There has always been a fine line between horology and art. For some watchmakers, the distinction has become increasingly difficult to draw. Beyond the pursuit of mechanical precision, contemporary horology has become a canvas for experimentation, bringing together traditional craftsmanship, unconventional materials and creative disciplines that extend well beyond the watchmaking workshop.
It is this relationship that lies at the heart of TimeForArt 2026, a biennial benefit auction organised by Swiss Institute in partnership with Phillips. Returning for its third edition as part of The New York Watch Auction XV on 5 December 2026, the initiative brings together exceptional one-of-a-kind timepieces created by some of the industry’s most established names and independent watchmakers.
Unlike a conventional watch auction, TimeForArt places artistic expression at the centre of its proposition. More importantly, 100 per cent of the proceeds, including the buyer’s premium, will support Swiss Institute’s exhibitions, artist residencies, public programmes and educational initiatives, all offered free to the public.
This year’s participating watchmakers approach the brief in markedly different ways. Some turn to traditional decorative crafts, while others explore architecture, sculpture and materials more commonly associated with jewellery or the visual arts.
Here are some of the creations that demonstrate how far the boundaries of watchmaking can be pushed.
Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute – Les Volumes du Temps
For Jaquet Droz, the challenge was to rethink how time could be represented without conventional hands. The result is Les Volumes du Temps, a unique creation developed in collaboration with Fiona Djukanovic, a student at Switzerland’s Académie de Meuron.
Rather than relying on a flat dial, the watch explores three-dimensional forms, with two sculptural structures rising above the surface to create an architectural composition. Beneath them, rotating discs display the hours and minutes, allowing the sculptural elements to remain the visual focus.
The 41mm white gold case houses an elaborate dial featuring champlevé enamelling, with approximately 40 geometric elements rendered in varying shades of blue. Hand-engraved sunray patterns and carefully graduated surfaces interact with changing light, creating an impression of depth and movement.
Powered by the Jaquet Droz JD2653.SI movement with a 68-hour power reserve, the watch brings together technical ingenuity and an artistic perspective that challenges conventional dial design.
What makes this piece particularly relevant to TimeForArt is its collaboration with an emerging artist, bringing the auction’s commitment to nurturing creative talent directly into the design process.
ZENITH DEFY Chronograph USM – TimeForArt Unique Piece
Industrial design provides the starting point for ZENITH‘s contribution, created in collaboration with Swiss furniture manufacturer USM Modular Furniture.
The relationship between the two companies dates back, creatively speaking, to the 1960s. USM patented its Haller modular furniture system in 1965, while ZENITH introduced the original DEFY and its El Primero chronograph movement in 1969. Both became enduring examples of Swiss engineering and design.
For TimeForArt, the partners revisit their DEFY Chronograph USM collaboration with a distinctive mirror-polished dial. Its reflective surface captures the surrounding environment, allowing light, colour and architecture to become part of the watch’s appearance.
The three overlapping chronograph counters introduce USM’s signature yellow, orange, green and blue palette, while a miniature Haller ball joint at the tip of the chronograph seconds hand provides a playful reference to the furniture system.
The 37mm stainless-steel watch retains the angular geometry of the DEFY and is powered by the high-frequency El Primero 400 automatic chronograph movement, offering a 55-hour power reserve.
The collaboration also extends beyond the wrist. Accompanying the watch is a specially designed mirrored USM Haller sideboard with storage for up to 24 watches, transforming a functional piece of furniture into an extension of the collector’s experience.
Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XP TimeForArt 2026 Edition 3
Chopard turns to nature for its contribution, reinterpreting the Alpine Eagle through the traditional art of hand-engraving.
While the collection is typically recognised for its textured dial inspired by an eagle’s iris, this unique edition takes a more literal approach. Its white gold dial depicts an eagle’s wing in flight, with individual feathers rendered in intricate bas-relief.
The engraving required approximately 80 hours of work, with the artisan carefully sculpting variations in depth and texture across a dial measuring no more than one millimetre thick. A black patina accentuates the details, allowing light and shadow to reveal the subtle contours of the composition.
Housed in a 41mm Lucent Steel case measuring just 8mm thick, the watch is powered by Chopard’s self-winding L.U.C 96.17-L movement. Its micro-rotor and twin-barrel construction provide a 65-hour power reserve while preserving the watch’s slender proportions.
Rather than radically reinventing the Alpine Eagle’s familiar silhouette, Chopard uses the dial as a miniature sculptural surface. It is a reminder that artistic expression in watchmaking need not depend on elaborate complications; sometimes, the greatest impact comes from the patient work of a skilled hand.
Bvlgari Serpenti Seduttori Automatic – TimeForArt Edition
For Bvlgari, artistic expression begins with a material deeply rooted in classical architecture: marble.
The Italian maison’s contribution is a unique interpretation of the Serpenti Seduttori Automatic, distinguished by a dial fashioned from Verde Alpi marble quarried in Italy’s Aosta Valley.
Its rich green colour and natural veining introduce an organic quality to the familiar serpent-inspired silhouette. No two sections of natural marble are identical, lending the dial a character that cannot be precisely replicated.
The choice also connects the watch to Bvlgari’s Roman heritage, where marble has long been associated with architecture, sculpture and decorative arts.
The 34mm yellow gold case is framed by 36 brilliant-cut diamonds, while a cabochon-cut emerald adorns the crown. The supple gold bracelet retains the Serpenti Seduttori’s distinctive jewellery-like appearance.
Beneath its decorative exterior lies the BVS100 Lady Solotempo automatic movement, developed and manufactured at Bvlgari’s Swiss watchmaking facility in Le Sentier. Offering a 50-hour power reserve, the calibre can be viewed through a transparent caseback engraved with the words “Unique Piece – TimeForArt”.
By bringing together natural stone, jewellery craftsmanship and mechanical watchmaking, Bvlgari demonstrates how a familiar design can take on a different artistic identity through the thoughtful use of materials.
The TimeForArt 2026 auction takes place on 5 December 2026, as part of Phillips’ New York Watch Auction XV. All proceeds will benefit Swiss Institute’s programmes supporting contemporary artists and public engagement with the arts.
