Christian Klings - The Geneva Watch Auction: XVIII Geneva Friday, November 3, 2023 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Christian Klings
    Year: 2014
    Movement No: N°1
    Model Name: Open Version
    Material: 18k white gold
    Calibre: Manual wind, Christian Klings developed
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle
    Dimensions: 40mm Diameter
    Signed: Dial and movement signed

  • Catalogue Essay

    It was on 26 January 2012, that the consignor of the present watch finally receives a response from Christian Klings whom he had been trying to contact for years to no avail. The email exchanges became frequent with a creative ping pong being played between the two, with Klings accepting to turn the collector’s ideas into a mechanical masterpiece.

    Klings accepted the commission that featured the following brief: a novel movement made from scratch, time only, white metal, a high degree of finish and Klings signature elements.

    Two years later the collector was presented by a unique masterpiece with a movement architecture and structure never seen before, aptly named the Open Version the habitual flat bridges were replaced by superbly mirror polished tapering tubular ones perfectly standing out above a frosted gilt base plate.

    Two of Klings signature elements stand out, the 40mm tear drop lug case and what seems to be a guilloché dial which in fact is silk fabric that has over time changed to a mesmerizing champagne hue giving the watch even greater character.

    Pronounce the name Christian Klings before a crowd of lovers of technical mastery and you will receive a revered silence and knowing nods. Klings, a German born and based watchmaker is known by the cognoscenti for his superlative timepieces made by hand using traditional watchmaking methods.

    Klings is as much an artist as he is a watchmaker and thus focuses on creating bespoke timepieces upon commission from savvy collectors. His creations have ranged from a 10-second tourbillon with a free balance escapement, to detent escapements to highly finished time-only watches with single-beat escapements.

    The present Open Vision N°1 is the only example known with this fully tubular architecture displaying Klings’ desire to try new techniques and think out of the box in order to create truly unique masterpieces.

41

A most probably unique and wonderfully crafted white gold wristwatch with tubular movement architecture and silk dial

2014
40mm Diameter
Dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF50,000 - 100,000 
€52,100-104,000
$54,900-110,000

Sold for CHF222,250

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Europe, and Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
AGhotbi@phillips.com

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

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The Geneva Watch Auction: XVIII

Geneva Auction 3 - 4 November 2023