We love the ONLY WATCH auction that takes place every other year in Monaco for the support of charity. Why do we love it? Well a range of participating watch brands produce totally unique watches that are auctioned off for charity (Monegasque Association against Muscular Dystrophy). The pieces are sometimes mere color variations on existing models, and sometimes they are radically new models that are production concepts or signs of things to come. In any event, they are all one-off pieces (with the exception of models that are “#1” in a limited edition). The brands do it for the massive media exposure and marketing opportunity.
UPDATE: See the aBlogtoWatch full list of Only Watch 2013 Watches.
2013 is the 5th edition of the Only Watch (administered and operated by auctioneer Antiquorum) auction and it will take place later in 2013 on September 28th. The participating brands will slowly release their Only Watch pieces until then. While more brands may be added later, here are the companies that we expect to see interesting timepieces from over the next several months:
- Backes & Strauss
- Bell & Ross
- Blancpain
- Breguet
- Chanel
- Chopard
- ChronoSwiss
- Christophe Claret
- Corum
- Cyrus
- deLaCour
- De Bethune
- DeWitt
- Franck Muller
- Frédérique Constant
- Girard Perregaux
- Glasshütte Original
- Harry Winston
- Heritage Watch Manufactory
- Hublot, Ikepod
- Jaquet Droz
- Ladoire
- Laurent Ferrier
- Louis Vuitton
- Manufacture Royale
- Maurice Lacroix
- Montblanc
- Patek Philippe
- Piaget
- Richard Mille
- Roger Dubuis
- Armin Strom
- Ulysse Nardin
- Vacheron Constantin
- Van Cleef & Arpels
- Vulcain
- Zenith
It’s apparent that a good deal of thought and attention has gone into the design and implementation of this Monsieur de Chanel, and that it could comfortably go up against lots of the alternatives available in the recognized watchmakers at this degree. In case the luxury houses, and Chanel in particular, continue to produce watches of this caliber, the argument of the legitimacy as watchmakers is most likely to repay in their own favor. Among the most interesting new high-end men’s watches of 2016 is getting a new member of its set living in an platinum case with an attractive grand feu enamel dial for 2017. The Monsieur de Chanel (“Chanel Monsieur” because I like to call it) is easily one of the toughest and appealing haute horology watches created only for men out of Paris-based Chanel. They like to remind watch collectors that the notion, case, and movement were “dreamed from the ground up” and made especially for this specific watch collection. To put it differently, it is the most effort Chanel has ever placed to a particularly men’s watch collection for serious enthusiasts, and I think it is a gorgeous creation.I spend a good deal of time talking about the technical and artistic elements of the Chanel Monsieur watch when debuting it hands-on here last year throughout Baselworld 2016. Reference that article to read all about the movement and its complications. I will remind you celebrated independent Swiss watchmaker Romain Gauthier (who also has his own brand) is the one who’s accountable for actually creating the Calibre 1 mechanical motion parts inside of each Monsieur de Chanel watch – that is then constructed by Chanel. This is a good thing for picky watch collectors who want to make sure that the engine in their differently fairly timepieces are of a high quality and extend prestige value.
That is a huge number of brands and you can compare them to the all the pieces from the Only Watch 2011 auction. We look forward to sharing with you the auction pieces as they trickle out leading up to the event in September of 2013. onlywatch.com