Only Watch Auction watches

Written by James Matthews

Only Watch is an extraordinary auction event which is held every two years in Monaco during the Monaco Yacht Show under the patronage of HSH Prince Albert II. This year 34 high watchmaking brands have each made either a unique watch, a prototype, or the first of a limited series for the auction. All the proceeds from Only Watch go to support research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

This year 34 high watchmaking brands have each made either a unique watch, a prototype, or the first of a limited series for the auction.

For a full list of all watches look check outOnly Watch auction Watches

What is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?

Talking about the Only Watch 09 auction, which will take place on 24 September 2009, Osvaldo Patrizzi, Chairman of Patrizzi & Co, commented: “Envisioning and studying these marvelous objects has not only provoked dreams of the amount of money that will be raised to support research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, but also the discovery that new forms are taking shape as today’s (and tomorrow’s) horology is being sketched out by a new wave of artists, micro mechanical artists, who see wristwatches as a new form of expression in art.”

Thanks to the generosity and hard work of people such as the participants and sponsors of Only Watch and in particular Luc Pettavino (founder of the Monégasque Association against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (AMM) and the driving force behind Only Watch), and Osvaldo Patrizzi, and Patrizzi & Co (the organizers of the auction event), great progress is being made in research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and the genes which cause the disease. In 2008 alone, 15 research teams were supported at a cost of around ¤1.7 million.

Exon Skipping – a surgical technique which enables the cellular machinery to “forget” to read that part of the gene which carries the abnormality of the illness – has been developed by Luis Garcia, Head of Research at CNRS (recipients of AMM financing) and his team. Garcia, who is a key person in the field of Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, is optimistic for the future, particularly given the formidable progress that has been made to-date.

Participating watch brands 2009

Audemars Piguet, Bell & Ross, Blancpain, Bovet Fleurier, Breguet, Cabestan, Cartier, Chaumet, Chanel, Confrérie Horlogere (by BNB Concept), Corum, De Bethune, Delacour, Franc Vila, Franck Muller, Frédérique Constant, Gerald Charles, Girard-Perregaux, Hermès, Hublot, Jaquet Droz, Les Ateliers de Monaco, Louis Vuitton, MB&F, Montblanc, Omega, Patek Philippe, Piaget, Tag Heuer, Tourneau Timepieces, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels, Zenith.

Preview exhibitions

Shanghai (Park Hyatt): 29 – 31 July
Geneva (Patrizzi & Co): 27 – 29 August
London (Asprey): 3 – 5 September
New York (Tourneau): 10 – 12 September
Milan (Pisa Orologeria): 17 – 18 September
Monaco (Monaco Yacht Show): 23 – 24 September

Auction
Monaco (Yacht show) 24 September at 18h:00

This post was written by James Matthews. If you have any questions or comments you may contact him at james@jewelerslounge.com