Auction Christie’s Rare Watches Auction Raises CHF 18 Million

Yesterday, Christie’s hosted The Rare Watches Auction on November 11 at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva. The event featured a special section dedicated to a collection of exceptional watches, offered to benefit the European Leukodystrophy Association (ELA). The ELA supports research into leukodystrophies and provides aid to families affected by these debilitating diseases.

The auction, held in collaboration with Watches for ELA, concluded with record-breaking results. Garnering widespread media coverage, the event was graced by European celebrities and prominently French football legend and Real Madrid player Zinedine Zidane opened the auction as the charity's ambassador.

A total of 160 timepieces were presented during the auction, including 11 exceptional pieces dedicated to the ELA cause. The entire event raised a staggering CHF 18 million, a portion of which will directly benefit families affected by leukodystrophy.

Watches for ELA is a charity initiative that brings together unique creations from prestigious watchmaking houses to support ELA International’s mission of combating rare diseases like leukodystrophies. Among the 11 extraordinary pieces offered for the ELA section, Louis Erard’s unique creation stood out, achieving a record-breaking sale for the independent watchmaker. The piece sold for CHF 16,380, surpassing its estimate of CHF 4,000–8,000.

This masterpiece features a dial made using miniature marquetry, a labor-intensive craft. The dial is composed of over 70 wooden pieces, including natural walnut burl wood at its center and tulip tree wood stained in three shades of green. These elements form mesmerizing geometric cubes, meticulously handcrafted by artisan Bastien Chevalier.

Beyond the charity section, the auction showcased some extraordinary timepieces, The Breguet No. 3218, an exceptionally rare watch, sold for an impressive CHF 1,920,500, far exceeding its estimated price of CHF 100,000–200,000.

A MoonSwatch, unexpectedly achieving a record as the most expensive ever sold, fetched CHF 69,000.

For more information, visit the official Christie's website.