Sotheby's latest Abu Dhabi auction is packed with luxury collectibles
If your idea of online shopping usually involves adding trainers or kitchen gadgets to your basket, Sotheby’s has something a little more extravagant in mind.
The world-famous auction house has launched its latest Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Edit: Materiality sale, and let’s just say this isn’t your average browse.
Running until July 10, the online auction brings together more than 30 extraordinary lots with a combined value of up to US$9.7 million, giving collectors the chance to bid on everything from a Bugatti Chiron and a Hermès Birkin to spectacular gemstones and some of the world’s most coveted watches.
The idea behind the auction is simple but clever. Rather than grouping items by category, Sotheby’s is celebrating the incredible materials that make these luxury creations so desirable.
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The auction will feature carbon fibre, gold, diamonds, emeralds and sapphires, all transformed into works of art, engineering and craftsmanship.
Car lovers will immediately be drawn to the headline act: a 2018 Bugatti Chiron. One of just 200 examples ever built, the hypercar has travelled only 1,848 kilometres and is expected to sell for between US$2.85 million and US$3.5 million.
Finished in grey carbon with a sleek black interior, it’s powered by Bugatti’s legendary quad-turbocharged W16 engine, making it just as impressive under the bonnet as it is to look at.
Fashion fans aren’t left out either. One of the standout lots is a limited-edition Hermès Black Box Midas Kelly 25 Sellier handbag, complete with elegant 18K yellow gold hardware.
The rare 2023 creation carries an estimate of US$110,000 to US$140,000, proving once again that some handbags are as collectable as fine art.
Jewellery enthusiasts will find plenty to admire too.
A stunning 199.73-carat paraíba-type tourmaline is among the auction’s biggest gemstones, while a 19.08-carat Ceylon sapphire ring by Hemmerle and an emerald-and-diamond necklace from Van Cleef & Arpels add even more sparkle to the catalogue.
Watch collectors are equally well catered for, with exceptional timepieces from Richard Mille and F.P. Journe, each carrying estimates of up to US$400,000.
And because no luxury auction is complete without a surprise or two, there’s even a Bugatti Factor One bicycle.
Limited to just 250 worldwide, the bike is built using the same lightweight carbon fibre found in the marque’s iconic Veyron and Chiron hypercars, with the winning bidder receiving a custom-built frame.
So, if you’re seriously considering a multimillion-dollar purchase or simply fancy window shopping at the very highest level, this is one online catalogue that’s worth a scroll.
After all, it’s not every day you can browse a Bugatti, a Birkin and a gemstone the size of your hand without leaving your sofa.
Open until 10 July. For further information, visit sothebys.com
