Dozens of unique pieces will be auctioned at Palexpo Geneva on November 5 as part of the 10th edition of a biennial auction to benefit research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The sale, organized by Christie’s Geneva, is a project of only watchformed in 2005 by Luc Pettavino, president of the Monaco Yacht Show, after his then four-year-old son was diagnosed with DMD.
The watches include famous brands as well as new manufacturers, including Audemars Piguet, Bulgari, Hermès, Patek Philippe, Piaget and Richard Mille.
There are quite a few eye-catching lots, 10 of which carry six-figure estimates. A Jacob & Co. watch with Concepto, for example, reflects a stained glass design and is the world’s first four-axis tourbillon watch. It is estimated to fetch up to $838,000.
Jacob & Co. with Concepto, Astronomia Revolution 4th Dimension (estimate: $781,000 to $838,000). Courtesy of Only Watch.
Each auction is themed around a color that watchmakers can incorporate into their creations. This year’s color is green, symbolizing hope. Many watchmakers have chosen this year to incorporate a rainbow of colors. Jacquet Droz’s contribution is Rolling Stones themed and features tiny musical instruments on the face, all handcrafted.
Jacquet Droz, the Rolling Stone automaton (estimate: $279,000-$335,000). Courtesy of Only Watch.
A sapphire watch inspired by Takashi Murakami’s iconic smiling flower, surrounded by twelve petals set with 444 precious stones, marks the entry of Hublot, while Bulgari donates an Octo Finissimo watch, with its case and bracelet covered with Verde di Alpi marble.
Left: Hublot, MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon (estimate: $391,000 to $447,000). Right: Bulgari, Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Marble (estimate: $267,000-$279,000). Courtesy of Only Watch.
Among the more affordable models is the Bell & Ross BR 03 Cyber Rainbow, whose case is covered with an array of mosaic varnished parts. Its high estimate is only $61,000. Also at a high five-figure estimate ($73,000) is Gränefeld’s contribution, the 1941 Principia Mandala, whose face features an intricate mandala pattern.
Left: Bell & Ross, BR 03 Cyber Rainbow (estimate: $50,000-61,000). Right: Grönefeld, 1914 Principia Mandala (estimate: $61,000-73,000). Courtesy of Only Watch.
The biennial auctions, held since 2005, raised $112 million, according to a report published in Bloombergwho noted that an audience of 1,000 collectors and industry insiders could head to Geneva for the November 5 sale.
The 2019 Only Watch sale set a world record for wristwatches: $31 million for a Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, of which only 17 were created in 2014 to celebrate the company’s 175th anniversary. It is one of the most complicated watches ever made, with 20 complications.
The 2023 watches will tour the world ahead of the November 5 sale, stopping in cities including Los Angeles, New York, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Monaco.
See more watches from the sale below.
Tiffany & Co. Mechanical Bird on a Rock Pendant (estimate: $391,000-$558,000). Courtesy of Only Watch.
Hermès, Arceau le Temps Voyageur (estimate: $33,000-$45,000). Courtesy of Only Watch.
Lederer, Central Impulse Chronometer (estimate: $112,000 to $224,000). Courtesy of Only Watch.
Ulysse Nardin, Freak S (estimate: $179,000-$223,000). Courtesy of Only Watch.
Louis Moinet, Art-Tech (estimate: $89,000-$134,000). Courtesy of Only Watch.
Follow Artnet News on Facebook:
Want to stay one step ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to receive breaking news, revealing interviews and incisive reviews that move the conversation forward.
