Sotheby’s deepens its commitment to the Middle East and particularly the United Arab Emirates, with the launch of Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Edit: Materiality, a new luxury summer auction running from 24 June to 10 July with an estimated value of USD 6.6–9.7 million.

Featuring just over thirty carefully selected objects, the online sale explores luxury through the materials that define it and the exceptional craftsmanship that transforms them into highly coveted creations. Bringing together categories that often intersect through shared materials and technical mastery, the auction highlights the relationship between rarity, design, and savoir-faire.

The sale includes Sotheby’s core luxury categories spanning high jewellery, prestigious timepieces, luxury handbags, high-performance bicycles, and exceptional automobiles, while building on the success of Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week, Sotheby’s record-breaking luxury event held in the UAE capital last December.

Leading the auction is a remarkable selection of five High Jewelry creations by Hemmerle, offered publicly for the first time. Recognised for its intellectual approach to jewellery design and unconventional use of materials including iron, aluminium, wood, copper, and bronze, Hemmerle remains one of the most sought-after names in contemporary High Jewelry, making this presentation particularly significant.

The jewellery selection is further elevated through exceptional white and coloured diamond pieces, a remarkable 200-carat Paraíba tourmaline from Mozambique, and necklaces by Bvlgari and Van Cleef & Arpels featuring emeralds, rock crystal, and peridot beads.

Timepieces also take centre stage through thirteen ultra-rare watches crafted from materials including gold, platinum, titanium, tantalum, and hardstone coral. Highlights include a Richard Mille RM35-03 Rafael Nadal skeletonised wristwatch, alongside exceptional pieces from Patek Philippe, Rolex, F.P. Journe, Urwerk, and Audemars Piguet.

Completing the offering is a highly exclusive edit of collectibles including a rare Hermès limited-edition Midas Sellier Kelly 25 in black box leather with 18-carat yellow gold hardware, the Bugatti Factor ONE high-performance bicyclecrafted from carbon fibre, titanium, and steel, and exceptional automobiles by Bugatti and Mercedes-Benz, alongside a Ferrari 126C4 child’s car.

The launch marks another chapter in Sotheby’s growing presence in Abu Dhabi, following a series of initiatives including its exhibition of rare diamonds at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, the Carry Me luxury handbag festival, and the inaugural Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week, whose auctions generated more than USD 133 million, setting a regional record.