This September 28, Monaco will play host to the fifth edition of the ‘Only Watch’ charity watch auction benefiting research for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Recognized as the world’s first ever charity watch auction, Only Watch is conducted by the watch auctioneers, Antiquorum.
33 of the world’s leading watch manufacturers are donating a unique timepiece specially created for the occasion, one of which will feature on Elite’s website every day leading up to this not-to-be-missed auction.
The proceeds from the sales will be donated to the Monegasque Association against Muscular Dystrophy, promoter of Only Watch with Antiquorum Auctioneers and the Monaco Yacht Show, to help finance research for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a degenerative neuromuscular disease affecting 1 in 3,500 boys and therefore 250,000 children, adolescents, and young adults around the world.
From September 6, an international exhibit of the Only Watch collection of timepieces for men and women will also travel the world – Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, New York – and will be concluded by a presentation during the Monaco Yacht Show (September 25 to 28).
The Only Watch auction itself takes place on September 28 at 11am (GMT+1) in the ‘Salle Belle Epoque’ of the Hôtel Hermitage.
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ONLY WATCH 2013 SPOTLIGHT: LAURENT FERRIER
What could be more symbolic than a dove to demonstrate support and loyalty to a cause as essential as that of scientific research? The new Galet Classic Only Watch features a unique dial created and designed by Laurent Ferrier.
On an 18K gold plate, a sand-coloured grand feu enamel dial provides a tone-on-tone depiction of a dainty and infinitely pure dial designed in one smooth stroke. This ethereal symbol of love and peace embraces the small seconds at 6 o’clock bearing the Monaco coat-of-arms and its geography – all exquisitely crafted by hand.
The “assegai-shaped” gold hour and minute hands and the baton-shaped seconds hand lend the perfect finishing touch. The dial remains perfectly readable thanks to the graphic arrangement of the “teardrop” applied gold hour-markers and the gold decorative fillet surrounding the counter.
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The curve of the steel case reflects the brand’s pure, restrained design codes. It adopts the shape of a pebble (galet in French) in a nod to the large and refined historical watch models. It is equipped with a ball-shaped winding-crown ensuring more pleasant handling. The snap-on case-back makes the movement more accessible to the watchmaker via the olivette. Its water-resistance is guarantee to a depth of 30 metres.
The quintessence of the watchmaking art
The manual-winding system of the Galet Classic Only Watch appears without the modern winding-stem pull-out piece spring, replaced by a “long blade” ratchet pawl with a smoothly round-polished finish hand-crafted in the in-house workshops.
This component may be admired through the back of the case, protected by a sapphire crystal that also provides views of the manual finishing of the calibre – performed in harmony with the most demanding standards of traditional Fine Watchmaking.
The bridges are adorned with a Côtes de Genève motif, the mainplate is circular-grained, the sharp edges and interior angles are chamfered and hand-polished, and the screw heads are also bevelled and polished. Finally, the drum of the barrel is delicately engraved with the inscription “Only Watch 2013”.
The Galet Classic Only Watch is fitted with an Alcantara-lined beige alligator leather strap fastened by a steel pin buckle. The model is housed inside a presentation box featuring a commemorative plate showing the Principality of Monaco on a world map.
This exceptional new creation vividly demonstrates the exceptional capacities cultivated by Laurent Ferrier in the field of horological techniques, watch exteriors, as well as its responsiveness and its will to maintain autonomous development.
