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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Richard Mille is delighted to donate a unique piece to Only Watch as the brand has been a dedicated and unwavering supporter of the auction since its creation.
The watch being donated is the Yohan Blake Tourbillon Prototype, which Yohan Blake wore at the 2012 London Olympics Games, where he won three medals, and also at the Diamond League in Lausanne, where he won the 100m and became the third fastest sprinter of all time over distance, beating his personal best.
“This prototype, which was worn by Yohan Blake during the London Olympic Games, created an enormous amount of media attention,” said Richard Mille. “It is a unique piece based upon the RM 038 but adapted to Yohan Blake’s specifications.
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“This watch has experienced the joy of the podium and shared the spotlight with the gold and silver medals won by Yohan. It is truly a piece of historic importance.”
By placing a tourbillon watch on Blake’s wrist during the Olympics Games, a first in the history of sprinting, the brand was able to test the resilience of this exceptional and unique piece in extreme conditions, assessing its performance and comfort when faced with typical racing constraints.
This tourbillon prototype in the colour of the Jamaican flag features a green flange and crown, yellow minute-markers and a yellow Velcro® strap that contrasts with the all white case. The case with 19 jewels and beating at 3Hz has its baseplate, bridges and balance cock made of grade 5 titanium.
The case of this prototype is made of an extremely rugged and light alloy called magnesium WE 54, one of the lightest metals used in construction and has excellent property retention capacities at elevated temperatures.
After a long and delicate machining phase, theses alloys are given a new electro-plasma oxidation treatment called Miarox®, improving both the durability and scratch resistance of this alloy as well as its wear and corrosion properties.
The Tourbillon Prototype was designed for sprinters who appreciate Haute Horlogerie, cased in high-tech materials to withstand extreme conditions.
