Fall auction season opens early: Sotheby's Important Watches, Hong Kong takes place on September 18, 2026.
The headline lot is the only known white-gold Cartier Cheich, a 2010 commission carrying an estimate of HK$8-40 million (roughly $1-5.1 million USD). Beyond that trophy piece, the sale brings deep Cartier Crash and London lots alongside significant Patek Philippe and F.P. Journe offerings.
The Cheich story
The Cartier Cheich is one of the rarest shapes in the Cartier catalogue. Originally created in the 1970s, the design was inspired by the headdress worn by Tuareg nomads (the "cheich" wrapping that shields against desert sand). Only a handful were ever made, and most were yellow gold.
This white-gold example was a private commission in 2010, making it both modern in execution and connected to one of the most collectible Cartier references. The estimate range reflects the uncertainty around what a unique piece like this will bring: serious Cartier collectors have pushed shaped cases to record territory in recent years.
The broader Cartier presence
Sotheby's has loaded this sale with Cartier shapes beyond the Cheich. Crash references (the melted, Salvador Dalí-adjacent design that's become a collector obsession) are well represented. So are London Cartier pieces, which carry their own provenance premium among those who track where a Cartier was originally sold.
Patek Philippe and F.P. Journe
The sale isn't Cartier-only. Significant Patek Philippe references and F.P. Journe pieces fill out the catalog. For collectors watching independents, the Journe lots are worth attention. F.P. Journe secondary-market prices have shown strength as the brand's production remains limited and its founder approaches the end of active involvement.
The fall auction season
This Hong Kong sale kicks off a busy stretch. Phillips, Christie's, and Sotheby's all stage major watch auctions through October and November in Geneva, Hong Kong, and New York. The results from this sale will set early signals for how the fall market shapes up.
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