In December 2004, Lausanne was the scene of the first encounter between Prince Albert II of Monaco, Luc Pettavino*, Osvaldo Patrizzi with his team from Antiquorum and the heads of 34 exceptional watch brands. GMT was also present, as it was indeed in Monaco this September for the wonderful auction imagined by Luc Pettavino and orchestrated by Antiquorum around the “Only Watch” theme. All those involved displayed generosity and enthusiasm, doing all in their power to make this sale an undeniable success. On the one hand, the timepieces were either one-of-a-kind creations or n°. 1 in limited editions and thus by definition highly coveted by collectors. Moreover, the auction had been preceded by a travelling exhibition that made stop-overs in Porto Cervo, Geneva, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo and New York. In addition, Osvaldo Patrizzi worked his hammer in Monaco during the Monaco Yacht Show, the world’s most luxurious event of its kind at which yachts worth tens of millions of euros are sold. The auction thus became an ideal showcase for billionaires concerned with projecting a favourable image while contributing to a good cause. Finally, both the brands themselves and Antiquorum had expended great efforts to make their collector clients aware of the value of their creations and the exceptional character of Only Watch, a genuine first in watchmaking history. The entire proceeds from the auction – namely YXZ (à finaliser le 22/9) euros – were donated to the Monaco Association Against Muscular Dystrophy, which naturally operates well beyond the borders of the famous rock.

According to Etienne Leménager, the Antiquorum watch expert with which GMT prepares its Collector’s features, brands achieved impressive feats, most of them working with great speed and tremendous creativity. He is particularly appreciative of the commitment of the “small brands” for which the investment in a one-of-akind creation is huge in relation to the modest size of their infrastructure, compared with that of the “major brands”. This is particularly true of the tourbillon in solid meteorite by Antoine Preziuso, of the white gold automaton watch by Svend Andersen, of the yellow gold jumping hour with miniature on mother-of-pearl by Bovet, and of the platinum three-dimensional moonphase model with 8-day power-reserve by De Bethune. Certain models are distinguished by the special nature of their dial, such as the one in petrified algae of the Grande Seconde by Jaquet Droz, the one in precious wood on the Bichrono by De La Cour, as well as the famous Mickey figure dressed in a Formula 1 driving suit on the watch by Gérald Genta, or the equestrian Golden Bridge by Corum.

Entirely dedicated to the very essence of the Only Watch project, two brands personalised the cover of their creation on the theme of the disease. Parmigiani engraved the portrait of Dr. Duchenne, while Patek Philippe preferred to symbolise hope and healing through engraved and gem-set elements such as the sun, the moon, the horizon and the heart. Two other brands with particular expertise in the field focused on gemsetting: Harry Winston (295 white diamonds totalling 4.28 cts) and Jaeger-LeCoultre (950 precious stones totalling 5.55 cts. Among the “big brands”, Etienne Leménager was particularly impressed and won over by the Quattro Regulator by Chopard, which is increasingly asserting itself in the field of men’s complication watches, and by the De Ville Rattrapante by Omega, his personal favourite. Moreover, the Solo T by Hublot also caught his eye thanks to the angled arms of its tourbillon, and the Tambour Diving by Louis Vuitton also stands out. More and more collectors are aiming for Louis Vuitton models, which are being auctioned at increasingly higher prices. It is worth noting that many of the buyers are traditional Patek Philippe buyers. Thank you and congratulations to Luc Pettavino for giving us an opportunity to revel in this watchmaking dream: what will we do next year?

*President of the Monaco Yacht Show and of the Monaco Association against Muscular Dystrophy.