Christie’s Geneva watch sale made CHF 33m, its highest total for timepieces

Christie’s Rare Watches sale in Geneva on 12 May 2026 made CHF 33m, about US$42m, which the house said was its highest total for a timepiece auction, with 99 per cent of lots sold.

Christie’s said 60 per cent of lots sold above their high estimates. The top lot, an F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain made in 2000, sold for CHF 2.4m against a high estimate of CHF 1m. Christie’s did not say whether the prices include fees.

An Audemars Piguet from around 1930, one of the first three chronograph watches the brand made, brought CHF 2.1m against a CHF 400,000 upper estimate. An asymmetric gold Cartier London Crash from 1990 made CHF 1.6m, past its CHF 1m high estimate.

Two Patek Philippe pieces sold at the top of their ranges. A watch made for the 170th anniversary of the maker’s collaboration with Tiffany & Co. sold for CHF 1.3m, within its estimate. A Patek Philippe with moon phases, 24-hour and leap-year indication made CHF 1m, just above its high estimate.

It was the first time Christie’s Geneva ran its Rare Watches sale over two consecutive days. Remi Guillemin, head of watches for Christie’s Europe and Americas regions, tied the format to consignor confidence and said bidders showed keen appetite throughout the sale.

By region, 44 per cent of bidders came from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, 28 per cent from the US and 19 per cent from Asia Pacific. Christie’s said 30 per cent of bidders and buyers were new to the house.