which combines a stainless steel case, black dial and pink gold Breguet numerals – and the result is an exceedingly rare opportunity to make an exceptional addition to any collection. Lot 212, estimate: CHF 20,000 – 40,000 / US $ 20,600 – 41,100.

Enduring Elegance : an Exceptional Patek Philippe Pocket Watch
Those present in our Geneva sale room will also be able to admire an exceptionally elegant pocket watch by Patek Philippe (reference 844) which brings together some of the finest characteristics of this revered manufacturer. Thought to be one of only two models of this reference in white gold, this fine and extremely rare open-faced minute repeating perpetual calendar watch with moon-phases bears a full digital display of day, month and date held within a single aperture. This single-aperture dial is an especially rare Patek Philippe design, enhancing the clarity and ease of reading. The sharp clear lines of the case are a credit to Antoine Gerlach. Lot 227, estimate: CHF 280,000 – 380,000 / US $ 288,000 – 391,000.

Rare and Ravishing Rolex
Those with an eye for the finest examples of Swiss watchmaking giant Rolex will no doubt be captivated by an exceptional and extremely rare yellow gold chronograph wristwatch, reference 6063, “Jean-Claude Killy” produced around 1955. Introduced in 1951, this reference was only produced for 7 years. This piece boasts a very rare dial: it bears gold-applied lozenges. Only around 350 examples of this reference were made in yellow gold, and only 70 of those were born with lozenge-shaped markers. Lot 104, estimate: CHF 100,000 - 150,000 / US $ 103,000 – 155,000.

The ‘Gentleman of Formula One’: Ronnie Peterson’s Heuer Chronograph
The afternoon session will offer watch connoisseurs the opportunity to own an exceptional memento of sporting history, thanks to a stunning watch by Heuer, presented to Formula One legend Ronnie Peterson. The 18 karat yellow gold automatic chronograph wristwatch, reference 1158 – known as the ‘pilot’s watch’ - features date registers and was presented to Peterson around 1972 by Jack W. Heuer himself. The Carrera model was launched in 1964, and fewer than 500 pieces of reference 1158 are known to have been made in 18 karat gold. Also included with the watch is the “Prix Rouge et Blanc Jo Siffert”, a 100-gram gold bar issued by the Société de Banque Suisse, which recognized outstanding bravery. It was awarded to Ronnie Peterson – known to be a gentleman on the Formula One circuit – for his performance at the 1972 Grand Prix in Nürburgring, Germany. Lot 161, estimate: CHF 10,000 – 20,000 / US $ 10,300 – 20,600.

Longines’ Timekeeping Prowess
From 1952 until 1980, Longines was the official timekeeper of the summer and winter Olympic Games. Their reference 7411-2 was widely recognized as the manufacturer’s most accurate chronograph, and was used by the Swiss Observatory in Neuchatel. A fine and rare example of this reference in stainless steel from around 1968 will be offered together with a new old stock stainless steel cushion-shaped chronograph wristwatch, reference 8271, from around 1971. Lot 144, estimate: CHF 6,000 – 9,000 / US $ 6,200 – 9,300.

Limited Edition Modern Mastery: Jaeger-LeCoultre
The modern section of the May sale will feature an important and rare limited edition platinum tourbillon wristwatch by Jaeger-Le-Coultre, known as the “Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2”. The mechanism is housed in a massive version of Jaeger’s most iconic case design, allowing watchmakers to fit the world’s first dual-axis tourbillon with cylindrical balance spring within a wristwatch. The openwork layout of this piece is quite mesmerizing. Lot 60, estimate: CHF 150,000 – 250,000 / US $ 155,000 – 257,000.