Ineichen Auctioneers, established in Zurich in 1973, is Switzerland’s oldest auction house specialising in watches. Last year, Ineichen set up their own online sales and auction platform. In an effort to remain in the technological vanguard, at the end of this month they will launch their own app to handle online bids. Ineichen is in no danger of falling behind the times: last year, the auctioneer ventured into the realm of NFTs, securing a record bid of CHF 52,080 for an NFT of Konstantin Chaykin’s Joker. Thanks to the success of this pilot project, more NFTs will go under the hammer this year.
Three for the prince of one: Konstantin Chaykin
This coming 30 April, an NFT bearing the image of the Porsche 911 Joker against the Gotham City skyline will be up for auction at Ineichen Auctioneers in Zurich. The NFT image, which took Ineichen three months to create, will be bundled with a Konstantin Chaykin watch and a Porsche 911. The image will also be engraved on the back of the bespoke Konstantin Chaykin Joker XXX, which features a black PVD coated 42mm steel case, and two black ‘eyes’ with red hands, like the gauges of a Porsche 911. This automatic timepiece comes with a purple alligator bracelet with green stitching – the signature colours of the Joker, which are repeated on the bodywork and in the interior of the Porsche that comes with it. The car, which dates from 1986, has been restored with retro styling. But it wasn’t always going to be a Joker car. “I was not planning to make a ‘Joker’ car before it actually turned into one. It was as though it was destined to be part of this project,” confirms Aleksandr Markovsky, the car’s designer.
Offers for the NFT, watch and car bundle will be accepted as soon as the catalogue goes online, on the website, on the app, by phone (+41 44 298 11 44) or email (info@ineichen.com).
And if you can’t bear to wait until 30 April, don’t worry, there’s another auction on 23 April.
Good things come in threes: De Bethune DB28
On 23 April, also in Zurich, the “Precious Blue” sale will showcase five exceptional timepieces that share the colour blue. Alongside the Daniel Roth Perpetual Calendar Time Equation Unique Piece ‘Baguette Sapphires’ Ref. 121.Y.70.722.CM.BD.S11 (estimate CHF 40,000-60,000) and the Konstantin Chaykin Genius Temporis Prototype (estimate CHF 20,000-30,000), three De Bethune watches will be sold to the highest bidder.
Launched in 2016, the DB28 Kind of Blue ‘Golden Hands’ Ref. DB28BTIBN has a six-day power reserve and a moon phase display accurate to within one day in 122 years. This 42.6mm timepiece is part of a limited series made from distinctive blued titanium (a particular shade specific to the brand) with rose gold hands. Estimate: CHF 60,000-80,000.
Another watch with a similar estimate of CHF 60,000-80,000, the DB28 Digitale Mk2 Ref. DB28DN/S comes with a 44mm x 11.6mm titanium case. The manual DB2144 calibre offers jumping hours, moon phases and breathtaking barleycorn guillochage on the dial. This reference differs from the standard version because of its titanium balance wheel, white gold weights and skeletonised barrel wheel on the right side of the dial.
The DB28 Grand Sport ‘Grand Sailor’ Ref. DB28GSBV1AN/S, one of just five, comprises a 44mm case and lugs made from blued titanium on a rubber bracelet in the same shade of blue. Its hand-wound DB2115V2 movement has a six-day power reserve and is water-resistant to 300m. Estimate: CHF 30,000-40,000.
Mark your calendars: 23 and 30 April, Ineichen Auctioneers, Zurich. Let’s see how much these rare lots will fetch.
