The Out-of-This-World Watch Collection That Could Fetch Millions at Auction

By Annie Davidson Watson | September 25, 2023

Chicago-based auction house Hindman is kicking off its inaugural New York sale season with an Oct. 18 auction that’s, well, out of this world: Time & Space: Watches From the Collection of Glen de Vries. Expected to earn millions, the collection of over 100 timepieces once belonged to late tech tycoon and billionaire Glen de Vries, who flew into space aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin in 2021. The single-owner collection include rare models from such celebrated watchmakers as F.P. Journe, Richard Mille, and A. Lange & Söhne.

“The legacy and impact of Mr. de Vries as an innovator in the field of clinical trials cannot be overstated,” said Hindman’s managing director of the New York region, Gemma Sudlow, in a statement. “The opportunity to tell the story of this visionary businessman, philanthropist, and thought leader as a collector adds a new dimension to celebrating the life and impact of Mr. de Vries. His passion for horology and art come together in this compelling group of objects.”

Cofounder and CEO of Medidata Solutions (a technology company that revolutionized clinical trials and medical research), de Vries had a lifelong passion for space travel as well as watchmaking. He died in a plane crash at the age of 49, one month after his Blue Origin flight.

“Mr. de Vries had such a deep appreciation for the science of watchmaking, being drawn to some of the most sophisticated complications like tourbillons, perpetual calendars, flyback chronographs, and other groundbreaking mechanical achievements,” said Sean Johnson, Hindman’s senior specialist of watches, in a statement.

Below is a look at few of the exceptional pieces and top lots from the upcoming auction.