Sotheby's Launches Abu Dhabi Collectors' Edit: Materiality Luxury Summer Auction
Celebrating rare and precious elements, the curated digital sale features a world-class selection of high jewelry, ultra-rare timepieces, and exceptional automobiles.
Summary
Sotheby's launched the Abu Dhabi Collectors' Edit: Materiality luxury online summer auction, running through July 10, 2026.
The curated sale features unique Hemmerle jewelry pieces and rare timepieces such as the Richard Mille "Rafael Nadal" wristwatch.
Big-ticket lots include a limited-edition Hermès Midas Kelly bag, 2019 Bugatti Chiron, Mercedes‑Benz AMG and more.
Sotheby’s has launched the Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Edit: Materiality, an exclusive online summer auction that reinforces its strategic commitment to the UAE and the broader Middle East. Running from June 24 to July 10, 2026, the auction features a carefully curated selection of just over thirty highly coveted luxury objects with a total estimated value between $6.6 million and $9.7 million USD.
The concept of the sale celebrates “materiality” as the core of luxury, drawing elemental connections across diverse categories — such as the shared carbon origins of high-performance bicycles and diamonds, or the cross-application of gold and titanium in fine watchmaking, motorcars, and haute leather goods. This online initiative builds on the momentum of previous milestone regional events, including last December’s record-setting Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week, which grossed over $133 million USD and solidified the capital’s status as a global hub for world-class collectors.
The auction’s jewelry and timepiece selections feature remarkable rarity and prestigious provenance. Leading the jewelry category is a capsule of five unique creations from the contemporary high jewelry maison Hemmerle, marking the first time these art-forward, material-focused pieces have been offered for public sale. The jewelry lineup is further distinguished by exceptional white and colored diamonds, necklaces from Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels, and a striking 199.75-carat cushion-shaped Mozambique Paraiba tourmaline estimated at $220,000 to $320,000 USD. Meanwhile, the watch division showcases thirteen ultra-rare timepieces crafted from precious metals and titanium. Standout horological lots include an Audemars Piguet ceramic Royal Oak perpetual calendar watch alongside a skeletonized Richard Mille RM35-03 “Rafael Nadal” wristwatch, which carries the auction’s highest timepiece estimate at $350,000 to $600,000 USD.
Beyond jewelry and horology, the curation features highly desirable lifestyle assets, high-performance machinery, and automotive highlights. Collectors can bid on an ultra-exclusive Bugatti Factor ONE high-performance bicycle engineered from carbon fiber, titanium, and steel , as well as a highly coveted, limited-edition 2023 Hermès Black Box Midas Sellier Kelly 25 handbag accented with 18k yellow gold hardware. The automotive category peaks with an exceptional 2019 Bugatti Chiron hypercar, estimated to fetch between $2.85 million and $3.5 million USD. This mechanical lineup is paired with a rare Mercedes-Benz 500 GE 6.0 AMG and a nostalgic Ferrari F1 126C4 “Junior” child’s car offered at no reserve. The entire digital catalog is accessible worldwide through Sotheby’s.
