Kerbedanz 65'27" Tree of Life unique piece sold for CHF 48,640 at Christie's Geneva Watches for ELA 2026 charity auction. One titanium timepiece, 66 hours of art.
What Caught Our Eye
- CHF 48,640: the hammer price at Christie’s Geneva on 9 November 2026 for a single titanium timepiece whose two painted components alone consumed 66 hours of artistic work and firing.
- Artist Gezim Meta devoted 24 hours to the rotating hour disc and 36 hours to the systemic oscillating mass, each hand micro-painted and enamelled on a titanium honeycomb surface.
- The 38 mm grade 5 titanium case houses the extra-thin automatic KRB10 calibre, with a signature alignment occurring every 65 minutes and 27 seconds.
- All proceeds from the sale support ELA’s research into leukodystrophies and its work with affected families.
Design & Mechanics
Sixty-six hours of artistic labour are fixed into a 38 mm wrist piece.
The KRB10 calibre drives a rotating hour disc rather than conventional hands, with the Kerbedanz signature alignment occurring every 65 minutes and 27 seconds. Both the disc and the systemic oscillating mass are milled from titanium in a honeycomb architecture, chosen for weight reduction and structural rigidity. Gezim Meta then covered each surface in hand micro-painting and successive enamel firings, the heat required to lock colour into place accounting for approximately six of the 66 total hours. At this scale, a fraction of a millimetre in line weight alters the composition entirely.
The Cause Behind the Creation
The piece was conceived specifically for the Watches for ELA charity auction, and its theme was chosen with that purpose in mind.
For Kerbedanz, the Tree of Life is a symbol of transmission: knowledge passed between generations of artisans, gestures refined over careers and entrusted to successors. Within the context of ELA’s fight against leukodystrophies, the same symbol carries the weight of resilience and collective effort. CEO Vahé Vartzbed stated that the sale “represents far more than the sale of an exceptional timepiece,” describing it as “an opportunity to give life to a meaningful cause.”
Kerbedanz in Context
Founded in Neuchâtel in 2011 by Aram Petrosyan and Kalust Zorik, Kerbedanz occupies a distinct position among independent Swiss watchmakers, known in part for housing the largest tourbillon ever integrated into a wristwatch.
The 65’27” represents a quieter register within that philosophy: 38 mm, extra-thin, conceived for contemplation rather than spectacle. Its sale at Christie’s Geneva for CHF 48,640 confirms collector appetite for Métiers d’Art pieces that carry a verifiable story, in markets from Geneva to the Gulf.
| Movement | Extra-thin automatic KRB10 calibre |
| Case size | 38 mm |
| Case material | Grade 5 Titanium |
| Dial | Rotating hour disc, titanium honeycomb, hand micro-painted by Gezim Meta; minute indication and diamond hour marker |
| Price | CHF 48,640 (realised at Christie’s Geneva, 9 November 2026) |
| Availability | Pièce Unique 1/1 — sold at Watches for ELA 2026. On request from the maison or an authorised retailer in the Middle East. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the Kerbedanz 65'27" Tree of Life sell for at Christie's Geneva?
The Kerbedanz 65'27" Tree of Life unique piece sold for CHF 48,640 at the 2026 Watches for ELA charity auction, held with the support of Christie's Geneva on 9 November 2026.
Who painted the artwork on the Kerbedanz Tree of Life watch?
Artist Gezim Meta executed all hand micro-painting and enamelling on the piece, spending approximately 24 hours on the rotating hour disc and 36 hours on the systemic oscillating mass, with roughly six additional hours of firing across the two components.
What movement does the Kerbedanz 65'27" Tree of Life use?
The watch houses the extra-thin automatic KRB10 calibre, with a rotating hour disc display and a signature alignment that occurs every 65 minutes and 27 seconds.
Is the Kerbedanz 65'27" Tree of Life available to purchase in the Middle East?
The 65'27" Tree of Life is a Pièce Unique (edition of one) and was sold at the 2026 Watches for ELA auction. It is no longer available. For other Kerbedanz creations, collectors in the Middle East may contact the maison directly through its Neuchâtel atelier.
What cause did the sale of the Kerbedanz Tree of Life support?
All proceeds from the sale benefit ELA (European Leukodystrophy Association), which funds research into leukodystrophies and supports affected individuals and their families.
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