A remarkable collection spanning 500 years of horological history, featuring 80 watches and portable clocks, was recently auctioned, achieving 95% of lots sold and a total of 1.4 million euros. The sale retraced the development of timekeeping over five centuries, and fierce bidding battles between in-person attendees, telephone, and internet bidders saw the auction double its initial estimates.

This event followed the success of a previous sale, La mesure des mondes, which highlighted beautiful automaton watches. According to the horology expert, each of the 80 watches and clocks from this collection tells a unique story of horology's grand history. The collection, which has been held by the same family for over 60 years, was carefully curated and enhanced over time.

The Bird Song Box by Frères Rochat (lot 60), the highlight of the sale, sold for an impressive 328,980 euros. Among the collector's many passions were automaton and musical mechanisms, exemplified by this extraordinary box, which originated from the King Farouk collection, famously auctioned in 1954 at Koubbeh Palace in Cairo—one of the most iconic auctions of the 20th century.

The development of table clocks led to the miniaturization necessary for the birth of watches 500 years ago. A notable example, the tower-shaped table clock (lot 4), fetched 197,552 euros after a fierce bidding war. This clock, engraved with the coats of arms of Guillaume Bailly (1519-1582) and Madeleine Harel (1524-1579), was crafted by a member of the famous Plantard family from Abbeville, likely a relative of the renowned clockmaker Nicolas Plantard, who supplied Queen Mary Stuart.

The collection spanned from the oldest watch (lot 5) dating back to the mid-16th century to the most recent (lot 74) from the early 20th century, offering a complete and unique journey through time.

Other notable sales included two watches made for the Ottoman market (lots 37 and 38), both selling for 45,500 euros each. Lot 37, an oval watch, is a prime example of the rich decorative artistry and complex astronomical movements typical of watches created for the Ottoman market in the mid-17th century.

As noted by a Habsburg ambassador in Constantinople in 1555: “There is no city more magnificent or better suited for commerce than Constantinople.” The Swiss, having obtained special privileges following the treaty signed by François I in Fribourg in 1516, quickly established themselves in Constantinople to prosper in the art of watchmaking. This particular watch has remained in the same family since its acquisition at the famous auction of the Jubinal de Saint-Albin collection.

Explore the catalog and check the auction results.

The Collections Particulières department offers free and confidential on-site appraisals for items in your collection. They work in synergy with specialized departments to highlight and sell your pieces, whether they are works of art, collectibles, antiques, rare books, historical or scientific objects, luxury accessories, automobiles, musical instruments, or even entire estates. Auctions can also be organized in situ. Contact us for more details.