Only Watch 2019: Our Five Favorite Watches, All For A Good Cause
Only Watch

Only Watch 2019: Our Five Favorite Watches, All For A Good Cause

Only Watch is back this November 9th at Hotel des Bergues in Geneva with the support of Christie's. Every two years, brands challenge their creativity to create unique timepieces to be sold at the charity auction. With 99% of the net proceeds going directly to research and raising awareness of Duchene Muscular Dystrophy. Here’s a look at five of our favorite watches from this year’s edition.

By Viviana Shanks
Contributor

The last Only Watch auction was a real success with proceeds reaching CHF 10,776,500. These funds were donated straight to the Monegasque Association against Muscular dystrophy (AMM). The eight edition is set to be even more successful with brands challenging themselves to create the most unique and desirable pieces that collectors simply cannot say to no to. It is worth noting that ONLY WATCH has raised more than 40 million Swiss Francs since its debut in 2005.

As we know, it is not about the “return on investment” for the brands but yet, a fantastic opportunity to donate a unique piece and make a difference in the lives of many thanks to the funds donated to charity. For brands, it's also the chance to let loose their creativity. Before the big day, watches lovers from around the world will be able to view the Only Watch pieces during their world tour. The first stop? Monaco from September 25 to 28th. In the meantime, we’ve already chosen our five favorites.

Tudor Black Bay Ceramic One

After last edition’s hugely successful Black Bay Bronze One lot, it is fair to say that all eyes are on Tudor in 2019. Luckily, the brand doesn’t disappoint! In fact, they’ve released their first ceramic watch, and the result is WOW! The 41mm Black Bay is encased in black ceramic with titanium and stainless-steel elements. It’s powered by Tudor’s in-house automatic manufacture movement. It's the perfect combination for a dive watch.
 

The Black Bay Ceramic One is a black ceramic marvel which features a sandblasted black matte dial and back indices. Entirely new and unexpected on this piece is the sapphire case back, a unique yet subtle nod considering that Tudor has its own manufacture movements. Always striving for improvement, this piece is certainly not a surprise coming from Tudor, but it makes us quite impatient to see what’s next from the reinvigorated brand.
 

Hermès Arceau L'Heure De La Lune

To many, Hermès is still not considered a ‘high Watchmaking’ brand, but merely a fashion brand. People that think this way should probably take a closer look at the fact that this brand has been creating watches for over 40 years. Many of these pieces are amazing creations, and in 2019, Hermès stepped event more into the world of high watchmaking.
 

For the eight edition of Only Watch, Hermès takes inspiration from its hugely successful novelty launched at SIHH 2019 – the Hermès Arceau L'Heure De La Lune Only Watch. This white gold piece created especially for the charity auction has a slightly darker side thanks to its meteorite dial and mother of pearl moons. Should you look closely at the glowing 12 o'clock moon, it’s adorned with an elegantly galloping Pegasus, a signature of the brand. The hour and date dials are lacquered with blue zephyr numerals matching with the inside beautiful matte alligator strap.
 

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Enamel Chestnut

For Jaeger-LeCoultre's first Only Watch, the brand has put together their ancestral savoir-faire in an Ultra-Thin case. After the success of the Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Enamel Blue at this year’s SIHH, it seems only natural to create something similar yet unique. The extent of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s savoir-faire is on full display on this new enamel dial.
 

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra thin Perpetual Enamel Chestnut is everything you would expect of the Grande Maison and more. The beautifully hand-guilloché sunray enamel dial is comprised in a translucent Chestnut color coupled with a newly engraved moon phase display. The counters have been highlighted with “Clous de Paris" finishing, made in the "Métiers rare" atelier of the Manufacture that perpetuates tradition for almost 190 years. I cannot wait to see how much this piece will go for!
 

Louis Vuitton Escale Spin Time

Participating in its sixth Only Watch, Louis Vuitton showcases its timeless and iconic watchmaking. Inspired Tattoo art, the dial on this unique Escale Spin Time is hand painted in Emanuel Grand-Feu by miniaturization artist Anita Porchet. The application of the beautiful floral design on the dial took 200 hours of work and was later finished with several precious stones. Cased in a 41mm diamond-set white gold.
 

Powered by a manufacture movement made by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, this timepiece playfully displays the time, as only Louis Vuitton knows how. Coming with four different alligator straps, this gorgeous timepiece also comes with a hand-painted monogrammed leather case recalling the floral dial. The Louis Vuitton Escale Spin Time unique piece is the perfect showcase of Louis Vuitton watchmaking savoir-faire.
 

MB&F X L'ÉPÉE – Tom and T-Rex

We’ve probably kept the best for last. MB&F is not the kind of brand that does conventional watches, for that we’re thankful. Every watch is a real piece of art with a story behind it. This collaboration with l’Épée is no different. Tom and the T-Rex are almost as if a child's dream came true. On top of the T-Rex, a sculpture of a child, representing every child living with muscular dystrophy. We all know that children have the best imagination, and Tom found his T-Rex friend that will take him to the wildest adventures without the boundaries of the disease.
 

Created for this Charitable cause, it’s hard to picture a better piece to illustrate this disease and how it affects children. Tom and T-Rex reminded me of how imaginative wwerere when we were kids, and how hard it must be to be stopped from wondering and discovering or going on adventures when so many are suffering from such a terrible disease. It is hard to imagine a better piece for this amazing auction.
 

Happy Bidding!

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