Geneva – Christie’s is delighted to announce the expansion of its Swiss regional Management Team as of April 2021. Eveline de Proyart, over 25 years with the firm, will be promoted to Chairwoman Christie’s Switzerland, and Françoise Adam will succeed her as the new Managing Director, Christie’s Geneva. Christie’s Zurich will continue to be managed by Jutta Nixdorf, in post as Managing Director since 2017.

As of April, Eveline, Françoise and Jutta will be working together to further develop Christie’s business in Switzerland, not only ensuring its market leading position is maintained, but also continuing to innovate for the future. This additional position in Christie’s management structure underlines the importance of Switzerland for Christie’s and its significance for the international art market.

The Swiss born Françoise Adam returns to Christie’s where she originally worked from 2003-2009, firstly in Geneva as Business Coordinator and then in Paris as Client Development Manager. During what were pioneering years for Christie’s Paris, Françoise was an important member of the team responsible for the Yves Saint Laurent & Pierre Bergé Collection, still considered as one of the most
important auctions of the 21th Century. Françoise re-joins us from Safra S.A. where she held the position of Art Department Manager.

Bertold Müller, Managing Director Christie’s EMEA commented: “Over the past 50 years, Christie’s Geneva has turned into a key sale center for our company, with the Spring and Autumn Luxury auction weeks offering the finest jewellery, watches and wines. Switzerland is also a key region for securing consignments in all categories - from Old Master to art of the 20th and 21st century, from design to valuable collections. Many of these works of art go on to be sold in our international salerooms. To build upon these longstanding contributions and further foster our strong relationship with collectors across the country, we are very pleased to complement our senior management team in Switzerland.”

Eveline de Proyart joined Christie’s 25 years ago as Head of Press, and was promoted to Managing Director Christie’s Geneva and Vice President Christie’s Switzerland in 2012. Under her leadership, introductions from Geneva to our international auction centers have increased substantially. Eveline was telephone bidding with an important client on the Oppenheimer Blue, selling for $58 million, becoming the most expensive piece of jewellery ever sold at Christie’s and under her watch the charity auction ONLY WATCH moved in 2017 to Christie’s, setting the world record for any watch sold at auction at CHF31 million in 2019. The next edition takes place on 6 November 2021. In 2015 Christie’s Geneva reintroduced the very successful Fine and Rare Wines auctions and previews each Spring and Autumn the handbag highlights of the season.

Notes to editors

In 1968, Christie’s opened its first auction room on the Continent in Geneva. Ten years later, in 1978 Christie’s expanded within Switzerland by opening a second representative office in Zurich.
The first auction in Geneva took place on 7 June 1968 offering a collection of Meissen porcelain with European Royal provenance, selling for CHF 1,140,000, with the first Jewellery auction in Geneva held the following year on 1 May 1969, selling the collection of Nina Dyer for over CHF 12.7 million, an unprecedented sum at the time. The first Wine auction in Geneva took place in April 1974. Some prices achieved in the first year included: CHF 1,500 for an Impériale of Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou 1889; CHF 220 for a bottle Chateau Cheval-Blanc 1947 and CHF 250 for a bottle Chateau Lafitte 1945. The first stand-alone Watch auction in Geneva took place on 29 April 1975 and included watches from the collection of Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III of France.

TOP 3 JEWELS LOTS SOLD IN GENEVA
      • The Oppenheimer Blue, sold in May 2016 for US$58 million
      • The Pink Legacy, sold in November 2018 for US$50.3 million
      • The Orange, sold in November 2013 for US$35.5
TOP 3 NOBLE PROVENANCE WATCH LOTS SOLD IN GENEVA
      • Eric Clapton’s Patek Philippe, reference 2499/100 sold for CHF3.4 million in November 2012
      • Mr. Havas’, also known as the founder of AFP (Agence Presse France) Breguet, No 217, sold for CHF3.2 million in May 2016
      • The Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia Patek Philippe, reference 2497 sold for CHF2.9 million in May 2017
TOP 3 WINE LOTS SOLD IN GENEVA
      • Château Cheval Blanc, 1947, 1 Impériale sold for CHF298,500 in 2010, a record price for an Impériale
      • Château Mouton-Rothschild millésime 1945, 12 bouteilles sold for CHF161,000 in 2012
      • Romanée-Conti millésime 1945, 1 bouteille sold for CHF109,250 in 2011
NEXT SALE SEASON IN GENEVA at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues
Monday 10 May 2021              Important Watches
Tuesday 11 May 2021               Fine Wines
Wednesday 12 May 2021       Magnificent Jewellery