Only Watch 2015: Prince Albert turns Geneva into a watchmaking Principality

Buyers of the world and watchmaking brands, get your diaries out! On November 7, 2015, Geneva will make the news with the most famous auction of the watchmaking world. It will start at 17:00 and Watchonista.com will cover the event as a special edition.

In 2015, solidarity moves to Lake Geneva

In 2013, the event was organized as a series of exhibitions held in a selected list of famous towns throughout the world. In 2015, it coincides with Aurel Bacs joining Phillips. Bacs is the world’s most appreciated auctioneer and his comeback in the auction arena changes things completely.

As soon as he arrived, he secured more sales for his new employer than Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Antiquorum at the auctions in May 2015. Then, he presented both his employer and the city of Geneva with another gift. Indeed, armed with goodwill and trustworthy connections, he organized this special auction – a fund-raiser for the fight against Muscular Dystrophy.

Luc Pettavino, Aurel Bacs & Edward Dolman

Luc Pettavino, President of the “Association Monégasques contre les Myopathies” (AMM), is at the inception of this biennial charity event, which has become a true phenomenon and the world’s most unifying watchmaking event. Each of the over 45 brands that have committed to the cause will offer an Only Watch specially created for the occasion. These unique watches will be put up for auction and all actors involved will have great responsibility: this is all about solidarity, after all. The 2015 setup is optimal, mostly thanks to the amazing high patronage of H.S.H, the Sovereign Prince Albert II of Monaco. A dream team for sure.

HSH the Sovereign Prince and Luc Pettavino have been awarded the honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Bern

New brands: solidarity at all levels

Behind the success of Only Watch sales are of course collectors who are ready to make extremely high bids on references whose status of iconic pieces ensure them an important or even unique value.

Most of them are interested in the originality of the pieces on auction but they also show their commitment to the cause by making higher bids than necessary. H.S.H, the Sovereign Prince Albert II of Monaco, ruler of this famous principality and sponsor of the event, perfectly embodies this unifying spirit that has brought together so many actors to undertake this noble cause.

FP Journe's first watch for Only Watch

At the time we are writing this, some unique models are almost ready, with only their setting and some final touches remaining. New brands such as François-Paul Journe, Tudor, Kari Voutilainen and Rebellion have joined the cause and will undoubtedly bring their share of interest to the event. Other brands such as Patek Philippe, the queen of auctions, keep the suspense and provoke the wildest forecasts. We can already feel the bidding fever and the emotional outbursts it entails, so much so as Magic Aurel is famous for his ability to make the room buzz and pallets strike.

Apart from the Prince’s aura, the internationalization of the event will be ensured by specialized media. It will continue to increase throughout the world tour that will end on November 7, 2015 in Geneva instead of Monaco, as was the tradition.

TUDOR has joined the cause with its Heritage Black Bay One

The world tour will start on September 23 during the Monaco Yacht Show, which is the historical co-organizer of the event. The exhibition will then move on to Hong Kong, Pekin, New York and Geneva, where the auction will take place on November 7, 2015.

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