Only Watch Announces Its 2023 Line-Up (Full List & Special Page)

Today, renowned charity auction, Only Watch, announced the line-up of participating brands at its highly awaited 10th edition, which will take place in Geneva on Sunday, November 5th, 2023.

Since its inaugural edition in 2005, Only Watch has raised over CHF 100 million for the benefit of research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy by auctioning highly creative, one-of-a-kind timepieces put forward by leading watch brands, including big players and niche independents.
 

This year’s milestone edition is poised to be Only Watch’s biggest event ever: 62 tantalizing lots will go under the hammer thanks to the record participation of 73 watchmakers and watch brands.

What’s more, the lots feature no fewer than 16 collaborations which see several brands joining forces with other watchmakers, artists, designers, movement manufacturers, and, in one case, even a winery, to create exceptional unique pieces to help raise money for a noble cause.

Only Watch 2023 has been one of the most hotly anticipated dates in the horological calendar thanks in no small part to the huge success of the two previous editions of the auction. First, Only Watch 2019 – which saw the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A fetch a record-breaking CHF 31 million – raised over CHF 35 million overall.
 

Then, two years later, Only Watch 2021 nearly matched that total when it generated sales proceeds of CHF 30 million, as five lots – from Patek Philippe, F.P.Journe, Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille, and De Bethune x Voutilainen – hammered for over a million Swiss francs, some of them in the multi-millions.
 

How the 2023 edition – once again being run in collaboration with Christie’s – will unfold is anyone’s guess. But if it is anything like the last two auctions, we can expect an electrifying atmosphere and some sensational winning bids. Besides, it is not just the quantity of participating brands that should whet watch aficionados’ appetites, but also the quality of the unique pieces on the block at this year’s auction.

After teaming up with movie director Francis Ford Coppola to make the mind-blowing FFC Blue automaton watch for 2021’s 9th edition of the fundraiser, F.P.Journe is set to wow auction-goers again with the Chronomètre Furtif Bleu.
 

It houses the newly developed Calibre 1522 in 18K rose gold and features a full-tantalum case and bracelet as well as a translucent blue oven-fired enamel dial (whose frosted numerals are only visible when light reflects off of them). It also boasts moonphase and power reserve indications integrated into the movement that is visible through the display caseback.
 

This year, Tudor will mark its participation at the auction by reviving its first automatic chronograph – the “Big Block”, initially released in 1976 – by way of the new Tudor Prince Chronograph.
 

The unique Prince Chronograph One destined for Only Watch features an 18K yellow gold case and black lacquered dial with sunken gold tricompax registers. Powering the indications is the prototype of what will be Tudor’s brand-new column-wheel chronograph movement, Calibre MT59XX.
 

Finally, as is tradition, the Only Watch 2023 collection will begin a world tour in the weeks preceding the event. This year, it will start on September 6th in Los Angeles before moving on to New York, Monaco, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, and Dubai. The tour will finish off in Geneva in early November ahead of the auction.