Marteau & Co. Summer Sale Highlights – Independent Watch Picks | SJX Watches
Marteau & Co.’s third online‑only auction, titled “The Heat Wave,” opens at noon Geneva time on June 10 and runs through June 17 in stages. The sale highlights independent watchmaking, featuring a range of unique pieces such as a Voutilainen Decimal Repeater Regulator in 4N gold, an F.P. Journe Chronomètre Souverain “Nacre” with mother‑of‑pearl inlay, and a prototype from Chinese watchmaker Qian Guo Biao. Other notable lots include a collaborative De Bethune × Urwerk Moon Satellite, Vianney Halter’s steampunk Antiqua “Pink‑on‑Pink,” and a Timascus NH55 by Australian independent Nicolas Hacko. Estimates for the pieces span from CHF 7,000‑14,000 for the Timascus watch up to CHF 300,000‑600,000 for the Voutilainen repeater, reflecting the high‑end nature of the catalogue. The auction also showcases innovative concepts like Marteau & Co.’s “Maker’s Fee,” which gives watchmakers a 3 % share of the hammer price, aligning creator and collector interests. Detailed descriptions explain the technical nuances of each watch, from Voutilainen’s use of reworked LeCoultre and LEP ebauches to Lang & Heyne’s traditional Glashütte lever escapement in the König Albert von Sachsen. Bidders can access the full catalogue and place online bids through the Marteau & Co. website, with all times listed in Geneva local time (GMT+1).
Buying Time Analysis: This story highlights the innovative “Maker’s Fee” model and the resurgence of complex independent watchmaking, underscoring how new economic incentives and niche complications are reshaping the luxury watch market.
