The collection presents 112 exceptional watches, including unique creations, personalised dials, prototypes and several No.1 limited editions.
This collection spans four decades of passion and includes some of the earliest examples from famous independent watchmakers. So it includes very rare editions from Patek Philippe, Rolex and others.
All together it is the most important single-owner collection ever presented in Geneva, with part of the proceeds going to charity. As such the auction will generate proceeds of around 20 million Swiss francs.
Topping the auction will be Lot 2096, a Richard Mille RM56-01 Tourbillon Sapphire featuring a 2013 manufacture.
One of Richard Mille's most extraordinary and ambitious creations, the RM56-01 aims for greater transparency. The case alone is a construction of unique pieces of transparent, incredibly difficult-to-machine sapphire crystal.
It took 40 days, 24 hours a day to create it, and another 350 hours to polish it.
The tourbillon shines on the bottom of the transparent dial with a titanium minute ring and luminous hour markers.
Also another top one is Lot 2111. A unique and extremely important F.P. Journe Grande and Petite Sonnerie Minute Repeating stainless steel wristwatch with mirror blue petrol dial.
It was completed in January 2009. This model was specially built as a one-off bespoke bespoke piece for the current owner.
The dial has the logo of the 7th FIA Formula 1 World Champion. Also on the 42 mm case they have engraved “ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS / JANVIER 2009 / AB IMO PECTORE / POUR J. TODT”.
Finally Lot 2089 is an 18 carat gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6241 with a “Paul Newman” champagne dial created in 1968.
Issue 6241 is a creation between 1966 and 1969 and is therefore a rare issue in itself. They produced 2250 pieces in stainless steel, 300 in 18 carat gold and 450 in 14 carat gold.
It was equipped with “non-Oyster” or “non-screw-down” chronograph buttons and a bezel with a black plastic insert. Also the tachymeter scale was printed in white. Still the dials were marked “Rolex Cosmograph” but not always “Daytona”.
Before arriving in Geneva on 2 November 2022, a selected collection travelled around the world for a viewing tour. This included stops in Hong Kong, Dubai, London, London, Jakarta and Los Angeles.
