All watch lots were born for a reason - and, of course, in a single copy. During the entire existence of Only Watch, that is, since 2005, collectors have been able to jointly make an impressive contribution to funding research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy - a rare genetic disease, at the moment, alas, still incurable, to which newborn boys are prone. Seven held auctions (the auctions are held every two years under the patronage of Prince Albert II) brought the Association of Monaco against myopathy 40 million Swiss francs. All brands provide lots for free. The number of participants in the charity initiative is growing steadily. It all started with a modest figure of 34, in 2017 the number of brands was 49, and now there are 52 of them. However, some brands represent joint lots.
Among the old-timers, Patek Philippe occupies a special place - a house that has repeatedly made a significant contribution to the total amount of donations. Last time, the struggle was for a unique titanium chronograph with a perpetual calendar and minute repeater: its final cost was 6.2 million francs, with an estimate of just over 1 million francs. The copy prepared for the current auction is the Grandmaster Chime (Ref. 6300A). A masterpiece of micromechanics combines two dozen different functions, enclosed in a double-sided steel case with a twist mechanism, and two patented world premieres at once: an alarm clock with a preset striking mechanism and a repeater that strikes the date on demand. Estimate is impressive: 2.5-3 million Swiss francs. With an average of 20-50 thousand francs for other lots.
A high estimate has been announced for the skeleton tourbillon Audemars Piguet in the new Code 11.59 case of two shades of gold (190-240 thousand francs). The Hublot Classic Fusion Tourbillon Sapphire Orlinski watch in a fully transparent sapphire crystal case with baguette topaz on the bezel is preliminary estimated at 160-180 thousand francs. The lot also includes the Wild Kong sculpture by Richard Orlinski, with whom Hublot has been collaborating for three years. Some brands offer as a lot not only unique watches, but also an exceptional emotional event: to meet football player Lionel Messi (with the purchase of Jacob & Co, Epic X Chrono Messi watches), spend the night on Place Vendome in the Boucheron mansion (for the buyer of the Ajourée Amvara),drive a McLaren with Bruno Senna (if you buy a Richard Mille RM 11-03 Automatic flyback chronograph McLaren), visit the Zenith watch manufacture and visit the famous attic, where master Charles Vermot hid the drawings and stamps of parts and thus saved them from destruction (for this it is worth trying to protect the iconic Zenith El Primero chronograph).
1 of 6 Code 11.59, Audemars Piguet (190,000-240,000 francs) © Press Office Epic X Chrono Messi, Jacob & Co (70-100,000 Francs) © Press Office Classic Fusion Tourbillon Sapphire Orlinski, Hublot (160– 180,000 francs) © press service RM 11-03 Automatic flyback chronograph McLaren, Richard Mille (220-250 thousand francs) © press service Ajourée Amvara, Boucheron (28-40 thousand francs) © press service Astronomic Blue / AST, FP Journe (300-600 thousand francs) © press service
For the first time in Only Watch, Ferdinand Berthoud participates with the FB1 Night Star chronometer in blue and black tones. Our compatriot Konstantin Chaikin, a debutant of the previous auction, continues his successful line of Jokers. Last time the zirconium model was sold three times higher than the estimate, now Konstantin presents the Joker Selfie in a damask steel case (18-24 thousand francs). The Ulysse Nardin Exo-Sceleton X model is based on the Autonomyo exoskeleton - a kind of orthopedic framework that mimics the human skeleton (35–45 thousand francs).
1 of 3 Chronomètre FB 1 - Night Star, Ferdinand Berthoud (170-200 thousand francs) © press office of Joker Selfie, Konstantin Chaykin (18-24 thousand francs) © press office of Exo-Skeleton X, Ulysse Nardin (35 –45 thousand francs) © press service
Most brands show a variety of variations on the canonical bestseller theme. The split-chronograph Montblanc 1858 received a beautiful blue agate dial with a degrade effect (42-48 thousand francs), and the complex watch with a perpetual calendar Jaeger-LeCoultre Master UItra Thin Perpetual Enamel Chestnut - a chestnut-colored enamel dial (55-70 thousand francs). The Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde skeleton has new red accents (28-35 thousand francs), the chronograph Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute is kept in a new blue-anthracite range (13-16 thousand francs), details of diving watches Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Barakuda are marked in blue (13-20 thousand francs). Chanel is exhibiting the Inseparable set of two J12 twins made of black and white ceramics (22.5-27 thousand francs).
1 of 6 1858 Split Second Chronograph, Montblanc (42,000-48,000 francs) © Press Office Master UItra Thin Perpetual Enamel Chestnut, Jaeger-LeCoultre (55-70,000 Francs) © Press Office Grande Seconde Skelet-One Ceramic, Jaquet Droz (28-35 thousand francs) © press office of Laureato Absolute, Girard-Perregaux (13-16 thousand francs) Fifty Fathoms Barakuda, Blancpain (13-20 thousand francs) © press service of The J12 Inseparable, Chanel (22.5-27 thousand francs) © press service
Some members perform as a duet. Max Büsser (MB&F), together with his longtime partner L'Epée 1839, has prepared a futuristic Tom & T-Rex table clock in the form of a sculpture. Tom, a boy struggling with illness, sits astride a Tyrannosaurus, which symbolizes his inner strength and the strength of science (20-40 thousand francs). The Moon Satellite Only Watch model was created jointly by the chamber ateliers De Bethune and Urwerk: De Bethune craftsmen were responsible for the blued titanium case, the caliber with the proprietary satellite indication was provided by Urwerk engineers (120-150 thousand francs).
Table clocks Tom & T-Rex, MB&F and L'Epée 1839 (20-40 thousand francs) © press service
For which of the 50 collectible lots the main struggle will unfold, to what heights the estimates will soar and, most importantly, what will be the total proceeds of the charity event, you can find out on the Christie's website.>