In a move that blends luxury with legacy, the private wine collection of the late Jörg Bucherer, the man who once helmed a global watch empire before selling it to Rolex, is set to go under the hammer. Christie's will host the auction, with proceeds flowing into the Jörg G. Bucherer Foundation, a charitable trust poised to make waves in Switzerland's cultural and scientific spheres.
Bucherer's collection is no ordinary assortment of bottles. It’s a symphony of vintages, a testament to a life steeped in refinement. Over 2,400 bottles, spanning 238 lots, will be up for grabs. Among them are treasures like six magnums of Château Haut-Brion 1989, expected to fetch between £16,000 and £20,000, and a case of Domaine Leroy, Romanée-Saint-Vivant 1999, with estimates soaring to £60,000. The collection is a kaleidoscope of Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Spanish wines, each bottle a whisper of Bucherer's discerning taste.
Bucherer's journey from watch magnate to wine connoisseur is a tale of passion and precision. For 46 years, he steered his family’s watch and jewelry business, expanding it into a global empire before selling it to Rolex in a landmark deal. With no heirs to inherit his legacy, he turned his attention to philanthropy, establishing a foundation that will support the arts, sciences, and children with disabilities in Switzerland. The wine auction is the first major step in funding these ambitious initiatives.
The auction, running from April 16 to 30, is more than a sale—it’s a celebration of Bucherer’s life. His wines, stored in cellars in Lucerne and Marbella, were more than investments; they were a reflection of his meticulous nature. As Christie’s prepares to uncork this legacy, the world watches, glasses raised, to toast a man who turned time into timelessness and wine into a work of art.
