This month, two separate auctions are hosting three modern watches in horology that are some of the most sought-after in the world. For their auctions this month, Christie’s and Phillips will have some of the hottest releases in the current watch market, including the yellow gold Rolex Daytona ‘Le Mans,’ a Simon Brette Chronométré Artisans Edition Titane, and the wild Konstantin Chaykin Thin King. The sales data from these auctions will be pivotal in determining how the most in-demand timepieces released in recent months will be received in the secondary market.
Rolex Daytona ‘Le Mans’ 125628LN [Offered by Christie’s]
By far, the collection’s crown jewel, Rolex Daytona ‘Le Mans’ pours de cas pour de roy A cluttered gold because Christie’s has auctioned it. This piece may not have a case name in the Rolex catalog, but watch enthusiasts know all too well what it is. ‘The Daytona ‘Le Mans’ is a reference that has a yellow-gold casing. It has also never appeared in the catalog or on Rolex’s store website.’ Roger Federer famously soft-launched the yellow gold version of this watch at last year’s U.S. Open, and the reference has been rarely seen since.
Produced in 2024 as a no-catalog sup-plan for the white gold version, which was in production for under a year and released in 2023, Ref. 126528LN has a black ceramic tachymeter bezel with the ‘100’ marker in red. The watch is best known for its dial featuring ‘Paul Newman’ or exotic subdials and a movement with a 24-hour counter, instead of 12, paying homage to the revered 24-hour Le Mans endurance race. Ben Clymer took his white gold version for a spin around last year for our Week On The Wrist column.
Christie’s, which is bringing the watch to sale at its Geneva auction this month with an estimated valuation of CHF 150,000 to CHF 250,000, claims these yellow gold Daytona references were only allocated to the ultimate VIPs of the brand and handpicked by Rolex CEO Jean-Frederic Dufour.
While this is the first time a yellow gold Le Mans has hit the auction block, Phillips sold a white gold version in December in New York that fetched $228,600.
The yellow-gold Le Mans Daytona can be located on this site.
Bret Simon Chronomètre Artisans Edition Titane [Available at Phillips]
In what is possibly the most drastic conclusion of the auction’s interest ranking in a young and undoubtedly talented watchmaker, it’s Simon Brette Chronomètre Artisans Edition Titane. With tenures at movement maker Chronode and at MB&F, Brette started his brand in 2021 and virtually remained under the radar until busting into the broader watch world’s awareness in 2023 with his small production Chronomètre Artisans, which earned him the horological revelation prize at the GPHG and sold out instantly. This edition in titanium is a follow-up to the dozen original subscription Chronomètre Artisans made in zirconium and is limited to 60 pieces.
The auction will gauge the market interest for a 39-millimeter watch that Mark Kauzlarich dubbed the very best from Watches and Wonders in 2023 for its finishing hand polish and quality of the parts, along with overwhelming attention to detail. During our House of Craft event, Simon informed Ben Clymer that he receives over thirty orders daily for his timepieces and is available to watch the full interview here.
Phillips is selling the lot at auction in Geneva for an estimated 73,400 to 147,000 dollars. This could remind some of a time in 2023 when a Rexhep Rexhepi Chronomètre Contemporain first appeared on the market.
[Offered by Phillips] Konstantin Chaykin Thin King Konstantin Chaykin’s Thin King is a one-of-a-mill prototype, making it the world’s thinnest mechanical wristwatch. This independent Russian watchmaker beat production models from the thinnest brands like Bulgari, Piaget, and Richard Mille.
The timepiece was first revealed at the Geneva Watch Days last year. As James Stacey reported during the time, the watch is an astonishing 1.65 millimeters thick and required the creation of a special alligator leather strap embedded with elastic and titanium supports to help with the shocks and strains.
The nickel-alloy cased ThinKing is being auctioned off at Phillips for a broad estimate between $429,000 and $858,000. The watch is sold in a titanium PalanKing case, which increases the ThinKing’s depth by 5.4 millimeters. This additional casing provides the watch with automatic winding, crown setting capabilities, and added rigidity. For further details, check the listing here.
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