News 
The eighth edition of the Only Watch charity auction was held on November 9th at the Four Seasons Hôtel des Bergues in Geneva.
More and more watch brands are keen to support the cause promoted by the association and 52 of them had donated a unique and exclusive timepiece year. Two of them had indeed joined forces to create a shared model. A total of 50 timepieces were auctioned. Prince Albert II of Monaco, who had supported the association since its inception, was present alongside Luc Pettavino, founder and president of Only Watch. Orchestrated for the second time by Christie’s, the auction raised the impressive sum of CHF38,593,000.
Before going under the hammer, the watches were presented all over the world as part of a travelling exhibition with stopovers in Monaco, Dubai, Paris, London, New York, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taipei, before concluding in Geneva. A fascinating journey demonstrating the strong interest in this biennial watchmaking event that has become a must.
Among the lots sold, the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime in steel was sold for CHF31 million (estimate: CHF 2.5 to 3 million). Launched in 2014 to mark the 175th anniversary of the Manufacture, the Grandmaster Chime is part of the brand’s current collection in a white gold version. It has 20 complications, including five acoustic functions. Its double-sided case adorned with a guilloché pattern features a patented reversing mechanism. The million-franc mark was also surpassed: F.P. Journe Astronomic Blue (CHF1.8 million; estimate CHF300,000 to 600,000 francs) and Code 11:59 Tourbillon Openworked by Audemars Piguet (1 million; estimate CHF190,000 to 240,000 francs).
A few days before the auction, Luc Pettavino had won the Special Jury Prize of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève for his unfailing commitment to supporting scientific and medical research on neuromuscular diseases in general, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy in particular.
November 21, 2019