816Σ︎
Kiu Tai Yu
HK 2000
A highly collectible, exceptionally rare and important limited edition white gold wristwatch with visible escapement, scrolled lugs and oriental dial, numbered 14 of a limited edition of 20 pieces, made to commemorate the New Millenium
Estimate
HK$150,000–300,000
€16,800–33,700
$19,200–38,500
Manufacturer
Kiu Tai Yu
Year
Circa 2000
Movement No
14/20
Case No
14/20
Model Name
HK 2000
Material
18K white gold
Calibre
Automatic, cal. 11 ½’’’, 25 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
Crocodile
Clasp/Buckle
18K white gold and red enamel Kiu Tai Yu pin buckle
Dimensions
35mm diameter
Signed
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Full-Cataloguing
Good To Know:
- Fresh to the market, Numbered 14 of 20 pieces made in white gold
- One of only 4th known white gold example of such configuration
- First Asian watchmaker to join AHCI in 1992
Kiu Tai Yu (1946–2020) was a man of firsts. He was the first Asian watchmaker to complete a tourbillon wristwatch, and in 1992 the first independent Asian watchmaker invited into the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants.
In 1990 he walked into Baselworld and handled a tourbillon wristwatch for the first time. It was love at first sight. He went home determined to make one himself. In 1993 he invented the Mystery Tourbillon: a free-floating regulating organ that seemed to need neither visible bridge nor carriage. Patents followed in China, Switzerland and the United States.
In 1999 he presented “The Joy of the Millennium” in platinum, identified by its large gold balance bridge and off-centre time display.
His output was extremely scarce, across his entire oeuvre, only nine of his creations are known to have appeared on the auction market. This HK 2000 is fresh to the market, numbered 14 cased in 18K white gold, and only the fourth known white-gold example of this configuration to grace an auction room. The series was announced as 20 pieces with a possibility that fewer were actually finished.
On the dial, time is displayed on the lower half of the canvas, highlighted by a gold plaque in the shape of a yuanbao (元寶), the ingot currency of imperial China, with the year “2000” along the top. Celebrating the turn of the new millennium, he inscribed the Chinese blessings “千年之禧” and “吉祥如意” on the plaque — “Millennium Jubilee” and “Good Fortune and Fulfilment.” East meets West in the hour markers, Roman, Arabic and Chinese numerals make up eleven indexes, with “2000” in place of 12 o’clock. The most important feature of the dial is the visible escapement. Taking centre stage in an aperture with a red background, it sits above the time display, supported by two yellow-gold arms.
Phillips is honored to present one of the original early works to collectors of a one-of-a-kind legendary watchmaker.
- Fresh to the market, Numbered 14 of 20 pieces made in white gold
- One of only 4th known white gold example of such configuration
- First Asian watchmaker to join AHCI in 1992
Kiu Tai Yu (1946–2020) was a man of firsts. He was the first Asian watchmaker to complete a tourbillon wristwatch, and in 1992 the first independent Asian watchmaker invited into the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants.
In 1990 he walked into Baselworld and handled a tourbillon wristwatch for the first time. It was love at first sight. He went home determined to make one himself. In 1993 he invented the Mystery Tourbillon: a free-floating regulating organ that seemed to need neither visible bridge nor carriage. Patents followed in China, Switzerland and the United States.
In 1999 he presented “The Joy of the Millennium” in platinum, identified by its large gold balance bridge and off-centre time display.
His output was extremely scarce, across his entire oeuvre, only nine of his creations are known to have appeared on the auction market. This HK 2000 is fresh to the market, numbered 14 cased in 18K white gold, and only the fourth known white-gold example of this configuration to grace an auction room. The series was announced as 20 pieces with a possibility that fewer were actually finished.
On the dial, time is displayed on the lower half of the canvas, highlighted by a gold plaque in the shape of a yuanbao (元寶), the ingot currency of imperial China, with the year “2000” along the top. Celebrating the turn of the new millennium, he inscribed the Chinese blessings “千年之禧” and “吉祥如意” on the plaque — “Millennium Jubilee” and “Good Fortune and Fulfilment.” East meets West in the hour markers, Roman, Arabic and Chinese numerals make up eleven indexes, with “2000” in place of 12 o’clock. The most important feature of the dial is the visible escapement. Taking centre stage in an aperture with a red background, it sits above the time display, supported by two yellow-gold arms.
Phillips is honored to present one of the original early works to collectors of a one-of-a-kind legendary watchmaker.