Watchmakers and chronograph collectors unite! The 62 lots for Only Watch 2023 have been released, ready for auction this November – and this year the designs are more spectacular than ever.
What is Only Watch?
Only Watch is a biennial event that is held to raise funds for research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Brainchild of Luc Pettavino with the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco, Only Watch brings together designers and collectors for a charity auction that has become the most anticipated occasion in the horology calendar. Leading watchmakers and luxury brands such as TUDOR and Bulgari create bespoke pieces of incredible opulence that are showcased as a collection before being sold to the highest bidder.
The highlights of Only Watch 2023
The TUDOR Prince Chronograph
Established for almost a century, TUDOR has a wealth of luxury watches in their extensive collection. However, none is as lavish as the TUDOR Prince Chronograph, their unique design for Only Watch 2023. This piece is a reimagining of their first automatic chronograph that was released in 1976, updated with their latest calibre and protected by an 18k yellow gold case – an unusually striking metal for a TUDOR watch design.
Hublot’s jewel-encrusted flower
This year, Hublot has created a visual masterpiece in collaboration with artist Takashi Murakami. 12 petals, decorated with a rainbow of 444 gemstones, surround a central flying tourbillon which is an exceptional feat of engineering. This watch is a dazzling duality of beauty and timekeeping precision.
Bulgari’s marble masterpiece
Have you ever even imagined a watch made out of marble? It is the incredible innovation and the dedication in achieving the seemingly impossible that makes Bulgari such a beloved fashion designer, with iconic celebrities regularly sporting Bulgari jewellery. Their Octo Finissimo edition for Only Watch 2023 is clad in a thin layer of marble with a thin marble wafer showcased on the dial. This project took five years of research and 190 hours were spent on the construction of the bracelet.
Louis Vuitton’s homage to Einstein
Louis Vuitton approached their design for Only Watch 2023 by focusing on groundbreaking ideas – like those needed in the research for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity was one of the most important scientific breakthroughs in the 20th century, and this earned him a place on Louis Vuitton’s special edition watch face. A micro grisalle portrait of Einstein with his characteristic tongue-out expression sits at one side, with his most famous equations written on the other. This timepiece recognises the brilliant minds of the past, present, and future.
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