Marteau & Co Achieves CHF 5.6 Million White Glove Sale in “The Heat Wave” Auction
A Fully Sold-Out Online Auction Marks A Breakthrough Moment For Independent Watchmaking And Marteau & Co’s Rapid Rise.
The Marteau & Co Heat Wave Auction has once again strengthened the company’s position in the global watch auction landscape, achieving CHF 5.6 million (USD 7 million) in total sales and securing a fully sold White Glove result. The online sale, held from June 10 to June 17, 2026, delivered 100% lots sold and an impressive average lot value of CHF 170,000 (USD 212,000), confirming strong global demand for rare independent horology.
The result marks a significant acceleration for the young auction house, with total sales increasing by 104% compared with The Echo, its previous auction held in March, when it achieved CHF 2.75 million. Less than a year after its founding, Marteau & Co continues to position itself as a serious player in the high-end independent watch market.
Sale Total and Key Highlights
Sale Total: CHF 5,600,000 / USD 7,000,000
Lots Sold: 100% (White Glove Sale)
Average Lot Value: CHF 170,000 / USD 212,000
104% growth vs previous auction (The Echo)
Multiple world records across independent watchmakers
Strong demand for prototypes, experimental creations and unique pieces
Marteau & Co Accelerates Growth With Strong Market Momentum
Compared with The Echo, Marteau & Co’s previous auction held in March, total sales increased from CHF 2.75 million to CHF 5.6 million, reflecting a 104% rise in just three months. The result underlines the accelerating momentum behind the auction house’s early trajectory, supported by strong global bidding activity across all categories.
Co-founders Arthur Touchot and Leonard Pictet described the White Glove result as a defining milestone for the company, highlighting the strength of a highly curated approach focused on rarity, provenance, and independent creativity.
Kari Voutilainen Regulator Decimal Repeater Sets New World Record
The undisputed highlight of the auction was the extraordinary Kari Voutilainen Regulator Decimal Repeater, which achieved CHF 1,560,000 (USD 1,966,718), setting a new world auction record for the Finnish independent watchmaker.
The present lot is a true pièce unique, featuring a 4N yellow gold case with a warm tonal character and a striking chocolate brown dial. The dial architecture is partially openworked, allowing the wearer to observe the decimal repeater mechanism in action, reinforcing its role as both a technical instrument and a visual experience.
Powered by a manually wound calibre based on a Louis Élysée Piguet ébauche, extensively modified by Kari Voutilainen, the watch operates at 18,000 vph and reflects the highest standards of independent haute horlogerie. Offered in perfect working condition and reviewed by the maker prior to sale, the piece also carried additional philanthropic significance, with the possibility for its maker’s fee to be allocated to non-profit initiatives supporting watchmaking and craftsmanship.
Vianney Halter Antiqua Achieves Record Result
Another defining highlight came from Vianney Halter, whose unique Antiqua “Pink-on-Pink” achieved CHF 960,000 (USD 1,210,606), setting a new world record for one of the most influential figures in independent horology.
This is one of only two unique Antiqua watches ever created, making it exceptionally important within Halter’s body of work. Executed in pink gold with harmonised dial tones, this configuration represents a rare aesthetic deviation from the traditional execution of the model.
Produced in 2017, the watch belongs to the final generation of Antiqua pieces and benefits from updated movement architecture, improving serviceability compared to earlier examples. It is powered by the automatic Calibre VH198, featuring a complex calendar display including months, days, date, and leap year indication.
The watch is further distinguished by its original patented Antiqua winder, manufactured in-house by Vianney Halter and valued separately, adding an additional layer of completeness to the set. Despite its highly architectural design language, the Antiqua remains surprisingly wearable at 40mm, reinforcing its status as both an intellectual and functional icon of independent watchmaking.
De Bethune × Urwerk Moon Satellite Highlights Collaborative Masterpiece
The highly significant De Bethune × Urwerk Moon Satellite achieved CHF 480,000 (USD 596,000), reinforcing the enduring strength of landmark collaborative creations in contemporary independent horology.
Originally created for Only Watch 2019, the piece unites Urwerk’s wandering satellite hours with De Bethune’s floating lugs, spherical moonphase, and mirror-polished titanium architecture. The result is widely regarded as one of the most successful collaborations in modern watchmaking, representing a true fusion of both brands’ identities rather than a simple co-signed project.
Beyond its technical significance, the watch carries a strong philanthropic legacy, having been created for the Only Watch charity initiative, reinforcing its importance as both a mechanical and symbolic object.
Experimental Watches Drive Exceptional Demand
Strong bidding was recorded across experimental and prototype pieces, reflecting the growing appetite for workshop-level independent creations.
The Furlan Marri Mechaquartz Chronograph Workshop Prototype opened the sale with extraordinary intensity, achieving CHF 26,400 (USD 32,800) against an estimate of CHF 500–1,000. Featuring a unique two-tone terracotta dial and Case No. 00 designation, the piece represents a one-off variant that helped establish the brand’s collector credibility.
The SpaceOne × Baltic Seconde Majeure “Gratté” Workshop Prototype achieved CHF 54,000 (USD 67,100), significantly exceeding expectations. Featuring a hand-executed gratté dial finish and hand engraving by Théo Auffret, the piece blends SpaceOne’s architectural display language with Baltic’s refined design identity and a jumping-hour module developed by the independent watchmaker himself.
Qian Guo Biao Sets New Benchmark for Chinese Independent Watchmaking
The Qian Guo Biao Facing The Sky 2.0 Prototype achieved CHF 102,000 (USD 126,000), setting a new world record for a Chinese independent watchmaker at auction. As Prototype No. 00 of a strictly limited series of 12 pieces per year, it highlights the growing international recognition of emerging independent horology beyond traditional Swiss and European centres.
The Facing The Sky 2.0 Prototype represents a pivotal moment for contemporary Chinese independent watchmaking. Featuring an in-house AB-02 calibre with a flying balance wheel displayed on the dial side, the watch embodies a philosophy that blends architectural innovation with traditional finishing principles.
Hand-finished elements such as the bird click mechanism, layered blade bridges, and arrow-shaped bridge define its visual and technical identity. Delivered as a full set from the original owner, the piece reinforces the growing strength of early-series independent creations in the secondary market.
Final Thoughts
The Heat Wave confirms Marteau & Co’s rapid emergence as a serious force in the global auction landscape, combining disciplined curation with accelerating international demand.
With White Glove status, multiple world records, and more than double the sales of its previous auction, the results underline three dominant trends in contemporary horology: the continued supremacy of top-tier independent watchmakers, the increasing value of prototypes and experimental creations, and the global expansion of collector interest into new independent markets.
Marteau & Co’s third auction is not only a commercial milestone, but also a clear statement on the evolving structure of the modern watch collecting landscape at its highest level.
For more information, please visit the official MARTEAU & CO website.
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