Established in La Vallée de Joux, a seat of Swiss watchmaking genius, Frères Rochat company designs and manufactures singing bird automata of exceptional quality, faithfully inspired by the Rochat Brothers’ 19th century traditions and movement architecture. The Rochat brothers were said to have manufactured singing bird automata for more than 200 years, some of which were extremely successful at auctions.
Bringing these back to life was a real challenge. They are fitted with the Grand complications mechanical FR2903 movement, designed and built by the brand in Switzerland. The 1,227 components of the mechanism are individually finished by hand according to the highest standards of Swiss watchmaking, creating a true work of art with 20 complications, 74 jewels, 14 cams, 12 semitones, four tunes, 74 rubies and a fusée barrel with a 404-link micro-chain.
The performance starts when the bird daintily gets out of its nest, greets with its head, and opens its beak to sing Mozart’s Symphony N° 40 flow. After that, the bird withdraws back into its beautiful case, which then shuts. Each and every detail complies with the traditional models.
This level of complexity means only a few Frères Rochat Singing Birds can be produced every year, each a true masterpiece in its own right.
