The auction world is about to witness a horological hat trick that would make even the most jaded collector's pulse quicken. Three mechanical marvels – each a unicorn in its own right – are stepping onto the bidding battlefield for the first time, promising to rewrite market valuations and collector wishlists alike.
Leading the charge is a Rolex Daytona 'Le Mans' in yellow gold – the horological equivalent of spotting Bigfoot wearing a tuxedo. This mythical creature, never officially acknowledged by the Crown, slinks onto the scene with the subtlety of a bull in a china shop. Its black ceramic bezel sports a cheeky red '100' marker, while the movement boasts a 24-hour counter – a nod to the legendary endurance race that gives this phantom reference its nickname.
Christie's Geneva is playing auctioneer to this VIP-only timepiece, with estimates soaring between CHF 150,000-250,000. Rumor has it these were personally doled out by Rolex's CEO like golden tickets to Wonka's factory – making this auction the first (and possibly last) chance for mere mortals to own one.
Next comes the Simon Brette Chronomètre Artisans – the horological world's equivalent of a michelin-starred tasting menu served in a back-alley speakeasy. This titanium beauty represents the second act from the watchmaker who's currently fielding more requests than a celebrity chef on Valentine's Day. Limited to just 60 pieces, it follows an inaugural 12-piece run that evaporated faster than champagne bubbles at a wedding.
The auction debut of Brette's work feels reminiscent of when Rexhep Rexhepi first exploded onto the scene – a potential watershed moment for independent watchmaking. Collectors are circling like sharks who've smelled blood in the water.
Rounding out this trifecta is the Konstantin Chaykin ThinKing – a watch so slender it makes supermodels look positively Rubenesque. At just 1.65mm thick, this Russian marvel holds the world record for thinness, achieved through engineering that would make a Swiss watchmaker blush. It comes with its own titanium "bodyguard" case that somehow still keeps the package under 5.4mm – like a pancake wearing a bulletproof vest.
Phillips is offering this prototype with estimates ranging from a eyebrow-raising $429,000 to a jaw-dropping $858,000. The accompanying PalanKing case transforms this horological whisper into something resembling an actual watch – proving that sometimes, you really can be too thin.
As the gavels prepare to fall, one thing's certain: these three timepieces represent more than just telling time – they're wearable trophies in the endless pursuit of horological one-upmanship. The only question remaining is which deep-pocketed collector will claim these mechanical marvels as their own.
