ONLY WATCH 2023: THE 10TH EDITION’S WORLD TOUR HAS LAUNCHED Monaco, September 12, 2023 – The world tour of the Only Watch 2023 collection of unique watches and timepieces kicked off on Wednesday 6 September in Los Angeles. The second US stop will be New York, where the exhibition opens this Thursday, 14 September.
These exceptional timepieces will travel for two months from America to Europe, via Asia and the Middle East, before being auctioned on 5 November in Geneva under the hammer of Christie’s. Proceeds from the sale will be benefitting research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other genetic diseases (more information below and at http://onlyproject.org/). A total of 73 brands are participating in the 2023 edition, including 16 collaborations and 16 first-time entries.
This promotional tour is a unique opportunity for watch collectors, aesthetes, the general public as well as the media to discover the many unique creations done exclusively for this charity event, held under the patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco. To mark the 10th edition of Only Watch, the Monegasque Head of State will welcome the watchmaking community to the Palace on the occasion of the exhibition during Monaco Yacht Show.
ONLY WATCH 2023: under the banner of hope
This year’s visual identity reunits all previously used colours, and by adding the color green, representing hope it reflects on the auction’s vibrant past and optimistic future thanks to the extraordinary means offered to research. Indeed, spring 2023 saw the launch of a clinical trial funded by OW. Furthermore, this year’s auction is particularly supportive of the next generation. In addition to contributions by the most iconic brands, the 62 timepieces feature emerging watchmaking talents; reflecting the charity’s approach, funding research undertaken by doctoral and post-doctoral students.
Luc Pettavino, Founder of Only Watch and President of Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies:
“I’m delighted that everyone will be able to discover the fantastic one-off pieces of the 10th edition, in eight emblematic cities across the globe, all orchestrated by generous hosts: Christie’s, Monaco Yacht Show, The Hour Glass – Singapore, Seddiqi & Sons – Dubai. Once again these watches showcase the very best in high horology, in terms of creativity, ingenuity and innovation. Each Only Watch promotional tour is a moment of positive energy and hope shared between all its participants and the world. This landmark edition is also a moment for us to look back on what has been achieved to date and take collective pride in the progress Only Watch has brought to research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy and genetic diseases. We created our charity 22 years ago and held the first edition of Only Watch 18 years ago. Since, we have raised CHF 100 million for research. Today, we have reached clinical trials on a proprietary molecule that could change the lives of many. We do not know for sure if it’s going to work but it’s an important milestone that we should all recognize as such. At the same time, we keep on funding doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships, as well as dozens of grants for research projects with the goal of reaching and refining therapeutic solutions for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.”
Upcoming World tour locations and dates
| New York | 14-17 September | Christie’s – 20 Rockefeller Plaza |
| Monaco | 27-30 September | Monaco Yacht Show – Parvis Piscine Tent, Quai Albert Ier In the presence of brand CEOs, their representatives and independent watchmakers |
| Hong Kong | 5-7 October | Christie’s– 22nd Floor Alexandra House, 18 Chater Road,Central |
| Bangkok | 11-12 Octobre | Christie’s – 20th Floor, Gaysorn Tower Unit L20C, 127 Ratchadamri Road, Lumpini, Patumwan |
| Singapore | 20-22 October | Malmaison by The Hour Glass – 270 Orchard Road #01-01 |
| Dubai | 27 October | Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons at the Museum of Future – Sheikh Zayed Road |
| Geneva | 3-5 November | Christie’s Four Seasons Hôtel des Bergues – Quai des Bergues 33 |
The auction will take place on Sunday, 5 November at 2pm (CET) at Palexpo in Geneva, and can be attended in person as well as followed online via christies.com. Bids can be placed online, or via phone – please liaise with Christie’s bids office. No buyer’s premium or commissions are applicable for the Only Watch charity sale, as per previous editions.
The list of all watch brands participating in ONLY WATCH 2023, as well as the names of those who have collaborated to create some of these unique timepieces:
ANDERSEN GENÈVE – ANGELUS x CHÂTEAU ANGELUS – ARMIN STROM — ARTYA – ATELIER DE CHRONOMÉTRIE – AUDEMARS PIGUET – BALTIC – BARBIER-MUELLER – BELL & ROSS – BIVER – BLANCPAIN – BOUCHERON – BOVET 1822 – BREGUET – BULGARI – CARL F. BUCHERER – CHANEL – CHOPARD – CZAPEK GENÈVE – DE BETHUNE – F.P.JOURNE – FERDINAND BERTHOUD – FREDERIQUE CONSTANT x CHRISTIAAN VAN DER KLAAUW – FURLAN MARRI – GÉRALD GENTA – GIRARD-PERREGAUX – GRÖNEFELD – H. MOSER x MB&F – HERMÈS – HUBLOT – JACOB & CO x CONCEPTO WATCH FACTORY – JAQUET DROZ – KONSTANTIN CHAYKIN – KRAYON – L. LEROY – LAURENT FERRIER – LEDERER – LOUIS MOINET – LOUIS VUITTON – LUDOVIC BALLOUARD x BRITTANY NICOLE COX – MAURICE LACROIX – MONTBLANC – MORITZ GROSSMANN – PATEK PHILIPPE – PERRELET – PETERMANN BÉDAT x AUFFRET PARIS – PIAGET – RESERVOIR x TELOS WATCH – RESSENCE – REXHEP REXHEPI – RICHARD MILLE — SINGER REIMAGINED x GENUS – SPEAKE MARIN – SYLVAIN PINAUD – TAG HEUER – TIFFANY & CO. — TRILOBE – TUDOR – ULYSSE NARDIN – URWERK — VOUTILAINEN – ZENITH.
The genesis and purpose: raising funds for research on DMD and genetic diseases
Only Watch was launched in 2005 by Luc Pettavino in collaboration with the watch industry to advance research in the field of therapeutic solutions for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (a genetic disease that affects 1 boy in 3,500), following Paul’s (Luc’s son) diagnosis.
The Monaco-based charity benefiting from the Only Watch auctions, the Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies, has been active internationally since 2001 in accelerating research. Its actions, all regrouped under the name the “Only Project” are focused on:
Organizing key conversations (roundtables, collaborative and research programs) for researchers from around the world to share knowledge and accelerate breakthroughs;financially supporting dozens of research projects with the goal of reaching and refining therapeutic outcome for DMD.
Thanks to the generosity of watchmakers, collectors and partners, in recent years, the funds raised by Only Watch have allowed for a significant breakthrough in the quest for a cure. On top of grants and fellowships given out by the charity to researchers within public institutions (hospitals and universities), one of the main projects supported is a biotech operated by a consortium of parents and researchers that is currently launching a phase 1 clinical trial for a drug it has developed. The technology aims to treat patients affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy and could be transposed and adapted for other genetic diseases. The first step in a whole new chapter of a 20+ year collaborative success story.