Only Watch 2017: 50 unique watches for a good cause (II)
The seventh edition of ONLY WATCH sale of unique watches will take place in Geneva on November 11th to raise funds for research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This four-part series takes a look at some of the watches under the auctioneer’s hammer.
Imagine the cream of watchmaking banding together in aid of a good cause, and you have Only Watch. The auction, which takes place under the high patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, was initiated by Luc Pettavino, President of the Association Monégasque Contre les Myopathies, and has raised more than €25 million since its first edition in 2005. Each watch crossing the block is totally unique, and has been specially made for the occasion by the sector’s leading firms and most talented independent watchmakers. This will be the second time the sale has taken place in Geneva, on November 11th this year. Prior to this, the Monaco Yacht Show will be the venue, September 27th to 30th, for the first leg in the promotional world tour that will take all the watches going under the gavel to Asia, the Arabian Gulf, the United States and Europe.
Adding to the excitement this year are the “experiences” certain brands plan to host for the winning bidder on their watch. Another special feature of the 2017 auction are the two collaborative projects: they are Carpe Diem, powered by Agenhor’s AgenGraph movement inside a case designed by students at Geneva University of Art and Design (HEAD), and the WOSTEP school watch, a joint endeavour by 16 alumni of the Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program. Joining them will be 47 one-of-a-kind collector’s pieces. Proceeds from the sale will go towards research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a severe form of muscular dystrophy that leads to weakening and wasting of the limbs, and eventually the respiratory, cardiac and digestive muscles.
