ABU DHABI, UAE, GENEVA and SINGAPORE, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's watch collecting community is poised for a special sale this week, as once-in-a-lifetime timepieces go up for auction with FutureGrail. The renowned auction house is anticipating a bidding frenzy for extremely rare vintage timepieces. The sale features 'one-of-one' Patek Philippe references, exquisite pendant watches from Vacheron Constantin, rare Audemars Piguet pocket watches and sought-after Rolex models.
Rolex by George Daniels
Enthusiasts will be drawn to Lot 33, a special Oyster Perpetual 'Datejust' reference by George Daniels, the famed English horologist who is widely regarded as one of the greatest watchmakers of all time.
Ultra-rare Audemars Piguet pocket watch
One stunning item is a 'Triple Complication' Art Deco pocket watch, made by Audemars Piguet for retailer E. Gübelin in 1911. There are only ten known examples, with the only other 18-carat white gold reference last appearing at auction in 1990. Bids could go higher than the conservative range of $200,000 - $400,000.
Unique, exquisite Patek Philippe timepieces
Potentially the biggest draw is an extremely rare 1954 Patek Philippe 'Turtle Lugs' (Ref. 2549/1J), with silver guilloché (decoratively engraved) dial with 'tropical' patina. This is one of only eight known examples, with a beautiful case manufactured by Markowski. Its 'Turtle Lugs' refers to curved extensions that resemble flippers. It represents a true 'Grail' for collectors.
Other Patek Philippe highlights:
- Unique Patek Philippe Ref. 3589/90G 'Ellipse d'Or' (Golden Ellipse) in 18-carat white gold, with diamonds and a black onyx dial
- The world's only 1995 Patek Philippe Ref. 4700/160J with yellow gold vertical 'tramé' (ribbed dial), with diamond and ruby setting
- A 1955 Reference 2526 G HB (2nd series) white-gold and diamond round wristwatch with silver 'tropical' dial
- A limited-edition 'World Time Moon' (Reference 5575 G – 001) made for the watchmaker's 175th anniversary.
"Our May auction represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors to own some of the world's rarest timepieces. Many of these watches may not be seen at auction again for a generation," said Ali Nael, FutureGrail CEO.
Several auction timepieces feature in Nael's book 'My Dream Collection'.
FutureGrail is one of the world's leading auction houses for exceptional timepieces, with a museum in Singapore and expanding global presence in Switzerland and the UAE.
FutureGrail's May Online Auction runs 9th to 12th May at www.futuregrail.com/auctions. Buyer and seller premiums - 6% of the hammer.
Jon Ivan-Duke , +971 58 285 7333, jon@dukemir.com
Jay Kau, +6017-9088 978 , jay@futuregrail.com
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Rare Watches Spark Frenzied Interest in FutureGrail's May Auction
Rare Watches Spark Frenzied Interest in FutureGrail's May Auction
SEOUL, South Korea and SHANGHAI, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Taimei Technology (HK.02576), a leading AI-powered drug clinical development platform company, and C&R Research (A359090), a top-tier CRO in South Korea, signed an enterprise-level strategic partnership agreement, officially launching the development of an AI-based clinical trial operations system.
Under this partnership, C&R Research will deploy Taimei Technology's leading digital infrastructure and AI Agents across multiple clinical trials to automate and enhance trial design and operational workflows. A particular focus will be on data management, where the EDC + iDM Agent combination will be actively adopted. Innovations such as intelligent data capture and governance, AI-driven eCRF generation, and automated test case creation are expected to boost productivity and quality in clinical research.
Leveraging its full-stack AI capabilities, 13 years of industry expertise, and global operational experience, Taimei Technology has deeply focused on the clinical research vertical, and has been among the first to build a comprehensive AI Agent matrix, enabling scenario-based AI applications across the entire clinical research workflow. Key offerings include eCollect (EDC), eBalance (RTSM), eCOA, eCooperate (CTMS), and eArchives (eTMF), iDM Agent, iCTA Agent, iPV Agent; as well as the iMAP intelligent medical analytics platform etc. These products can be flexibly configured to address critical pain points across clinical research—from efficiency to scientific insights—significantly improving trial efficiency and success rates.
The two companies plan to integrate AI-driven operational models with Korea's CRO-centric clinical trial execution system, thereby building a more efficient and intelligent clinical research framework.
Korea has established a mature ecosystem in innovative drug development and clinical execution, with clinical trial activity and participation in global pipelines ranking among the top worldwide. Industry observers believe this partnership goes beyond technology adoption and will serve as a key catalyst for accelerating the AI-driven digital transformation of South Korea's clinical trial landscape.
Moon Tae Yoon, CEO of C&R Research, commented: "As clinical trials become increasingly complex, AI-based data management and operational automation are emerging as essential competitive factors. Through this partnership, we will build a more efficient and innovative clinical execution system."
Zhao Lu, Chairman of Taimei Technology, stated: "This partnership represents an important opportunity to bring the AI clinical operations experience we have accumulated in global markets into South Korea. We look forward to collaborating with more Korean ecosystem partners to continuously drive the intelligent transformation of clinical trials."
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Taimei Technology and C&R Research Announce Strategic Partnership to Build AI-Powered Clinical Trial Innovation
