onlywatch2015

Only Watch 2015 - Welcome to Aurel Bacs and Phillips!

Monaco Association Against Muscular Dystrophy (AMM) annouces collaboration with watch expert Aurel Bacs (Bacs & Russo) and Phillips new watch department for the biennial charity auction of unique timepieces. The 6th Only Watch Auction is to take place in November 2015 in Geneva.

Renowned watch expert Aurel Bacs and Phillips join Only Watch with co-organizers Association Monégasque Contre les Myopathies (AMM) and the Monaco Yacht Show.

The 6th edition of the biennial charity auction of unique timepieces, sold for the benefit of research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy, will take place in November 2015 in Geneva.

Before the auction, there will be a promotional world tour, starting in Monaco, in the heart of the world’s benchmark superyacht event, the Monaco Yacht Show, from September 23 to 26, 2015, continuing with stops in Europe, the United States, and Asia.

Some forty brands have already confirmed their participation in Only Watch 2015. The participants’ list will be published during the first quarter of 2015.

At the beginning of September 2014, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, who has supported and given his Patronage to this event since day one, welcomed the watchmakers’ representatives into the Palace gardens to thank them for their commitment and recognise their exceptional contribution which has permitted the financing of teams of researchers, notably in France (University of Versailles Saint-Quentin), Monaco (Centre Scientifique de Monaco), and Switzerland (Synthena, a biotech within the University of Bern).

Luc Pettavino, President of the Monaco Association against Muscular Dystrophy and Founder-Organizer of Only Watch says: “Welcome to Aurel Bacs and Phillips! Their participation strengthens the project’s 10th anniversary edition considerably. Only Watch expects every co-organizer, participant, and partner to commit with positive energy, sharing their full pool of talent and competence. The aim is to continue to sustain the hope of a therapeutic cure to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy through the global interest generated by the breathtaking beauty of these unique timepieces. Through me, the people affected by this very serious illness express their deepest gratitude to all women and men who made, make and will make Only Watch a collective success.”

Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant says: “I have followed Only Watch attentively since its first edition. This exceptional horological event unites unique pieces from the world’s most prestigious brands, while also being a humanitarian initiative that I have always admired. It is thus an immense honour for me to have been selected as the auctioneer with Phillips for the 2015 edition. Only Watch represents the perfect convergence of professional and heartfelt, personal interests.”

Edward Dolman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Phillips says: “Together with our newly created Watch department, I am delighted to partner with the leading watch charity in supporting this important humanitarian initiative.”

Gaëlle Tallarida, Managing Director of the Monaco Yacht Show says: “The Monaco Yacht Show co-organizes Only Watch and has hosted the Monaco stopover of its travelling exhibition since the beginning. Our team is happy to be associated with such a fantastic project whose results allow the funding of prime scientific research on this serious neuromuscular disease.”

Luc Pettavino

President of the Monaco Association against Muscular Dystrophy and Founder-Organizer of Only Watch.

Former CEO and shareholder of Monaco Yacht Show for nearly two decades, Luc Pettavino quickly built the boat show to become the world’s leading event. Coporate social responsibility has always been at the heart of his, and the show’s actions (eg. first show in the world to be Carbon Neutral, donating 50% of entry ticket revenues to good causes).

Co-founder of the Monaco Association against Muscular Dystrophy (AMM), he has worked, since 2001, pushing research for a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which his son Paul (now aged 18) suffers from. He has created different themed auction concepts to raise funds: The Mona Lisa Project, Adam & Eve, Only One Seasons 1 & 2 and Only Watch. To date AMM has raised nearly 16 million Euros for international scientific and medical research.

He is President of Synthena, the biotech firm created in the heart of the University of Bern which brings together different patents and expertise with the objective of distributing treatment to as many people as possible in future. On the 6th December 2014 the University of Bern will bestow the distinguished title of Doctor Honoris Causa upon Luc Pettavino for his role in the combat of neuromuscular illnesses.

Aurel Bacs

Senior Consultant

With 20 years of professional experience in the field of Collectors' Watches, Aurel Bacs is an internationally recognized leading specialist in the watch market. As an auctioneer and watch specialist, Mr. Bacs has worked at various auction houses since 1995, most recently as the Head of the International Watch department at Christie’s.  During his tenure, he oversaw an unprecedented growth for the firm, raising the department's annual turnover from US $8 million to over US $130 million.

Today, Mr. Bacs is an independent advisor to private collectors, manufacturers and museums in the field of high-end collectors’ watches and co-founder of Bacs & Russo SA. In this capacity, he is partnering with Phillips as exclusive consultant for their newly created watch department.

Edward Dolman

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Phillips

Edward Dolman joined Phillips as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in July 2014.

In 2011 Mr. Dolman was appointed Director of the office of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Chairperson of the Qatar Museums Authority. In addition, in 2012 Her Excellency appointed Edward Dolman as Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Qatar Museums Authority, positions he held until May 2014. In these roles he developed a wide-ranging ten-year strategic plan for the development of arts and culture in the State of Qatar and focused on the development of a cultural diplomacy programme which included the highly successful 2013 Qatar/UK Year of Culture.

Edward Dolman joined the Qatar Museums Authority from Christie’s International where he had served as Chairman, focusing on global business development and client relationships at the highest levels of the art market. He previously served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, a position he held for 11 years, leading the business through an unprecedented era of growth driven by the shift to modernism and a rapidly expanding global client base. During this time he oversaw some of the most important auction sales of recent times. These included the Gaffe Collection on behalf of UNICEF in 2001, the sale of five works by Gustav Klimt restituted to Maria Altman and her family by the Austrian State in 2006, and the groundbreaking Yves Saint Laurent sale in 2009. Mr. Dolman directed Christie’s new business development and strategy, enhanced operations on a global basis and shaped many innovative initiatives for the Company. This included rapid expansion in China and the Middle East and the introduction of live on-line bidding, bringing many new buyers into the auctions. Mr. Dolman's 27 year career at Christie's included earlier roles as Managing Director of Christie’s Europe, Managing Director of Christie’s Americas and Managing Director of Christie’s Amsterdam.

Mr. Dolman was educated at Dulwich College and Southampton University. He continued his studies in the connoisseurship, appreciation and history of the decorative arts at the Study Centre for Fine and Decorative Arts in London. He was awarded the Légion d’Honneur as Chevalier in May 2007 and in 2011 was elevated to the distinguished position of Officier de la Légion d’Honneur by President Sarkozy.

Only Watch is pleased to announce its dedicated social media accounts. We invite members of the press, collectors, and enthusiasts to follow us on our Only Watch accounts on the following platforms:

Twitter:           @OnlyWatch2015
Facebook:      https://www.facebook.com/OnlyWatchCharityAuction
Website:         www.onlywatch.com

CONTACTS

MONACO

Johan Pizzardini
Press & Media Manager – Monaco Yacht Show
johan@monacoyachtshow.mc
+377 93 10 41 70

LONDON

Alex Godwin-Brown
Head of Press and Events, Europe
agodwin-brown@phillips.com
+ 44 20 7318 4036

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