OnlyWatch
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Time pieces New watches Patek Philippe Perpetual calendar Watches II Clocks
Chronology : 2010-2019 2021
See also : Time pieces New watches Patek Philippe Perpetual calendar Watches II Clocks
Chronology : 2010-2019 2021
Intro
OnlyWatch is a charity auction of watches, which takes place every second year. The first event was in 2005 in Monaco under the patronage of the Prince, with Antiquorum at the hammer.
Swiss brands are invited to provide a unique specimen for the benefit of a charity supporting the research against Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
The OnlyWatch event has become the high end showcase for contemporary Swiss watches and their technological improvements.
No premium applies.
Swiss brands are invited to provide a unique specimen for the benefit of a charity supporting the research against Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
The OnlyWatch event has become the high end showcase for contemporary Swiss watches and their technological improvements.
No premium applies.
2011 Patek Philippe based on 3939
2011 SOLD for € 1.4M by Antiquorum
The OnlyWatch principle, which is to have submitted by each manufacturer a unique model at auction, is necessarily pleasing Patek Philippe. For nearly a century, the models made as a single specimen were used as benchmarks for the technological developments and the design changes of the brand.
In 2007, the contribution of Patek Philippe to OnlyWatch was a unique 5712T Nautilus in titanium, sold € 525K.
On September 23, 2011, in the sale operated by Antiquorum, Patek Philippe sold for € 1.4M a unique watch based on the model 3939. This smart tourbillon watch with a beautiful black enamel dial is illustrated in the article shared by WatchTime.
This sale is for glory in the best meaning of that term, since all the proceeds are going to benefit a charity against Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
In 2007, the contribution of Patek Philippe to OnlyWatch was a unique 5712T Nautilus in titanium, sold € 525K.
On September 23, 2011, in the sale operated by Antiquorum, Patek Philippe sold for € 1.4M a unique watch based on the model 3939. This smart tourbillon watch with a beautiful black enamel dial is illustrated in the article shared by WatchTime.
This sale is for glory in the best meaning of that term, since all the proceeds are going to benefit a charity against Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
2013 Patek Philippe 5004
2013 SOLD for € 2.95M by Antiquorum
The fifth edition of the OnlyWatch sale took place in Monaco on September 28, 2013. Every second year, the best watchmakers offer a specimen guaranteed by them as unique. The proceeds benefit the Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies for research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The hammer was entrusted to Antiquorum.
OnlyWatch is somewhat comparable to a trade show, as the brands display here for collectors and press the best advances from their design departments. In 2013, 34 brands have responded. From the beginning, Patek Philippe contributes with outstanding pieces.
For once, Patek Philippe offers a model of the past, the 5004, commercially stopped two years ago when they started the 5204. 5004 is a grande complication watch including perpetual calendar, leap year and chronograph, and 30 meter water resistance.
The 5004 watch for sale in Monaco has been made in titanium in 2013, and is the only specimen made in this metal, reference 5004T. The catalog indicates a wish price between € 400K and 600K. It is illustrated on the page shared by Watchonista. It was sold for € 2.95M.
OnlyWatch is somewhat comparable to a trade show, as the brands display here for collectors and press the best advances from their design departments. In 2013, 34 brands have responded. From the beginning, Patek Philippe contributes with outstanding pieces.
For once, Patek Philippe offers a model of the past, the 5004, commercially stopped two years ago when they started the 5204. 5004 is a grande complication watch including perpetual calendar, leap year and chronograph, and 30 meter water resistance.
The 5004 watch for sale in Monaco has been made in titanium in 2013, and is the only specimen made in this metal, reference 5004T. The catalog indicates a wish price between € 400K and 600K. It is illustrated on the page shared by Watchonista. It was sold for € 2.95M.
2015 Patek Philippe 5016A-010
2015 SOLD for CHF 7.3M by Phillips
Patek Philippe responds most often to the OnlyWatch rules of uniqueness with a high-end model in a refractory metal unusual in its similar productions : titanium in 2007 and 2013, steel in 2011 and 2015.
The Patek Philippe 5016A-010 sold by Phillips on November 7, 2015 fetched CHF 7.3M.
The Patek Philippe 5016A-010 sold by Phillips on November 7, 2015 fetched CHF 7.3M.
2017 Patek Philippe 5208T-010
2017 SOLD for CHF 6.2M by Christie's
The 2017 OnlyWatch event was entrusted to Christie's on November 11.
Patek Philippe regularly offers a high-end model in a refractory metal unusual in its similar productions.
The titanium reappeared in 2017 with the unique Patek Philippe 5208T-010, lot 12 sold for CHF 6.2M.
Released in 2011 with a platinum 5208P version, the 5208 is a triple complication watch : minute repeater, mono-pusher chronograph and perpetual calendar with apertures and phases of the moon taking into account the leap year. It is resistant to moisture and dust but not to water. Its removable back case can be replaced by a transparent back in sapphire crystal providing visibility onto the inside. It is assembled with more than 700 parts.
In the ever-improving range of the Patek Philippe complication watches, the 5208 is the first wristwatch whose triple complication includes a chronograph, unlike the 5207 released in 2008 with a tourbillon.
Patek Philippe regularly offers a high-end model in a refractory metal unusual in its similar productions.
The titanium reappeared in 2017 with the unique Patek Philippe 5208T-010, lot 12 sold for CHF 6.2M.
Released in 2011 with a platinum 5208P version, the 5208 is a triple complication watch : minute repeater, mono-pusher chronograph and perpetual calendar with apertures and phases of the moon taking into account the leap year. It is resistant to moisture and dust but not to water. Its removable back case can be replaced by a transparent back in sapphire crystal providing visibility onto the inside. It is assembled with more than 700 parts.
In the ever-improving range of the Patek Philippe complication watches, the 5208 is the first wristwatch whose triple complication includes a chronograph, unlike the 5207 released in 2008 with a tourbillon.
2019 by Christie's
1
2019 Patek Philippe 6300A-010
2019 SOLD for CHF 31M by Christie's
In 2014, for celebrating the 175th anniversary of the brand, Patek Philippe release their first Grandmaster Chime wristwatch under the reference 5175 edited in seven units. Its 20 functions required 1,366 components for the movement and 215 components for the case, surpassing the 6200 Sky Moon Tourbillon. It is the achievement of 60,000 hours of development over seven years.
The 5175 is 48 mm in diameter and 16 mm in height with 11 pushers and buttons. Its central mechanism activates in parallel the visual reading on two dials including the perpetual calendar, the chimes of hours, quarters, minutes and day, and the acoustic alarm preselected with an accuracy of a quarter of an hour. The running time of the mechanical winding is 72 hours in silent mode and 30 hours in grande sonnerie.
Two of these applications are unprecedented : the insertion of an alarm in a wristwatch, and the audible indication of the day in the month in two digits covering 1 to 31 by the tens and units. The watch also strikes on demand the current hour and minute. A security prevents the user from operating two mechanisms at the same time if they are not compatible.
The reference 6300G in gray gold launched in 2016 is similar to the 5175 except that the references to the celebration have been removed.
The 2019 OnlyWatch auction was managed by Christie's in Geneva on November 9.
According to the rules applicable to this operation, each manufacturer offers a watch for which it guarantees that it is and will remain a one-off. On that year Patek Philippe supplies the unique copy of Grandmaster Chime in stainless steel, reference 6300A-010, lot 28. The steel improves the sound. It is inscribed "The Only One" on one of the dials. It was sold for CHF 31M.
The lot includes a one-day private tour of the workshops and museum for two people and a lunch with Thierry Stern, president of Patek Philippe.
The 5175 is 48 mm in diameter and 16 mm in height with 11 pushers and buttons. Its central mechanism activates in parallel the visual reading on two dials including the perpetual calendar, the chimes of hours, quarters, minutes and day, and the acoustic alarm preselected with an accuracy of a quarter of an hour. The running time of the mechanical winding is 72 hours in silent mode and 30 hours in grande sonnerie.
Two of these applications are unprecedented : the insertion of an alarm in a wristwatch, and the audible indication of the day in the month in two digits covering 1 to 31 by the tens and units. The watch also strikes on demand the current hour and minute. A security prevents the user from operating two mechanisms at the same time if they are not compatible.
The reference 6300G in gray gold launched in 2016 is similar to the 5175 except that the references to the celebration have been removed.
The 2019 OnlyWatch auction was managed by Christie's in Geneva on November 9.
According to the rules applicable to this operation, each manufacturer offers a watch for which it guarantees that it is and will remain a one-off. On that year Patek Philippe supplies the unique copy of Grandmaster Chime in stainless steel, reference 6300A-010, lot 28. The steel improves the sound. It is inscribed "The Only One" on one of the dials. It was sold for CHF 31M.
The lot includes a one-day private tour of the workshops and museum for two people and a lunch with Thierry Stern, president of Patek Philippe.
2
Astronomic Blue by FP Journe
SOLD for CHF 1.8M
Every 2nd year since his first participation in 2015 F.P. Journe is able to donate for OnlyWatch a piece which is not unique by some mere detail but displays an unprecedented range of characteristics and complications.
The 2015 watch, sold for CHF 550K, was the Tourbillon Souverain Bleu, inspired from the Chronomètre Bleu, fitting a rose gold movement with remontoir d'égalité in a tantalum case.
The 2017 watch, sold for CHF 1.15M, was a monopusher split-seconds chronograph with a specially designed movement which will be a forerunner of the Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante sport watch.
The 2019 entry was the Astronomic Blue displaying on the front side the hours, minutes and seconds of average time, the hours and minutes of sidereal time, plus sunrise and sunset, day and night, moon phases and the power reserve. The annual calendar and the equation of time are on the back dial.
Its rose gold calibre with remontoir d'égalité is fitted in a special tantalum case 44 mm in diameter and 13.75 mm thick. Its 18 functions and complications are operated by 758 components.
The Astronomic Blue was sold for CHF 1.8M by Christie's for OnlyWatch on November 9, 2019, lot 11.
The 2015 watch, sold for CHF 550K, was the Tourbillon Souverain Bleu, inspired from the Chronomètre Bleu, fitting a rose gold movement with remontoir d'égalité in a tantalum case.
The 2017 watch, sold for CHF 1.15M, was a monopusher split-seconds chronograph with a specially designed movement which will be a forerunner of the Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante sport watch.
The 2019 entry was the Astronomic Blue displaying on the front side the hours, minutes and seconds of average time, the hours and minutes of sidereal time, plus sunrise and sunset, day and night, moon phases and the power reserve. The annual calendar and the equation of time are on the back dial.
Its rose gold calibre with remontoir d'égalité is fitted in a special tantalum case 44 mm in diameter and 13.75 mm thick. Its 18 functions and complications are operated by 758 components.
The Astronomic Blue was sold for CHF 1.8M by Christie's for OnlyWatch on November 9, 2019, lot 11.
2021 by Christie's
1
Patek Philippe Desk Clock
SOLD for CHF 9.5M
Patek Philippe made a bang in the 2019 OnlyWatch charity auction with the unique example of the model 6300A-010 that fetched CHF 31M. It is derived from the Grandmaster Chime which is the most complicated wristwatch in their catalogue.
To go forward in 2021, the brand cleverly offered a clock that will not invite for a comparison with the 2019 entry.
This item is a modern version of an Art Déco desk clock made by them in 1923 for the demanding customer James Ward Packard which is kept in the Patek Philippe Museum. Henry Graves Jr managed to have a similar time piece. The Packard complicated clock was equipped with a perpetual calendar and moon phases with an eight-day power reserve. It is made of silver with solid-gold feet and inlays.
The OnlyWatch clock is the unique example of the 27001M-01 model. The angular shape with a hinged lid of this 165 x 125 x 76 mm instrument has no equivalent in the modern catalogues of the brand.
It features a perpetual calendar, moon phases, day-night indicator, week-number display and has a power reserve of 31 days and a precision rate of 1 second per day. The case and the cabinet are in sterling silver with vermeil decorative elements and American walnut inlays. In an additional exquisite refinement the dial is in a similar yellow gilt opaline hue as the 6300 of 2019.
The hammer was entrusted to Christie's on November 6, 2021. The Patek Philippe desk clock was sold for CHF 9.5M, lot 41. Please watch the video shared by Watch I love.
To go forward in 2021, the brand cleverly offered a clock that will not invite for a comparison with the 2019 entry.
This item is a modern version of an Art Déco desk clock made by them in 1923 for the demanding customer James Ward Packard which is kept in the Patek Philippe Museum. Henry Graves Jr managed to have a similar time piece. The Packard complicated clock was equipped with a perpetual calendar and moon phases with an eight-day power reserve. It is made of silver with solid-gold feet and inlays.
The OnlyWatch clock is the unique example of the 27001M-01 model. The angular shape with a hinged lid of this 165 x 125 x 76 mm instrument has no equivalent in the modern catalogues of the brand.
It features a perpetual calendar, moon phases, day-night indicator, week-number display and has a power reserve of 31 days and a precision rate of 1 second per day. The case and the cabinet are in sterling silver with vermeil decorative elements and American walnut inlays. In an additional exquisite refinement the dial is in a similar yellow gilt opaline hue as the 6300 of 2019.
The hammer was entrusted to Christie's on November 6, 2021. The Patek Philippe desk clock was sold for CHF 9.5M, lot 41. Please watch the video shared by Watch I love.
2
FFC by Journe
SOLD for CHF 4.5M
The entry by FP Journe for the 2021 OnlyWatch sale was a wristwatch based on the 20 years old Octa Calibre 1300. The hours are displayed by the appearance of the mobile fingers of a blue human hand while the minutes are driven by a rotating disk.
This instrument referred as the FFC Blue is unique, as required by the OnlyWatch rules. The tantalum case has been specially designed for this charity operation.
It is inscribed with references to Ambroise Paré and Francis Ford Coppola.
Ambroise Paré, the 16th century father of modern surgery and prosthetics, had invented a mechanical hand and artificial limbs operated by multiple catches and springs which simulated the joints.
During a dinner in 2012 at Francis Ford Coppola’s house in the Napa Valley, the filmmaker challenged François-Paul Journe to tell time with a human hand in a watch. He later supplied the sketches for the positions of the automaton to display twelve hours with the five fingers. The development of this unprecedented time instrument spanned seven years from 2014 onward.
That Journe FFC prototype was sold by Christie's on November 6, 2021 for CHF 4.5M, lot 22.
This instrument referred as the FFC Blue is unique, as required by the OnlyWatch rules. The tantalum case has been specially designed for this charity operation.
It is inscribed with references to Ambroise Paré and Francis Ford Coppola.
Ambroise Paré, the 16th century father of modern surgery and prosthetics, had invented a mechanical hand and artificial limbs operated by multiple catches and springs which simulated the joints.
During a dinner in 2012 at Francis Ford Coppola’s house in the Napa Valley, the filmmaker challenged François-Paul Journe to tell time with a human hand in a watch. He later supplied the sketches for the positions of the automaton to display twelve hours with the five fingers. The development of this unprecedented time instrument spanned seven years from 2014 onward.
That Journe FFC prototype was sold by Christie's on November 6, 2021 for CHF 4.5M, lot 22.
3
Royal Oak Jumbo by Audemars Piguet
SOLD for CHF 3.1M
The Royal Oak is a success story of the Audemars Piguet brand. It was designed by Gerald Genta with a steel case embedding the ultra thin self winding Calibre 2121. This 50 m water resistant luxury sport watch remained basically unchanged. Its signature octagonal bezel inspired from diving helmets, its guilloché tapisserie pattern dial and its integrated bracelet are enjoyed by the watch lovers.
The original Royal Oak was the reference 5402A. Its closest version is the 15202 with the Calibre 2121 fitted in an extra thin case 8.1 mm thick in gold, platinum or steel. It is nicknamed Jumbo.
The entry of Audemars Piguet in the 2021 OnlyWatch sale is a Jumbo cased in sandblasted titanium with a grey tapisserie dial, announced as the last unique 15202 using the Calibre 2121. The bezel and the bracelet combine that titanium with polished palladium based Bulk Metallic Glass. The sale was operated by Christie's on November 6, 2021. It was sold for CHF 3.1M, lot 6.
The original Royal Oak was the reference 5402A. Its closest version is the 15202 with the Calibre 2121 fitted in an extra thin case 8.1 mm thick in gold, platinum or steel. It is nicknamed Jumbo.
The entry of Audemars Piguet in the 2021 OnlyWatch sale is a Jumbo cased in sandblasted titanium with a grey tapisserie dial, announced as the last unique 15202 using the Calibre 2121. The bezel and the bracelet combine that titanium with polished palladium based Bulk Metallic Glass. The sale was operated by Christie's on November 6, 2021. It was sold for CHF 3.1M, lot 6.
4
RM 67-02 by Richard Mille
SOLD for CHF 2.1M
Watch manufacturers have long understood that entrusting their best models to aviators, racers or mountain climbers was an effective way to demonstrate the reliability. The frantic move of the wrist of a tennis champion was also a great idea, materialized in 2010 by a partnership between Richard Mille and Rafael Nadal.
Despite its thickness, 11.8 mm, the RM 027 was in period the lightest mechanical watch in the world : 13 grams, less than 20 grams including the strap. After being used for nearly one year by Nadal, it was sold for € 510K by Antiquorum for OnlyWatch on September 23, 2011.
This strategy of sponsoring a champion still feeds the contribution of the brand to OnlyWatch.
Yohan Blake is one of very few sprinters who are able to compete with Usain Bolt, his Jamaican fellow. He used an RM 038 adapted to meet his personal requirements. The new light alloys based on magnesium enhance the resistance to wear and heat. This skeleton watch with a tourbillon movement was involved in his successful participation at the Olympic Games in London in 2012, two silver medals behind Bolt and the gold in the 4 x 100 m. His watch was sold for € 350K by Antiquorum on September 28, 2013.
In 2021 the bespoke RM 067-02 of the Formula One driver Charles Leclerc painted in the colors of his flag was sold for CHF 2.1M, lot 45. That model was in period the lightest automatic watch of the Richard Mille collection.
Despite its thickness, 11.8 mm, the RM 027 was in period the lightest mechanical watch in the world : 13 grams, less than 20 grams including the strap. After being used for nearly one year by Nadal, it was sold for € 510K by Antiquorum for OnlyWatch on September 23, 2011.
This strategy of sponsoring a champion still feeds the contribution of the brand to OnlyWatch.
Yohan Blake is one of very few sprinters who are able to compete with Usain Bolt, his Jamaican fellow. He used an RM 038 adapted to meet his personal requirements. The new light alloys based on magnesium enhance the resistance to wear and heat. This skeleton watch with a tourbillon movement was involved in his successful participation at the Olympic Games in London in 2012, two silver medals behind Bolt and the gold in the 4 x 100 m. His watch was sold for € 350K by Antiquorum on September 28, 2013.
In 2021 the bespoke RM 067-02 of the Formula One driver Charles Leclerc painted in the colors of his flag was sold for CHF 2.1M, lot 45. That model was in period the lightest automatic watch of the Richard Mille collection.
2023 by Christie's
The #OnlyWatch2023 Collection is online. https://t.co/cL5Ns0b6Rl
— Only Watch (@OnlyWatch_off) June 29, 2023
Auction on November 5, 2023, in Geneva, with @ChristiesInc.