The Only Watch Charity Auction at the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime ref. 6300A-010

Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime ref. 6300A-010 for Only Watch 2019 / Credit: Patek Philippe

As far as yearly watch events go, few are as followed or as significant as Only Watch – the industry’s charity watch auction. A chance for brands to be on the world stage but also to show their true creative colours. This year being the event’s 20-year anniversary and 9th auction, we thought it worthwhile to explore its brief but notable history.

Only Watch was founded in 2001 by Luc Pettavino as part of the Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies, when Pettavino’s own son Paul was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, sadly passing away in 2016 at the age of 21. Luc Pettavino was previously CEO of the Monaco Yacht Show and founded Only Watch to be a biennial auction event of piece uniques made by dozens of leading watchmakers from around the world. That means watch brands have to develop unique designs only for this auction, with brands from Patek Philippe to Baltic participating. 99% of donations go directly to funding research projects – with tens of millions raised thus far – while the other 1% goes towards administrative costs. Only Watch is not only the auction, however, the event includes a tour whereupon the watches up for auction can be previewed at different locations around the world. Moreover, the lots are not only the watches but also include other things like VIP experiences.

Now, there have been many very important watches sold at Only Watch over the years, important and record-breaking piece uniques! The most recognizable of these is the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime ref. 6300A-010, that was made exclusively for the 8th Only Watch in 2019. This steel Patek Philippe became the most expensive watch in the world when it sold for $31 million CHF two years ago in Geneva! Passing the prices of both the Henry Graves Supercomplication and Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona.

Patek Philippe ref. 5208T-010 for Only Watch 2017 / Credit: Patek Philippe

The Grandmaster Chime line was launched in 2014 and features 20 complications, with 1,366 movement components and 214 case components. However, the Patek Philippe ref. 6300A-010 uniquely hosts the inscription “The Only One” in the 12 o’clock alarm time sub-dial. This Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime is powered by the manual-winding Cal. 300 GS AL 35-750 FUS IRM that features the day and date, month, leap year, and 4-digit year display; a second time zone with a day/night indicator, and a strikework isolator indicator – among others! Moreover, there are two sides to the dial; a rose gold time-side dial and a black ebony calendar-side one. All of this in a massive 48 mm case. A very impressive watch that only an exclusive few have ever held – let alone seen!

Now, with all of its successes and its very noble goal, not all is perfect at Only Watch. Recently there has been reports of a ‘lack of interest’, particularly coming from brands. Brands spend considerable effort and funds on creating a unique watch for the charity auction, largely for the benefit of marketing. And so, as brands have been less inclined to invest in their Only Watch creations – Only Watch itself has suffered as it may attract less demand and reach lower results.

Despite this, the event continues to go strong – this is its 20th anniversary after all! And surely there are more records to be broken, maybe even this year?

By: Andres Ibarguen