The Heart, a musical watch by celebrated watchmaker Isaac Daniel Piguet has seen top bids in Antiquorum's Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces auction on November 8 in Geneva.

The spectacular watch was crafted for the eastern market circa 1820, and is part of a series of heart shaped watches produced by Piguet in the first quarter of the 19th century considered some of the finest automaton and musical examples ever made.

Created as gifts for eastern leaders, Piguet's musical watches are considered some of the finest ever made

It made $314,685.

There are no more than around four or five examples of Piguet's musical watches known to exist, each produced for a European court to gift to an eastern leader.

The remaining examples have inhabited some of the most esteemed watch collectors ever assembled, with Gustav Loup known to have owned one that was later passed to King Farouk of Egypt.

The present example features an automaton scene with a musician playing, windmill sails turning and two children on a seesaw. It is crafted from gold, with painted enamel set with pearls and turquoise.

Jaquet-Droz was renowned for its astonishing automata, with one of a dog said to be so realistic that the King of Spain's courtiers were convinced it was powered by witchcraft

Also featuring was Jaquet-Droz et Leschot clock featuring a singing and jumping bird, as well as an automaton waterfull. Made circa 1785 from gilded brass, it made $302,253.

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