Christie’s Geneva Is Set To Auction Incredibly Rare De Bethune & Richard Mille Watches In May

Christie’s Geneva will host an exceptional auction on May 12, 2025, featuring a rare collection of watches from renowned brands De Bethune and Richard Mille. The event, titled “Rare Watches, Featuring Stories in Time: A Collection of Exceptional Watches,” will be held at the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues. It will offer 16 De Bethune watches and 4 Richard Mille timepieces among a total of 182 pieces, with a low estimate of CHF 14 million. A preview of the collection will open on May 9, 2025, at 9:00 am.

De Bethune has quickly become synonymous with innovative, high-end watchmaking. Founded in 2002 by Denis Flageollet, a master watchmaker, and David Zanetta, a respected expert and collector, the brand has made a significant impact on the world of horology.

De Bethune produces only around 350 timepieces annually in its Swiss workshop, ensuring a combination of exceptional quality and exclusivity. The brand’s legacy draws from a long history of fine craftsmanship and is named after the Chevalier de Béthune, an 18th-century nobleman and revolutionary watchmaker.

This year’s auction line-up includes several standout De Bethune models. Among them is the DB Kind of Two, a reversible timepiece featuring two contrasting dials for dual time zones. The DB8 is a monopusher chronograph, while the DBD boasts an innovative design with jumping time and date dials.

The DB25 comes in both monopusher chronograph and perpetual calendar versions, often featuring a dial that depicts a starry night sky. The DB27, referred to as an ‘ode to simplicity,’ offers a minimalist yet luxurious design. The avant-garde DB28 is notable for its patented “floating lugs,” which pivot on the wrist. Finally, the DB29, reminiscent of a pocket watch, is packed with innovative features.

Richard Mille, established in 1999, has quickly become a name synonymous with pushing the limits of technical innovation and luxury. The auction will feature four remarkable Richard Mille watches, including some of the most notable pieces ever created by the brand. One of the standout models is the RM056, which contains one of the most complex movements ever featured in a Richard Mille timepiece.

Richard Mille’s commitment to innovation is reflected in its ultra-lightweight watches, which have redefined the limits of traditional watchmaking. The RM006 Felipe Massa Tourbillon, introduced in 2004, weighed just 48 grams, excluding the strap. The RM009 Felipe Massa Tourbillon, released the following year, set a world record with a weight of just 28 grams.

In 2010, Richard Mille introduced the RM027 Rafael Nadal Tourbillon, which further pushed the boundaries of lightweight watchmaking, weighing just 20 grams (excluding the strap). The record was once again broken in 2013 with the RM27-01 Rafael Nadal Tourbillon, which weighs an astonishing 18.83 grams, making it the lightest tourbillon ever made, strap included. These models highlight Richard Mille’s commitment to creating watches that are not only luxurious but also revolutionary in terms of both design and engineering.

The upcoming auction at Christie’s promises to be an exciting event for watch collectors and enthusiasts alike. With a lineup featuring some of the most prestigious timepieces from De Bethune and Richard Mille, the sale will offer a rare opportunity to acquire some of the most exceptional watches ever made. As always, the focus will be on craftsmanship, innovation, and the timeless appeal of fine horology. The auction will take place on May 12, 2025, and the preview will begin on May 9 at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, Geneva.