Christie’s has just announced Watches for ELA, a thematic auction of 11 watches, mostly one-of-a-kind, to benefit the European Leukodystrophy Association (ELA), which supports research into the disorder. The brands that have created watches for the sale include Bovet, Konstantin Chaykin, Girard-Perregaux, Swatch, and most crucially from a value perspective, Richard Mille.

While Christie’s is best known for staging Only Watch, a biennial charity auction, the ELA auction is notable for being the brainchild of François-Henri Pinault, the chief executive of French luxury conglomerate Kering, which owns brands like Gucci and Balenciaga. Mr Pinault is on the board of ELA, while Christie’s is owned privately by the Pinault family.

Each timepiece in the ELA auction is offered without reserve, with all proceeds going to ELA. The sale takes place on November 11, 2024 as part of Christie’s customary Rare Watches auction. The catalogue and online bidding will be available at end October.

Richard Mille RM 65-01 Automatic Split-Seconds Chronograph Dark Yellow Quartz TPT

The flagship offering in the sale, and the only watch with a six figure estimate, the RM 65-01 is one of the most complicated Richard Mille watches, the RM 65-01 is powered by a high-frequency, self-winding rattrapante chronograph movement made by Vaucher.

This example is part of a 120-piece limited edition that’s the latest iteration of the RM 65-01. It sports yellow Quartz TPT carbon composite case and is the first RM 65-01 in yellow Quartz TPT to be sold at auction.

The RM65-01 has an estimate of CHF350,000-450,000.

Ataelier Haute Complication Dual Time for ELA

Founded by Vladimir Négault in 2018, Ataelier Haute Complication made its debut with the Dual Time powered by the Architecture Mecanique No. 1 movement. This version of the Dual Time is unique with pink hands and hour numerals, along with a pink-filled “Geneve” engraved on the bezel.

The Dual Time indicates twin time zones, with local time on the large sub-dial, while home time is shown in an arc-shaped window across the upper half of the dial. The home time display also incorporates a day-night indicator via a Sun or Moon emblem next to the triangular pointer.

Mr Négault was a constructor at F.P. Journe for several years before striking out on his own, and some design elements of the Dual Time bring to mind F.P. Journe’s aesthetics. Mr Négault’s technical construction skills are evident in the movement, which is based on the Peseux 7001 but cleverly rearranges the gear train to create a larger and more original looking calibre.

The estimate is CHF10,000-20,000.

Girard-Perregaux Laureato Eternity ELA Special Edition

A piece unique, this Laureato 42 mm is set apart by fired enamel dial in translucent purple that reveals the guilloché below. The standard versions of the Laureato Eternity feature blue or green enamel dials. The Laureato has an estimate of CHF20,000-30,000.

Konstantin Chaykin Seneca ELA Special Edition

A tribute to the Roman philosopher, the Seneca is a variant of Konstantin Chaykin’s signature Wristmon. Inspired by ancient Roman theatre masks, the unusual dial has a moon phase at six and date in the forehead, while the time is indicated by the two “eyes”.

Over the course of a month, the date numerals complete the Latin expression recte facti fecisse merces est, a quote by Seneca that translates as “The reward of an act done well is to have done it”.

The Seneca has an estimate of CHF15,000-25,000.

Louis Erard Noirmont Marqueterie ELA Special Edition

Based on the standard model, the Noirmont Marqueterie has a marquetry dial crafted from over 70 tiny pieces of wood, namely walnut burl at its centre and tulip tree wood dyed green. The dial is made by marquetry artisan Bastien Chevalier, based in St. Croix.

The Noirmont Marqueterie has an estimate of CHF4,000-8,000.

Omega x Swatch Millionth MoonSwatch

This MoonSwatch is the one-millionth example of the cheap and cheerful watch that helped to revive interest in Swatch. It’s a Mission to Neptune model with a blue Bioceramic case and a centre seconds hand plated in Moonshine gold, the propriety yellow gold alloy of Swatch Group. The inside of the case is engraved with its millionth-unit status and the watch is delivered with a trophy engraved “1,000,000”.

The millionth MoonSwatch has an estimate of CHF500-1,000.

Auction information

Rare Watches and Watches for ELA take place on November 11, 2024 at the Four Seasons in Geneva. The catalogue will be available on Christies.com at end October.