The Only Watch biennial charity auction returns this year for its ninth edition, where several renowned watch brands have come forward to participate. Under the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco and the initiative of Luc Pettavino, President of Association Monégasque Contre les Myopathies, the event has been a platform to raise funds for research against Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Through the continued efforts of donors and partners, more than 70 million Euros have been raised to date since the event started in 2005. To date, the support has propelled the research team to prepare its first clinical trial in 2022. In pursuit of ongoing scientific research, development, and aid, 54 brands and watchmakers have each put forward a unique timepiece that bears the color orange, the theme for this edition, in reinterpreted and acclaimed timepieces.
(Related: Luxe for less — for good)
- AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK “JUMBO” EXTRA-THIN ONLY WATCH
- BELL & ROSS BR 01 CYBER SKULL SAPPHIRE ONLY WATCH
- CHANEL THE J-12 PARADOXE ONLY 2
- HERMèS H08 ONLY WATCH
- LAURENT FERRIER CLASSIC ORIGIN HOPE
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Only Watch
Audemars Piguet’s submission is perhaps the truest pièce unique of the lot. The Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Only Watch is the last unique Ref. 15202, and the last to be powered by Calibre 2121—the thinnest automatic movement complete with a central rotor and date indicator when it debuted in the Royal Oak in 1972. History aside, the signature sporty look, accredited to celebrated watch designer Gérald Genta, is without error, having been a benchmark for the ideal sporty, steel watches that followed.
For Only Watch, however, the timepiece bears no hint of orange but has some new details instead. The case, bracelet, and crown are finished in sandblasted titanium, which lends a muted contrast to the polished Bulk Metallic Glass that is in the bezel and bracelet stud, marking the first time that the material is used by the manufacture. Also making its debut is the dial in a gray hue with the “Petite Tapisserie” pattern.
- AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK “JUMBO” EXTRA-THIN ONLY WATCH
- BELL & ROSS BR 01 CYBER SKULL SAPPHIRE ONLY WATCH
- CHANEL THE J-12 PARADOXE ONLY 2
- HERMèS H08 ONLY WATCH
- LAURENT FERRIER CLASSIC ORIGIN HOPE
Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull Sapphire Only Watch
The first thing that catches the eye in this piece is the faceted, orange skull that peers through that clear sapphire case. Bell & Ross has had the skull and crossbones motif cast on the BR 01 since its launch and has gone through tough materials like bronze and matte black ceramic, but never had a pop of color until now.
It’s not merely how the skull is cast on the sapphire crystal, which is a feat in itself, but how the ridged edges allow both light and shadow to color the motif in shades of tangerine and apricot. A slight animation of the jaw takes place when the crown is wound, which simultaneously exposes the movement through the sapphire crystal case.
- AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK “JUMBO” EXTRA-THIN ONLY WATCH
- BELL & ROSS BR 01 CYBER SKULL SAPPHIRE ONLY WATCH
- CHANEL THE J-12 PARADOXE ONLY 2
- HERMèS H08 ONLY WATCH
- LAURENT FERRIER CLASSIC ORIGIN HOPE
Chanel The J-12 Paradoxe Only 2
It’s little surprise that Chanel would be the one to break the status quo by presenting two unique timepieces for Only Watch. It’s a pair of J12 Paradoxe in asymmetrical black and white ceramic. The first J12 Paradoxe was presented at Baselworld 2020, and the interpretation of two tones by the French maison is nothing short of ingenious—some would say a beautiful combination of colors à la Frankenstein.
For Only Watch, Chanel presents a second timepiece in reverse colors, with a two-thirds of black on a white case. Both timepieces run on the Caliber 12.1 automatic-winding movement that’s visible through the specially engraved sapphire crystal caseback.
- AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK “JUMBO” EXTRA-THIN ONLY WATCH
- BELL & ROSS BR 01 CYBER SKULL SAPPHIRE ONLY WATCH
- CHANEL THE J-12 PARADOXE ONLY 2
- HERMèS H08 ONLY WATCH
- LAURENT FERRIER CLASSIC ORIGIN HOPE
Hermès H08 Only Watch
The H08 was unveiled before Watches & Wonders this year and was introduced as the brand’s new line of men’s watches, except the lineup wasn’t anything like the dressy Acreau or the Slim d’Hermès collections, but rather sporty and more wearable. The current lineup has three versions — an all-black graphene composite case, a two-tone DLC-coated titanium, and full titanium. The latter has been reinterpreted for the Only Watch edition in two—one with a matching titanium bracelet and another in the trademark Hermès orange rubber strap. The color motif works in their favor and the orange accent is more pronounced in these unique versions. Both include an orange inner bezel; the rubber version features orange marker and script on the inner sector dial while the bracelet version has orange hour numerals.
- AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK “JUMBO” EXTRA-THIN ONLY WATCH
- BELL & ROSS BR 01 CYBER SKULL SAPPHIRE ONLY WATCH
- CHANEL THE J-12 PARADOXE ONLY 2
- HERMèS H08 ONLY WATCH
- LAURENT FERRIER CLASSIC ORIGIN HOPE
Laurent Ferrier Classic Origin Hope
Laurent Ferrier interprets the charity’s theme, Hope, in a refreshing aquamarine green. There is no compromise in the design of the Classic Origin, a model that was introduced in July last year. The dial is kept clean, with a railroad hour track and thin markers with subtle appliques at 3, 6, 9 and 12o’clock. The polished “Assegai” hands take their place on the matt aquamarine green dial, save for the sub-seconds dial in white and concentric circles guilloché. Laurent Ferrier has chosen to house the movement in a stainless-steel case, which is the first Classic Origin to have such. The original is in Grade 5 titanium. It is perhaps the first time in a long while that sage green is adapted in a dress watch, considering that most of the green watches in the market adapt deeper tones like emerald or forest green. To complete the monochromatic scheme, it comes with a light green alligator leather strap.
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