Historic timepieces and pocket watches stole the show at Sotheby’s

Time stood still at Geneva as Sotheby’s brought to the world a range of pricey watches under its hammer the event turned out to be a huge success as $6,338,588 was raked in from the total sales. The watches were originally estimated to fetch anything between $5,465,010 and $7,190,205. Here are the highlights of the sale. The most expensive of the lot of the evening was the “Shepherdess” Automaton, made for the Chinese market. Sold at $690,281, it is an exceptional Three Colour Gold, Enamel and Split Pearl Shield Form Automaton, c.1805-10. Though it was estimated at CHF 400,000-500,000, this spectacularly small and complex automaton, featuring a shepherdess tending two sheep near a waterfall, excited interest from across the globe. Five bidders locked horns in a battle to secure it. which in turn drove the final price to CHF 746,500 (690,281 USD).

While the most expensive lot of desk clocks was lot 162. A Cartier Yellow Gold, with Platinum Rock Crystal, Onyx, Mother of Pearl and Diamond Mystery Clock crafted in 1928 fetched $313,008, when it was expected to earn between $250,000 and $315,000.
Other exceptional watches where 20 of 18th-century, enameled pocket watch that fetched three times its original price at $340,402. Off them three-color gold and enamel half-hunting cased verges watch fetched $52,014.
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