Geneva – Christie’s Geneva welcomed ELA (European Leukodystrophy Association) and Zinedine Zidane, ELA’s Ambassador for 24 years to the first Watches for ELA auction, held on 11 November 2024 opening Rare Watches. 11 unique watches donated by ANDERSEN Genève X BCHH, ArtyA, Ataelier Haute Complication, Bovet, Girard-Perregaux, Konstantin Chaykin, Louis Erard, Montblanc, Richard Mille, OMEGA X Swatch, Ulysse Nardin achieved CHF 633,000, while lot 69 in the Rare Watches auction, a platinum F.P, Journe, Vagabondage from 2005, consigned by a private individual to benefit ELA made an additional CHF210,000, bringing the total raised for the association to CHF843,000.
Guy Alba President of ELA International: “What a wonderful moment to see Zinedine Zidane auctioneering lot 1 for our debut Watches for ELA auction. A project which was launched by François-Henri Pinault and made possible by the generosity of the watchmaking brands and Christie’s unparallelled leadership position.
The funds raised totalling CHF843,000 will be used to continue medical research as well as the important family support ELA is offering families in destress. Our only goal was to combine the talent of watchmakers, the passion of collectors with the hope generated by medical research, to save the lives of children who are just longing to grow up. Thank you for helping to make this goal one step closer.”
The Rare Watches auction continued with lot 12, offering a further148 lots, achieving a total of CHF 18,041,020 | US$20,616,024, selling 94% by lot and welcoming registrants from 58 countries.
BREGUET: THE STAR OF THE AUCTION
The 1935 Breguet No. 3218 wristwatch became the top lot of the auction selling for CHF1,920,500 | US$ 2,194,614 | Euro 2,048,193, nearly 10 times its low pre-sale estimate of CHF 100,000. The first owner Mr. Paul Iribe, the celebrated French Designer, paid Francs 10,000 on 24 May 1935 and to date this historically important watch is one of only two known Breguet perpetual calendar wristwatches in the world and the first to have been offered at auction.
Another important and unique Breguet offered in the sale was a platinum automatic quarter repeating a toc pocket watch made in 2004. It sold for 6 times its low estimate for CHF630,000 | US$ 719,920 | Euro 671,888.
Remi Guillemin, Head of Christie’s Watches Europe and US, commented: “Rare Watches, Including Watches for ELA was a great success and Christie’s thanks goes to all bidders and parties involved in this important auction, a moment shared with Zinedine Zidane. The Rare Watches auction welcomed new private international bidders and set some strong prices, for quality vintage timepieces as well as independent watchmakers.”
Watches Online: The Geneva Edit remains open for bidding until 20 November
