A selection of early watches valued for their ornamentation, extraordinary workmanship and particularly for their highly sophisticated and detailed case engravings.

Pre-1750

Through extraordinary craftsmanship, automata never cease to capture the imagination of their beholders thanks to their ingenious miniaturised scenes depicting everyday life.

Automaton

The demand from Chinese Emperors of European scientific and horological pieces resulted in the production between the last quarter of the 18th century and the mid 19th century of highly sophisticated case designs, incorporating the artistic superiority of Geneva through various mediums, from miniature enamel artists, the lapidary and the casemaker thus elaborate and rich designs were made, particularly for the Chinese market.

Chinese Market

A selection of extremely rare watches originally manufactured in response to the Ottoman demand of highly ornamented pocket watches featuring delicate enamel work, some produced Breguet, the most famous watchmaker of all times including the highlight of the sale, the Breguet Cabriolet minute repeating clockwatch, ordered and sold to his excellency Galib Effendi, the former Ottoman Ambassador to France and the man who introduced Breguet to the Ottomans. This watch, No. 1950 was thought to have been made for the Ottoman Sultan.

Breguet and the Turkish Market

Geneva

Senior Vice President | Chairman Emeritus | International Watch Division

Daryn Schnipper

Senior Director | Head of Watches, EMEA

Mikael Wallhagen

Cataloguer

Javier Arenas

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An extraordinary selection of horological pieces illustrating the development of watchmaking from the 16th century to the early 20th century, feauturing rare pieces, intricate mechanisms and mesmirising enamels. Amassed over decades, this extraordinary private collection is a reflection of a refined knowledge of the history of horology and indeed one of its kind.

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Centuries of Time: A Private Collection