Watch auctions for charitable causes aren’t a new concept but one of the trends that has grown significantly over the last few years is the idea of the unique piece auction. Started by Only Watch, there are now a handful of auctions that see brands create distinct and unique watches specially for the occasion. Other examples of such auctions include last year’s EveryWatch focussing on British brands and the TimeForArt Auction, organised by the Swiss Institute in partnership with Phillips auction house. Let’s take a look at every watch up for grabs in the 2024 edition of TimeForArt ahead of the December 7th sale.
However, before we jump into the watches, there’s a few details to go over. Firstly, what is the Swiss Institute? While it may have ‘Swiss’ in the name, it’s actually a New York based contemporary art non-profit organisation supporting a wide range of artists. It’s this goal that the TimeForArt auction supports. As part of the event, the Swiss Institute implemented the theme Artists for Artists and encouraged participating watch brands to collaborate with artists for their unique piece watches. Additionally, at time of writing not every watch has been fully revealed so you will find some teaser images that have been supplied instead.
Anoma A1 TimeForArt 2024
The Anoma A1 is a natural fit for an auction that blends art and timekeeping with its distinctive triangular case. For this 1-of-1 edition they’ve collaborated with artist Jaś Rewkiewicz to create an optical illusion dial that’s made via a combination of engraving and black lacquer. It’s powered by a Sellita SW100.
Estimate: $1000 – $2000
Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance Lapislazuli
Armin Strom have been inspired by Franz Gertsch’s “Blue Phase”, which is why they’ve dressed the dial of the Mirrored Force Resonance in lapis lazuli blue, the semi-precious stone that inspired Gertsch’s own work. The movement is the ARF21, which uses dual balance wheels that work in together to ensure impeccable accuracy.
Estimate: $50,000 – $100,000
Baltic Prismic TimeForArt Edition
Baltic’s Prismic TimeForArt Edition highlights the raging debate in the art world surrounding the use of AI. The intricate wave pattern seen here was created by AI but its implementation requires a human designer, exploring the use of AI as a tool of the modern artist. The case is made from a combination of steel and titanium and measures 36mm in diameter.
Estimate: $800 – $1,400
Biver Echoes of this Moment
Biver have dressed their Automatique model with a hand-made enamel dial produced in collaboration with Swiss artist Guillaume Ehinger. It’s the first Automatique model to be made from steel and as a fun touch has had all its finishing reversed compared to the standard collection editions, meaning the tops and sides of the lugs and case are polished while the facets are brushed. The shifting colours of the predominantly red dial are representative of sunset.
Estimate: $60,000 – $120,000
Breitling Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar 140th Anniversary TimeForArt Limited Edition
If there’s an award for longest name, it would go to this Breitling. It’s based on the 140th Anniversary collection that introduced Breitling’s first perpetual calendar chronograph movement, the B19. For TimeForArt they’ve created a unique piece version of the Navitimer edition with a green dial as opposed to the gold dial of the regular limited edition.
Estimate: $60,000 – $120,000
Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Sketch TimeForArt Edition
One of Bulgari’s most striking innovations in recent years is the advent of the sketch dial, which illustrates key elements of dial as if it were a design sketch. It’s the natural fit for the TimeForArt auction. Plus, the Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT is an awesome, record-breaking watch in its own right.
Estimate: $40,000 – $80,000
Carl F. Bucherer x Hodinkee Heritage Worldtimer Limited Edition
Hodinkee have created watches in collaboration with many brands over the years, but this is the first time one of their partnership watches has been created specifically for a charity auction. It’s a gold case and blue dialled interpretation of their previous collab with Carl F. Bucherer, the Heritage Worldtimer.
Estimate: $10,000 – $20,000
Chanel BOY•FRIEND
The Chanel BOY•FRIEND features a Grand Feu enamel dial depicting a pop art portrait of Gabrielle Chanel. Knowing the effort that must have gone into creating an enamel dial this precise and stylised really makes me appreciate the watch far more than the image itself. Around the edge of the dial are 38 baguette cut diamonds.
Estimate: $70,000 – $140,000
Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XP TimeForArt Edition
Chopard have used the opportunity offered by TimeForArt to explore a technique they don’t often have cause to use: marquetry. Marquetry is a similar discipline to mosaic but uses incredibly thin pieces of wood that slot together seamlessly to create a motif. In this instance that motif is a field a straw.
Estimate: $40,000 – $80,000
Czapek Artists & Artisans Pièce N°1
The Czapek Artists & Artisans Pièce N°1 was created in collaboration with master engraver Michèle Rothen alongside their long time partners Metalem. It features one of the most distinctive skeleton dials I’ve ever seen with the top section covered by the lip of a dial that has a jagged, eroded edge as if the rest of the dial has been violently ripped away.
Estimate: $40,000 – $80,000
Dennison A.L.D Infinite Blue
Another watch that has yet to be fully revealed is the Dennison A.L.D Infinite Blue, for good reason. Dennison is a completely new watch brand who are releasing their first watch in October 2024, designed by Emmanuel Gueit. Their addition to the TimeForArt auction is #1 in the official production run.
Estimate: $400 – $600
Fleming
Moving from one new brand straight to another we have Fleming, also yet to reveal their complete timepiece. All we know so far is that the dial is designed by well known watch photographer James Kong, aka @waitlisted.
Estimate: TBC
Furlan Marri Disco Stromatolite (Unique Piece for TimeForArt 2024)
Furlan Marri introduced a dramatic shift in their aesthetics earlier this year when they introduced the Disco Volante, featuring a completely circular design with hidden lugs. For TimeForArt they’ve tackled the Disco collection again with a stromatolite dial featuring a distinctive red-brown colour and striated appearance.
Estimate: $3,000 – $6,000
HYT S1 TimeForArt 2024 Unique Piece
The HYT S1 is a visually striking watch with a skeletonised display that uses two bellows to push a black liquid around a tubular hours scale. For TimeForArt it’s presented in a sleek full black case with matching rubber strap, allowing the main display and calibre 501CM to really stand out.
Estimate: $50,000 – $100,000
Louis Erard x Olivier Mosset Le Régulateur TimeForArt Edition
Louis Erard have presented a piece unique blue version of their collaboration Le Régulateur [LINK TO: https://oracleoftime.com/louis-erard-olivier-mosset-le-regulateur/] with Swiss, modernist artist Olivier Mosset for TimeForArt. Interestingly Louis Erard have taken the concept of art watches further than everyone else by presenting the watch with a strap signed by the artist as well as providing a red seal that says, “work of art – do not wear”.
Estimate: $3,000 – $6,000
Massena LAB x Raúl Pagès “Petrichor” by Massena LAB and Raúl Pagès
Earlier in the year Massena LAB teamed up with Raúl Pagès to launch the Absinthe [LINK TO: https://oracleoftime.com/absinthe-by-massena-lab-and-raul-pages/], a cool time only watch with a sleek green dial. Now, in support of the charity auction they’ve released a sable coloured version with sunray brushed finishing called “Petrichor”, named after the rich scent of rain on dry soil.
Estimate: $5,000 – $10,000
Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Skeleton “With what eyes?” by Rodrigo Hernández
Maurice Lacroix created their TimeForArt unique piece in collaboration with Mexican artist Rodrigo Hernández who is famous for his work on the subject of ‘Are humans the only dreamers on Earth?’ The subject for his work on the Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Skeleton is titled “With what eyes?” and shows two monkeys staring at each other crafted from bronze.
Estimate: $15,000 – $30,000
Perrelet x The Dial Artist TimeForArt Edition
Perrelet have partnered with popular watch artist Chris Alexander, better known as The Dial Artist [LINK TO: https://oracleoftime.com/spinnaker-croft-39-automatic-the-dial-artist-limited-edition-watch-review/] to create the Perrelet x The Dial Artist TimeForArt Edition. It features Perrelet’s typical turbine design dressed in the colourful, street-cool work The Dial Artist. The movement inside is the cal. P-331-MH.
Estimate: $5,000 – $10,000
Reservoir by Monza Design “Monza Prototype 01”
Monza Design are known for producing a range of sleek motor racing inspired apparel such as hats and glasses frames. Previously they’ve collaborated with Reservoir on a series of retrograde watches based on high performance engines. Now, for TimeForArt the two brands have come together again with a new prototype featuring a red dial and a retrograde display.
Estimate: $3,000 – $6,000
Ressence TYPE 1²v2 SHA
Ressence is a brand that can be accused of playing it safe aesthetically because once they hit on a cool concept, they kept to it for basically every watch. However, recently they’ve been experimenting with the idea by featuring pictures on their dials which then get completely fractured as the various subdials and dial rotate before reassembling. This edition is a collaboration with visual artist Shantell Martin.
Estimate: $20,000 – $40,000
Reuge x ECAL Slightly Windy Golden Leaves
While not a wristwatch the work of automaton manufacture Reuge utilises a lot of the techniques and mechanisms of clockwork, hence its inclusion in the auction here. It features golden leaves that wave in time to the musical movement housed in the ash wood base. It was produced in partnership the students of the Master in Design for Luxury and Craftsmanship at ECAL, the University of Art and Design in Lausanne.
Estimate: $10,000 – $20,000
Speake Marin Promenade à New York
The Speake Marin Promenade à New York takes the idea of an art watch to its logical conclusion, putting a painting front and centre on the dial. The micro-painting depicts a scene of New York’s Central Park and is delicately painted over top of a Mother-of-Pearl dial. While it looks like the case might be white gold, it’s actually titanium.
Estimate: $40,000 – $80,000
Toledano & Chan B/1M
Toledano & Chan set the watch world on fire earlier this year with their debut wristwatch, the B/1. They’re keeping up the pace with a brutalist interpretation of the watch called the B/1M aka B/1 Meteorite for TimeForArt. The entire case and dial are layered with pieces of the Muonionalusta meteor.
Estimate: $8,000 – $16,000
Unimatic Modello Tre Automatic Chronograph U3S-TFA
The Unimatic Modello Tre Automatic Chronograph U3S-TFA is a 1-of-1 prototype of the Modello Tre, the brand’s first automatic chronograph that they released earlier this year. Unimatic are no strangers to high profile limited editions with more than a few notable collaborations and limited runs under their belt.
Estimate: $3,000 – $6,000
Zenith Defy Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone One Off
Back in August Zenith released the Defy Skyline Tourbillon in collaboration with popular street artist Felipe Pantone. They’ve come together again to produce a black ceramic edition with an updated dial for TimeForArt. The radial motif of the original has been swapped for a cross-shape that’s very striking.
Estimate: $60,000 – $120,000
More details at TimeForArt.
