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A TIMELESS EMOTION “My father prays that you will have the kindness to come by and visit us (...) and please carry the little bird in your pocket, as he dearly wishes to show it to certain ladies.” John Arnold, 1791 3 PHILOSOPHY OF UNIQUE MASTERPIECES “I decided it was time to fill the long absence of the most demanding domain in the watchmaking world by recreating the unique Grand Complication Singing Bird Movement. My philosophy is to provide our most demanding clientele exclusive bespoke Masterpieces to instil an unforgettable emotion in Collectors. Rare pieces of art of extreme beauty and technical perfection created in unique pieces.” Stéphane Velan, Chairman and CEO 5 THE ROCHAT BROTHERS’ SOUL Faithful to the spirit of their predecessors, the Frères Rochat watchmakers, both craftsmen and restorers have risen to the impressive challenge of reinventing a Grand Complication Movement in tune with its time and in step with modern day savoir-faire and the history of the Rochat brothers. The original philosophy is perpetuated with passion and emotion. Established in the Vallée de Joux, the seat of Swiss watchmaking genius, our company designs and manufactures Singing Bird automata of exceptional quality, faithfully inspired by the Rochat brothers’ 19th Century traditions and movement architecture. 7 CRAFTSMEN OF EMOTIONS PREFACE Were the Rochat brothers inspired by an evolution in the art of watchmaking, avant-garde ecology, or perhaps by a desire to capture When approaching Le Brassus through the Col du Marchairuz, one the serene melody of avian song? Whatever the answer may be, the cannot miss, on the right, a large house overlooking the village. manufacture of Singing Birds in La Vallée and later in Geneva is the Known as “Chez Pierroton”, it is the most historical house in “Vers- work of artist-craftsmen who, with skill, ingenuity and patience, turned chez-Meylan” and was built nearly three centuries ago by Isaac a dream into reality by creating an automaton that sings like a virtuoso Rochat. Today, the venerable barn door no longer exists, however, as it performs graceful acrobatics. on the third floor, six windows allow the sun to shine into the old watchmaker’s workshop, where watches, musical boxes and The Rochat brothers were initially purveyors of the Genevan automata were once manufactured. luxury watchmaking industry until they became highly sought-after manufacturers in their own right, who continued to amaze lovers of This is where the Rochat brothers, more than two hundred years exquisite miniature mechanisms encased in gold, pearls and enamel. ago, excelled in an arduous art, their remarkable talent leading to Admired in museums, found in auction sales and jealously protected the creation of the famous Singing Bird automata adorned with by a few lucky Collectors, the Rochat brothers’ precious watches, natural feathers. snuffboxes and Singing Bird automata celebrate the art of watchmaking in its most elaborate form. Today, under the well-chosen motto of The Rochat family’s coat of arms insignia, “de sable à la roue d’or”, is well “Craftsmen of Emotions”, the Rochat brothers’ art is revived, faithfully known. The wheel “la roue” prompts the memory of the waterwheel to its origins and in the spirit of the master watchmakers of Le Brassus. used by their ingenious and industrious ancestors, who exploited the power of the streams and rivers of the French Jura and of the Vallée Daniel Aubert, Historian de Joux. The wheel also symbolises the essential component of all horological movement. 9 CONTENTS A WORD FROM THE CHAIRMAN & CEO 5 CRAFTSMEN OF EMOTIONS Preface 9 TIMELESS The Rochat brothers saga 15 1813, a legendary brand is born 18 EXCEPTIONAL CREATIONS The Rochat brothers’ Golden Age 22 Famed ambassadors of the watchmaking aristocracy 25 GRAND COMPLICATION Grand Complication Singing Bird Movement FR2903 31 Singing Bird 35 The bellows and whistle 37 The mechanism and its fusee-barrel 39 100% designed and manufactured in Switzerland 40 20 complications, 1227 components, 14 cams, 74 jewels and 4 melodies 43 UNIQUE PIECES Contemplation du Cerisier Impérial 47 One Thousand and One Diamonds 57 Arche Noire 65 Saqr 71 ART AND CRAFT Métiers d’art 81 ACQUIRE A SINGING BIRD Brand Ambassadors 91 Certification and guarantee 93 Accessories 95 Restoration 97 Contact 99 11 TIMELESS 13 1711 BERNEY ROCHAT Salomé Jean Nicolas TIMELESS v.1697-1757 1689-1771 1738 1748 PIGUET ROCHAT ROCHAT JAQUET Susanne Pierre Jacques II Judith dit «Pierrotton» 1720-1798 Sarah 1718 -1806 1726-1804 THE ROCHAT BROTHERS SAGA The Rochat brothers were the only ones left with the expertise 1769 1770 1789 and the skills required to design, manufacture and retail Singing Bird ROCHAT ROCHAT ROCHAT GOLAY ROCHAT ROCHAT ROCHAT ROCHAT REYMOND Jacques François Marie Marie David III Jacques Abraham Jacques Jeanne The Rochat brothers saga commences in the 18th Century, in the automata. The sky was their limit. Henri Gamaliel Henriette Henriette 1746-1812 Louis Henri François Susanne - 17 51 1829 Watchmaker 1749-1827 David 1759-1820 1765-1833 rural, charming Vallée de Joux. On August 16th of 1766, David Rochat, Watchmaker Samuel 1757-1833 aged 20 received the title of Master Watchmaker. This young genius Famous around the world for the quality and architecture of their developed a passion for designing and manufacturing movements for movements, the Rochat brothers learned rapidly, developing Singing Bird automata, a new discipline in the field of watchmaking, unprecedented expertise. Masterful technicians and manipulators of 1792 1824 ROCHAT GOLAY ROCHAT ROCHAT ROCHAT ROCHAT ROCHAT REYMOND requiring infinite patience as well as the absolute mastery of the most noble materials, the three brothers reach the pinnacle of aesthetic Henri Jeanne David Charlotte Jacques Henri Anne Louis Samuel Louise Fréderich François Auguste Charlotte Philippe complicated expertise. He launched the David Rochat & Fils company quality of the casing: their ornamentation are sublime. 1777-1854 Henri Elisée 1795-1864 Augustine Samuel with his three sons, François, Fréderich and Samuel. By June 1802, Watchmaker 1774-1848 1771-1836 1797-1852 1792-1871 Watchmaker Watchmaker they are working in close collaboration with Jacquet-Droz & Leschot, The Rochat brothers’ jewels soon belonged to the market of the famous watchmaking house, delivering complete Singing Bird inaccessible luxury. Their buyers knowing no limit to their demands. movements to them. ROCHAT ROCHAT ROCHAT The Rochat brothers’ handiwork is unique. Everybody is fascinated by Antoine Charles Ami-Napoléon the musical prowess and the perfect choreography of their Singing Auguste Louis François Frédéric François 1807-1875 The Rochat brothers set themselves apart from their contemporaries Birds, lavishing praise on them which resonates worldwide. 1799-1882 1795-1862 Watchmaker Watchmaker Watchmaker by the sophistication of their birds’ movements and the careful assembly of the cams, thanks to which sudden melody interruptions are no longer an issue. ROCHAT BROTHERS A GENIUS PATRIARCHY AND BROTHERHOOD The brothers succeed in the amazing feat of enaballing their birds to Famed Watchmakers David Rochat, Master Watchmaker (1746 – 1812) and his three sons: chirp celebrated musical scores. Containing a unique set of Grand Complications, the architecture of their jewels is likened to that of a Abstract of Rochat brothers genealogical table François Rochat (1771 – 1836) great artist’s canvas. By 1810, all the most important competitors in Based on the original document realised by Loïc Rochat, Historian Fréderich Rochat (1774 – 1848) the business had retired from the market. Samuel Rochat (1777 – 1854) 14 15 TIMELESS DREAM AND PRESTIGE These priceless works of art, pride of the Rochat brothers, join the ranks of the most extraordinary jewels in watchmaking craftsmanship, boasting a very limited circle of Collectors. Through the revival of the famous Singing Bird automaton exhibited for the first time in 2013, the prestigious Swiss manufacturer Frères Ultimate luxuries, the Frères Rochat Singing Birds represent Rochat has commemorated two-hundred years of one of the most excellence and rareness of a kind which still today are only generally outstanding legends in the history of watchmaking worldwide. accessible through auctions, but which are seldomly put up for sale. Frères Rochat is the fusion of sublime ornamentations and top- Their Masterpieces are an ode to beauty and technique, developed level complications. during the 19th Century, representing such unique expertise which can only elicit pure admiration. These items, without a doubt are The prestigious hallmark found on each Frères Rochat piece is the amongst the most complex ever made globally. They are emblems guarantee of unequalled savoir-faire, of quality and authenticity of of highly sophisticated Swiss engineering. movements and of a luxury good, designed and assembled behind closed doors in our Le Brassus workshops. Frères Rochat perpetuates the legacy of a bygone era, of a time when watchmaking, the meeting point of science and craftsmanship, was above all else a passion which sought to achieve timelessness and excellence. A rebirth stamped with the seal of outstanding success: the Singing Bird automata are unique evidence of watchmaking craftsmanship in the 19th Century. 17 TIMELESS PRESTIGIOUS PATRONS The beauty and ingenuity of their craftmanship was constantly improving. Always seeking innovation, the three geniuses from Le Brassus pushed their decorative work and their