Watch & Act! - The Watch World Unites For An Auction In Aid Of The Australian Bushfire Crisis

Launched today, Time+Tide Watches' ‘Watch & Act!’ World Watch Auction features 16 watches (and two unique pieces) from a diverse cross-section of players in the watch industry.  Starting today at 9 am AEST, and running for 10 days until 9 am AEST on January 30th, you can bid on this unique assortment of timepieces all for a good cause.
 

Two pieces have been created especially for the auction; a Zenith Pilot Rescue, ‘Australian Rescue’ Edition Unique Piece with a custom case back. And a Hublot Classic Fusion ‘Watch & Act!’ Edition Unique Piece, also with an engraved case back. More details on the top lots below!

Jean-Christophe Babin and his team at Bulgari have donated the most valuable lot in this auction. This Serpenti Tubogas in 18k Yellow Gold (retail price $30,900 USD) is sure to attract a lot of attention and bidding. Encased in an 18kt yellow gold case and bracelet with a unique bezel set with multiple brilliant-cut diamonds and silver opaline dial. What a great gesture from the iconic Italian Maison.
 

You can bid on this lot by clicking HERE. The estimate for the Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas in 18k Yellow Gold is set at $25,000-35,000 USD. Kudos to Bulgari for such a generous donation! 100% of the proceeds of the ‘Watch & Act!’ World Watch Auction go to Australian bushfire charities.

Here's a piece with a personal story, the H.Moser & Cie Pioneer Centre Seconds watch of U2 bass player Adam Clayton. One of only three in existence, this Pioneer Centre Seconds with ‘Funky Blue’ dial remarkably features no Moser logo. This watch has been generously donated by H.Moser & Cie with the blessing of Adam Clayton.
 

This piece comes directly off the wrist of Adam Clayton and has not been polished. Sized at 42.8mm and encased in stainless steel, the Pioneer Centre Seconds comes fitted to its original rubber strap. The early estimate for this lot is $10,000-20,000 USD and you can bid HERE.
 

For their part, Zenith has produced a piece unique Pilot Type 20 Rescue watch. This 45mm piece was just recently released at the LVMH Watch Summit in Dubai and is uniquely cased in bronze. Featuring a charming slate-grey-toned sunray-patterned dial with a unique "Australian Rescue Edition" caseback with a Canadair CL-415 water bomber flying over rolling hills and a backdrop of the Australian flag.
 

This cause holds a special place in the heart of Time+Tide's Australian founder Andrew McUtchen, “I am not alone, in fact I am probably in the majority, in being touched by the terrible 2019 / 2020 fires around Australia,” Andrew says. “Receiving images of my family sleeping in their shop opposite a river so they could escape into the water should the fires sweep through town was surreal and stressful. Not to mention the over one billion animals who have died. For an animal as common in Australia as the koala to now be on the cusp of the endangered animals list is unthinkable.”
 

Generously donated by Zenith, the unique piece, Pilot Rescue, ‘Australian Rescue’ Edition has a reserve of $6,000-10,000 USD. You can bid on the lot HERE.

Never a stranger to giving back to the environment, Oris has two pieces in the Watch & Act! - World Watch Auction. The two pieces featured are the James Morrison Academy of Music Limited Edition and a Divers Sixty-Five Limited Edition for HODINKEE. Both watches feature conservative estimates from $1,500-4,000. A great way to donate to rescue operations for the Australian bushfires while receiving a great watch in return. 
 

The Oris James Morrison Academy of Music Limited Edition is the first piece from this collection available for purchase in the world. The watch is engraved #2 of 1234, with #1 going to the James Morrison museum.  Featuring a gradient ‘dégradé’ blue dial and caseback engraved with the Academy of Music logo, furthermore, a golden seconds hand is shaped like a trumpet hook, inspired by James’ favorite instrument. The watch is generously donated by Oris, with the enthusiastic support of the man himself, James Morrison. You can bid on the piece HERE.
 

When our friends at HODINKEE introduced their Oris Divers Sixty-Five Limited Edition, the 250-piece edition sold out within minutes. And for good reason. This manually-wound Divers Sixty-Five featured a ghost grey bezel for a distinctively vintage touch. Sized at 40mm and powered by a Sellita 210-1 movement the piece still has collectors searching far and wide months after its release. You can bid on this piece HERE.

(Images provided by Time+Tide Watches)