Exclusive Watches for the Only Watch 2017 Charity Auction
With 50 timepieces donated, this year's Only Watch Charity Auction earned over 10.8 million USD that will go toward Duchenne muscular dystrophy research. Brands such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Montblanc, Speake-Marin, and more donated one-of-a-kind timepieces for this biennial charity auction.
This year, the auction raised money to aid research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. Symptoms for Duchenne muscular dystrophy typically begin in early childhood, between ages three and five.
Since their first auction in 2005, Only Watch has raised over 25 million Euros for scientific and medical research programs, and only 2 percent of the donations go toward the cost of organising the auctions.
Watch enthusiasts bid on not only exclusive watches but also one-of-a kind experiences. For instance, Hublot offered a meet and great with Usain Bolt, and Bell & Ross invited their winning bidder to join the Renault Sport Formula One Team at the last race of the championship in Abu Dhabi.
This year's auction took place on Saturday, November 11 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Here were a few of the top performing watches:
- Patek Philippe’s Reference 5208T-010 was the top performer at the auction, selling for over 6 million dollars, almost six times its estimate. The winning bidder also received a private lunch with Patek Philippe president, Thierry Stern, and a visit of the brand’s Geneva workshops.
- F.P. Journe’s Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante Bleu sold for 1,150,000 CHF (1,163,496 USD). It was only expected to raise 400,000 CHF.
- A Tudor Black Bay Bronze sold for 350,000 CHF (354,107 USD)- well above the estimate of 5,523 USD. The winning bidder will be flown to the Tudor headquarters in Switzerland for a private tour.
Andersen Geneve Tempus Terrae
The dial shows one rotating ring that displays 24 timezones with day-night coloration in dark blue and silvery white metal.
Estimated Price : $46,000 - 52,000
Armin Strom Manual Hunt Slonem
The Armin Strom Manual Hunt Slonem features Hunt Slonem’s art on the dial side, decorated and hand engraved at the highest level.
Estimated Price : $11,000 - 20,000
Arnold & Son Time Pyramid
The Arnold & Son Time Pyramid is powered by the exclusive Arnold & Son A&S 1615 skeletonized mechanical movement. This movement is treated with black A-DLC and it features Haute Horlogerie finishing.
Estimated Price : $26,000 - 36,000
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar features a skylight royal blue Grande Tapisserie dial and orange-tinted photo-realistic moon.
Estimated Price : $83,000 - 124,000
Barbier Mueller Mosaique
The case sides, the dial, and the case back are very subtly adorned with a mosaic motif made up of red, black, white, and green.
Estimated Price : $115,000 - 208,000
Bell & Ross BR-X1 R.S.17
The dial is dressed in the colors of the on-board instruments of the Renault Sport Formula One Team R.S.17 car. The "rocker" type push-buttons, used for activating the chronograph function, allow for great accuracy.
Estimated Price : $23,000 - 29,000
Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms Mil-Spec
The Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms Mil-Spec features indexes and hands in yellow Super-LumiNova, a yellow date display, a black unidirectional bezel with luminescent yellow markings, an "Only Watch" inscription engraved on the gold winding rotor, and a 300 meter water resistance.
Estimated Price : $11,000 - 18,000
Boucheron Epure Ble D' Ete
The Boucheron diamond-encrusted timepiece comes in a white gold case with a mother-of-pearl dial. This watch is powered by an automatic movement from the manufacture Girard-Perregaux.
Estimated Price : $26,000 - 31,000
Bovet 1822 Secret Beauty
The Bovet 1822 Secret Beauty features a luminescent miniature painting of a Geisha. The miniature painting is visible both by day and by night; also the motif that appears after dark is different from the one visible by day.
Estimated Price : $57,000 - 62,000
Breguet Classique Quantieme Perpeturel en Ligne
The Breguet Classique Quantieme Perpeturel en Ligne includes a dial in silvered 18k gold that is engine-turned by hand. On the dial you'll find an hours chapter with Roman numerals, as well as a day, day, month, and leap year indicators with instant jump. The hands on this timepiece are Breguet's signature open-tipped hands in blued steel.
Estimated Price : $83,000 - 103,000
Carl F. Bucherer Manero Peripheral
The Carl F. Bucherer Manero Peripheral is cased in 18 carat white gold, and it's powered by the manufacture caliber CFB A2050 with royal blue peripheral rotor. The indices, hands, and date are a vibrant blue.
Estimated Price : $19,000 - 24,000
Chopard Superfast 8HZ Power Control Porsche 919
The Chopard Superfast 8HZ Power Control Porsche 919 was inspired by the legendary motor-racing driver Jacky Ickx. Jacky Ickx participated in the design of this timepiece, which features Chopard’s unique high-frequency movement.
Estimated Price : $19,000 - 26,000
Christophe Claret Magicafiore de Christophe Claret
The watch features a double-display dial with an indication of the time “3, 6, 9” or a text (Pour l’amour de la vie). The change between the two displays is done via a pusher at 2 o’clock. The hours are indicated by two dragonflies, and there is a “He loves me… he loves me not” game on the back.
Estimated Price : $72,000 - 103,000
Chronoswiss Flying Regulator Red Passion
The Chronoswiss Flying Regulator Red Passion features a flying Regulator with elaborate 3D dial construction and a guilloche decoration. The unique red color on the dial can also be found on the rotor and the watch strap.
Estimated Price : $10,000 - 17,000
De Witt Academia
Winning bidder will have the privilege to imagine the dial of their own watch, which will be hand-crafted in the Geneva based Manufacture.
Estimated Price : $26,000 - 41,000
F.P. Journe Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante
The F.P. Journe Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante features a case in tantalum, a pusher at 2 o'clock for the chronograph, a pusher at 4 o'clock for the rattrapante, and a movement of 15 lines in 18K rose gold.
Estimated Price : $208,000 - 415,000
Faberge "If Life Gives You Lemons..."
The Faberge "If Life Gives You Lemons..." watch features an opaline dial with vibrant yellow detailing in honour of Only Watch. The watch also includes a special engraving for Only Watch on the movement and a contemporary grey textile strap.
Estimated Price : $28,000 - 48,000
Frederique Constant Manufacture Perpetual Calendar
The timepiece features the functions of a perpetual calendar, such as hours, minutes, moonphase, date, day, month, and most importantly the leap year. However, what makes this piece truly exclusive is the one-of-a-kind meteorite dial giving the once classic timepiece, an edgy twist!
Estimated Price : $18,000 - 28,000
Girard Perregaux Laureato 2017 Special Edition
This is the first time that Girard-Perregaux made a wristwatch in bronze. The Girard Perregaux Laureato 2017 Special Edition is a one-off creation with an on-trend bronze case and a chocolate brown alligator leather strap.
Estimated Price : $16,000 - 19,000
H. Moser & Cie Venturer Concept
The H. Moser & Cie Venturer Concept features a red fume dial with a sunburst pattern and a hand-stitched black alligator strap, lined with red leather.
Estimated Price : $20,000 - 30,000
Harry Winston Ocean Big Date
This Harry Winston Ocean Big Date features an openwork dial, an hour and minute counter with rhodium-plated rim, and 18K gold markers coated with yellow and white phosphorescent material.
Estimated Price : $40,000 - 51,000
Hautlence Pinball, BALL-e
Hautlence opens up the doors to a magic world, of which play is an essential part, reminding us how important it is to keep smiling, despite the ills life throws at us.
Estimated Price : $24,000 - 39,000
Hermes Slim D'Hermes L'Heure Impatiente
This watch features a counter that allows you to set the time of the eagerly awaited event that will take place in less than 12 hours. An hour before the event is scheduled to occur, the mechanical hourglass is set in motion and its progress can be followed at 6 o’clock on the dial.
Estimated Price : $36,000 - 57,000
Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire Usain Bolt
In a 45 mm Big Bang case, the Big Bang Unico Sapphire Usain Bolt for Only Watch showcases a green and gold design paired with a transparent strap. This unique piece will be auctioned with a second strap, in yellow-gold colour calfskin, featuring the silhouette of the Jamaican flag, in a nod to the athlete's origins.
Estimated Price : $52,000 - 83,000
Jacob & Co Epic X Chrono
This new timepiece from Jacob & Co features a 47mm case and the JCAA05 skeletonized self-winding chronograph caliber.
Estimated Price : $21,000 - 26,000
Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Off-Centered Cuprite
Mineral dial with a fiery red color that embodies the passion dedicated to both the timepiece and the Only Watch project. The two counters traditionally aligned on the 12 o’clock and the 6 o’clock axis are made off-center, adding to the uniqueness of this watch.
Estimated Price : $31,000 - 41,000
Konstantin Chaykin Joker
Chaykin proposes an unconventional approach of recreating watches as kinetic pop art pieces. This watch features the Joker's eyes as the hour and minute displays and the Joker's smile as a moon phase indicator.
Estimated Price : $11,000 - 16,000
Laurent Ferrier and Urwerk
This watch was designed and created through a joint effort of two watchmaking companies. Laurent Ferrier and Urwerk may have different styles, but they merged their designs to create this unique watch for the charity auction.
Estimated Price : $52,000 – 72,000
Louis Moinet Metropolis
For its first participation in Only Watch, Louis Moinet literally reaches for the Moon on behalf of research into muscular dystrophy. This one-of-a-kind creation, exclusively designed for the prestigious charity auction, features the world’s first ever hammered gilded watch face adorned with authentic lunar meteorite fragments.
Estimated Price : $18,000 – 23,000
Louis Vuitton Escale Spin Time Black & Fire
The hypnotic “Black & Fire” Escale Spin Time incorporates the ingenious hour display principle of the Spin Time movement in the Escale case.
Estimated Price : $52,000 - 83,000
Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic Chronograph
For the Only Watch 2017 charity auction, Maurice Lacroix has released the first Aikon watch with an automatic movement. The black and dark gray color scheme with bright yellow highlights references the colors of Only Watch 2017.
Estimated Price : $3,600 - 4,600
MB&F Horological Machine N'8
This is a unique timepiece with an engraving created by 15-year-old Cassandra Legendre and a micro-sculpture of an elephant in white gold between the hours and minutes. The automatic HM8 engine features a purple winding rotor that is visible under the doodle.
Estimated Price : $83,000 - 103,000
MCT S200 Vantablack
Representing an authentic scientific revolution, Vantablack is composed of carbon nanotubes measuring one millionth of a millimeter thick each and capable of absorbing 99.965 per cent of the light they receive. The movement appears to be suspended in mid-air, while the small moon appears and disappears as if by magic during its rotation around the dial.
Estimated Price : $72,000 - 124,000
Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter
This Montblanc timepiece features the monopusher chronograph calibre MB M16.29, a bronze case combined for the first time with a vintage green dial, and a matching green alligator strap.
Estimated Price : $29,000 - 36,000
Moritz Grossman Atum Homage
Moritz Grossman offers two watches for the 2017 Only Watch charity auction. The first watch is an original 1875 Moritz Grossmann pocket-watch from their private collection. The second watch is a brand new watch that is nearly identical to the 1875 pocket watch; however, this watch features a black alligator strap.
Estimated Price : $41,000 - 62,000
Patek Philippe Reference 5208T-010
It stands out as the first and only version of this timepiece ever produced in titanium, a metal rarely used for a Patek Philippe. This unique piece features a blue dial adorned with a hand-guilloched carbon-fiber pattern, underlining the manufacture’s role as protector of the rare handcrafts.
Estimated Price : $932,000 - 1,139,000
Piaget Black Tie Vintage Watch
Piaget has created a yellow gold Black Tie Vintage Inspiration piece for the Only Watch 2017 charity auction. This watch features their signature cushion case and a hard stone dial in brown pietersite.
Estimated Price : $31,000 - 52,000
Rebellion Predator 2.0 Regulator Power Reserve Sebastien Buemi Edition
This Rebellion watch blends watchmaking history and racecar aesthetics. The dashboard reveals two counters for the hours and minutes. A large central hand, which is light and sporty, is dedicated to the seconds.
Estimated Price : $39,000 - 57,000
Ressence Type 12OW
Ressence in collaboration with Hodinkee presents this open-dial and sintered-case watch for the 2017 charity auction. Sintering is the process of compacting and forming a solid mass of material by laser heat.
Estimated Price : $21,000 - 25,000
Speake-Marin The Resilience Love Life
Speake-Marin offers a unique piece developed in collaboration with their ambassador Pierce Brosnan. The two words "Love Life" summarize the fight of Only Watch to defeat Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Estimated Price : $21,000 - 31,000
TAG Heuer Luxury Kit
TAG Heuer is donating a special edition Only Watch box set, containing the new TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45, its accessories, and the manufacture Heuer-02 Tourbillon module, both of which feature the Only Watch signature colours, black and vibrant yellow.
Estimated Price : $16,000 - 26,000
Tudor Black Bay Bronze One
This Tudor flagship model is offered to Only Watch in a unique configuration with the winding crown on the left and a khaki green dial. Worn on the right wrist, its ergonomic design is ideal for left-handed people.
Estimated Price: $4,600 - 5,700
Ulysse Nardin Marine Tourbillon
This exclusive Ulysse Nardin watch features a delicate blue Grand Feu enamel dial, a flying tourbillon at 6 o'clock, and a 60-hour power reserve indicator at 12 o'clock.
Estimated Price : $22,000 - 33,000
Voutilainen 28S
The outstanding feature on this Voutilainen watch is the escapement. This is the first watch to present two escape-wheels in such a configuration. The escape-wheels provide a direct impulse to the balance through the jewel. This escapement is extremely efficient and requires less energy than traditional lever escapements, offering gains in terms of longevity and stability in everyday use.
Estimated Price : $57,000 - 88,000
Zenith Defy El Primero 21
The Zenith Defy El Primero 21 features a new 1/100th of a second Chronograph movement and a double chain structure with two regulators.
Estimated Price : $13,000 - 19,000