A $1 Million Richard Mille Yohan Blake Prototype Watch Leads Sotheby’s First Saudia Arabian Sale

Carol Besler
·3-min read

Sotheby’s is tapping into the Saudi Arabian market with its first auction in Diryah on February 8. The sale, called Origins, will be the first commercial auction ever held in the country (however, several charity auctions have been staged in the past). The Origins sale covers all the luxury categories, including art, objects, Hermès handbags, sports memorabilia, and, of course, plenty of watches and jewelry. With a total estimate of between $16 million and $22 million, it is expected to exceed $20 million.

The top lot among the watches is a Richard Mille RM038 Yohan Blake prototype estimated at $1,000,000 – $1,500,000. The watch was custom-made for Blake to test at his run in the London Olympic Games in 2012, where he placed second to fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt. The watch, a tourbillon, is a unique piece spun-off from the regular RM038 series. It was previously auctioned at the 2013 edition of Only Watch, where it sold for €350,000 (about $364,000), donated by Richard Mille. Because it had to be made of something light for use on the track, it has a case made from WE54 – a lightweight alloy used in military aircraft that consists of magnesium, yttrium and other rare earth metals – and a movement made of titanium.

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This custom Cartier Crash, made in 2007, is estimated to sell for $130,000 – $260,000 in Origins, Sotheby’s first Saudia Arabia sale.
This custom Cartier Crash, made in 2007, is estimated to sell for $130,000 – $260,000 in Origins, Sotheby’s first Saudia Arabia sale.

Other watches in the sale include a custom yellow gold Cartier Crash made in 2007, estimated at $130,000 – $260,000; several Rolexes, including a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Bubbles ($10,000 – $15,000) and a platinum Rolex Arabic Day-Date ($60,000 – $90,000). There is also a high jewelry Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ($80,000 – $150,000) and a Patek Philippe Ref. 5070P-001 chronograph in platinum.

This platinum Arabic Rolex Day-Date ($60,000 – $90,000) is one of several watches in Sotheby’s first Saudia Arabia auction, February 8.
This platinum Arabic Rolex Day-Date ($60,000 – $90,000) is one of several watches in Sotheby’s first Saudia Arabia auction, February 8.

On the jewelry side, the sale includes pieces from Harry Winston (notably a pair of ruby, turquoise, and diamond earrings estimated at $35,000 – $55,000), Tiffany (a diamond ring estimated at $150,000 – $200,000), and Bulgari (a Serpenti wristwatch with rubellite, emerald and diamond, estimated at $60,000 – $70,000).

Harry Winston ruby, turquoise, and diamond earrings, estimated at $35,000 – $55,000 In Sotheby’s Origins sale in Saudi Arabia
Harry Winston ruby, turquoise, and diamond earrings, estimated at $35,000 – $55,000 In Sotheby’s Origins sale in Saudi Arabia

Sotheby says that it’s only been over the past five years that partnerships with external commercial and cultural entities have been possible in Saudi Arabia, and the process is complicated. The auction house has been working toward holding sales there for the past few years. The Origins auction also includes works by over 50 artists, including René Magritte, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Wassily Kandinsky, Toyin Ojih Odutola, George Condo, Fernando Botero, Mohammad Al Saleem, Abdulhalim Radwi and Louay Kayyali. The pre-sale exhibition runs from February 1-8 in Diriyah’s Bujairi Terrace, ahead of the auction on February 8.

This Rolex Paul Newman-style Daytona is estimated to sell for $160,000 – $320,000 in Origins, Sotheby’s first sale In Saudi Arabia.
This Rolex Paul Newman-style Daytona is estimated to sell for $160,000 – $320,000 in Origins, Sotheby’s first sale In Saudi Arabia.

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