Next spring, Sotheby’s will stage a trilogy of auctions in Geneva, Hong Kong and New York known collectively as the Gérald Genta Icon of Time Sale. In all, 100 of the great watch designer’s original drawings, selected and sourced directly from the estate, will be sold with accompanying NFTs. As a bonus, the Sotheby’s Important Watches Sale in Geneva in May will feature Gérald Genta’s very own Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, which coincides neatly with the 50th anniversary of the famous octagonal watch’s launch.

If you know anything about wristwatches, then you probably know that it is impossible (or very, very, very expensive) to get hold of either an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak or a Patek Philippe Nautilus. Genta designed them both and the original drawings for both of these trophy timepieces will be among the drawings offered in the auctions.

In the world of watch collectors, this is about as big as the deal gets. (If you prefer handbags to watches, think of it like being able to buy Jean Louis Dumas’s designs for the Birkin Bag and acquire Jane Birkin’s very own Birkin, with the topical addition of an NFT to complete the package.)