For those who may not be in the know, TimeForArt is the first and only benefit watch auction supporting contemporary art and artists.
It’s set to kick off on Dec 5 at Phillips New York – the North American headquarters and primary saleroom of British auctioneers Phillips, a major international fine art and luxury auction house founded in London in 1796.
This will be the third edition of the biennial charity wristwatch auction organised by the Swiss Institute there.
Of course, the watches to be sold at TimeForArt are highly exciting to collectors because they are “pièces unique” (one-of-a-kind timepieces) created as genuine, ground-up collaborations between the world’s greatest watchmakers and the visionary contemporary artists.
TimeForArt pieces are often conceptualised to be art from the very beginning, with watch movements, cases and dials completely transformed to make a unified artistic statement.
Here are some key pieces expected to be highlights at the upcoming event.
Serpenti Seduttori Automatic TimeForArt Edition
Bvlgari is set to contribute a unique edition of the Serpenti Seduttori Automatic to the TimeForArt benefit auction this year in support of contemporary art.
A masterpiece of Italian design and Swiss excellence, this yellow-gold jewellery watch is distinguished by a dial crafted from natural green marble.
Incidentally, this marks Bvlgari’s second participation in the TimeForArt auction.
The gorgeous 34mm × 9.05mm drop-shaped case in 18k yellow gold, with 36 round brilliant-cut diamonds (~0.6 carats) adorning its bezels, is completed with a crown showcasing a cabochon-cut green emerald.
The caseback sees the engraving “Unique Piece − TimeForArt”, revealing a full-sized oscillating weight decorated with a snake-scale motif and Bvlgari logo.
The watch is powered by the in-house self-winding Calibre BVS100 (Lady Solotempo), operating at 3 Hz with a 50-hour power reserve.
This was developed utilising know-how from Bvlgari’s famous Finissimo and Piccolissimo lines, and features a tungsten carbide oscillating weight and a double-ratchet winding system.
Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XP TimeForArt 2026
Another one-of-a-kind masterpiece, this watch actually traces back its heritage to the Alpine Eagle model family that is rooted in St Moritz, introduced in 1980 as Chopard’s first steel sports watch.
The timepiece features a dial that has been hand-engraved in 18k ethical white gold using bas-relief engraving (where a design, pattern or figure is raised slightly above a flat background plane), depicting the detailed plumage and movement of an eagle in flight with a black patina.
Its 41mm diameter case is just 8mm thick, crafted from Chopard’s proprietary Lucent Steel (made with an 80% recycling rate), featuring an eight-screw bezel and a compass-rose crown.
Powered by an in-house self-winding mechanical movement, this measures a mere 3.3mm thick!
This is equipped with a 22k gold micro-rotor and two stacked barrels providing a 65-hour power reserve.
Defy Chronograph USM TimeForArt Unique Piece
This year also sees Zenith and USM Modular Furniture reuniting to transform the Defy Chronograph into a unique expression of time, light and design.
And this exciting new watch’s mirror-polished dial reflects the world around it, ensuring that no two moments appear quite the same!
Its octagonal case has a 14-sided bezel, surrounding a fully mirror-polished dial that sets it apart from standard coloured-dial editions.
The 37mm stainless-steel case retains the bold geometry of the Defy, accented by USM’s signature palette of four colours and a miniature Haller ball joint.
Additionally, the watch with ladder bracelet will also be bundled with a custom mirrored USM Haller sideboard built to hold up to 24 watches.
Powered by the El Primero 400, the movement features a custom rotor engraved with both the Zenith and USM company logos.
It operates at a frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour (5 Hz) for precise 1/10th of a second tracking and delivers a 55-hour power reserve.
This watch unites Swiss watchmaking precision with USM’s enduring design philosophy, created to benefit Swiss Institute.
Gerald Charles x Igor Mitoraj Maestro GC39 TimeforArt
This is a unique Grand Maestro Jumping Hour watch created in collaboration with the Pietrasanta, Italy-based Atelier Mitoraj, and the Galleria d’Arte Contini.
The mechanical timepiece replaces the traditional rotating hour hand with a numerical aperture.
Perhaps the most eye-catching feature of this watch is a bold, 3D rendition − in brass − of the famous sculpture of Luci di Nara by Igor Mitoraj, on a guilloché dial.
This sits in a 42mm × 42mm Grade 5 titanium case with a 4N PVD bezel, 100m water-resistance, custom caseback engravings and a taupe calfskin strap.
The closed caseback then further extends the watch’s artistic narrative and serves as a permanent, singular record of the unique collaboration.
And because the front dial is dominated by a 3D brass relief, keeping the back closed preserves the solid, sculptural and monument-like feel of the piece rather than breaking the illusion with a standard sapphire exhibition window.
