This Richard Mille Ref. RM56-01 is expected to be the top lot at Christie’s Geneva’s upcoming “Legendary and Unique Watches: The Collection of a Lifetime” auction.
New York—When it comes to timepieces, rarity is everything.
Later this fall, Christie’s Geneva will offer more than 100 watches it says have never appeared at auction.
“Legendary and Unique Watches: The Collection of a Lifetime,” is Christie’s most important single-owner watch collection ever presented, the auction house said.
Comprising 112 watches, the collection features one-off timepieces, watches with personalized dials, prototypes, and some timepieces that are No. 1 in a series of limited editions.
The collection’s private owner amassed the timepieces over four decades, gathering rare references from sought-after brands like Patek Philippe and Rolex.
Highlights are the limited-edition Richard Mille Ref. RM56-01; the Rolex Ref. 6421 Daytona; and the Vacheron Constantin Ref. 43050 Mercator.
According to Christie’s, the limited-edition Richard Mille Ref. RM56-01 AN SAPHIR/PR00, No. 011, (pictured at top of article), is the first of its kind to appear at international auction.
Released in 2013, the case is crafted from single blocks of sapphire crystal. Calculating the total hours to manufacture, it took approximately 40 days, or 960 hours, plus an additional 350 hours (more than 14 days) to polish.
The transparent dial reveals the tourbillion, titanium minute ring and hour indexes.
The timepiece is expected to sell for between approximately $2.6 million and $4.6 million.
The Rolex Ref. 6241 Daytona
The Rolex Ref. 6241 Daytona is crafted in 18-karat gold. Circa 1968, it features a champagne-colored “Paul Newman” dial.
The reference was produced between 1966 and 1969. A total of 2,250 pieces were produced in stainless steel, 300 in 18-karat gold and 450 in 14-karat gold.
These watches featured “non-Oyster,” or “non-screw-down,” chronograph buttons and bezel with black plastic insert.
This timepiece is estimated to sell for between $613,000 and $1 million.
Vacheron Constantin Ref. 43050 Mercator
Another watch in the sale, the Vacheron Constantin Ref. 43050 Mercator, is crafted in platinum and features a Metiers d’Art “Ferrari Enzo” cloisonne enamel dial.
The watch debuted in 1994 as a tribute to 16th-century cartographer Gerardus Mercator.
It displays time with a double retrograde mechanism with hands that mimic the shape of a cartographer’s tool.
When the hour hands hits 12 o’clock, it releases back to the starting position. The same happens for the second hand when it reaches 60.
The watch is expected to garner between approximately $100,000 and $200,000.
“Legendary and Unique Watches: The Collection of a Lifetime” is in New York City from Oct. 1 to 5.
It will stop in several cities before hitting the auction block in Geneva at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues on Nov. 22.
Christie’s expects the sale to earn around $20.5 million total.
An undisclosed portion of sale proceeds will benefit charity.
