With the proceeds from the sale donated to the Monegasque Association against Muscular Dystrophy in order to help finance research for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a degenerative neuromuscular disease affecting 1 in 3,500 boys, therefore 250,000 children, adolescents, and young adults around the world, the ONLY Watch auction executed by Phillips this afternoon in Geneva, brought crazy money. Some of the highlights of the auction include a Patek Philippe ref. 5016A selling for more than $7.3 Million Swiss Francs, a Richard Mille RM 27-02 prototype worn by Rafael Nadal sold for $650,000 Swiss Francs, an F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain Bleu selling for $550,000 Swiss Francs, the long awaited Tudor Black Bay One for $375,000 Swiss Francs, a Hublot Classic Fussion Only Watch Britto for $135,000 Swiss Francs, a Louis Vuitton Escale World Time selling for $130,000 Swiss Francs, the Bell & Ross BR01 Skull Bronze Tourbillon bringing in $100,000 Swiss Francs and lastly the Breguet Type XXI Flyback in Platinum ref. 3813 for $90,000 Swiss Francs. Of all 44 lots, this eight lots brought in the most money.
Posts filed under News
News: The Tudor Heritage Black Bay One Sells for 375,000 Swiss Francs at the 2015 ONLY Watch Auction by Phillips.
For its first participation in the 6th ONLY Watch charity auction to take place on November this year, Tudor has decided to reinterpret one of the least known tool-watches in its history: reference 7923. Launched in the mid-1950s and produced in tiny quantities, this is the brand’s only divers’ watch to have been equipped with a hand-wound movement. It also stands out from the other divers’ watches produced by Tudor with its baton-type hands. Highly sought after by collectors today, this rare reference was an excellent starting point for the creation of a one-off model destined for this unique initiative. The Tudor Heritage Black Bay One created for this auction mixes the best of both worlds —vintage and modern— in a flawless execution. This unique piece Tudor Heritage Black Bay One created for Only Watch 2015 is part of Tudor's heritage inspired approach, reinterpreting the reference 7923 with enlightened freedom.
Insider: Introducing the New MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual. Hands-on with Live Pics and Pricing. The Brand's First Perpetual Calendar Changing How We've Looked at Perpetuals so Far.
Perhaps one of the top five biggest news of the year and a watch that we think for sure will be a prize recipient at the GPHG next year. May we now present you MB&F's first perpetual calendar. The new MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual is a perpetual calendar timepiece that is reinventing the most traditional horological complication. The new MB&F LM Perpetual, developed from the ground up with independent Irish watchmaker Stephen McDonnell, breaks all codes and perspectives on how we've looked at perpetual calendars up until now.
While conventional perpetual calendars are generally modules comprising the complication which is fitted on top of an existing movement, the calendar indications are synchronized by a long lever —called 'grand levier' in French— running across the top of the complication and passing through the center.
News: The Winners of the 2015 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève. Congratulations to the Winners and Especially to Greubel Forsey for Winning the 'Aiguille d'Or' Grand Prix.
Excellence, innovation and watchmaking expertise were duly rewarded today October 29th, 2015 at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, on the occasion of the 15th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève —GPHG— prize-giving ceremony. The international jury of this edition 2015 of the GPHG handed out 16 prizes, including the supreme “Aiguille d’Or”, distinction, awarded to Greubel Forsey for the Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision. Jointly hosted by Melanie Winiger and Frédéric Beigbeder, the ceremony was attended by around 1,500 guests including influential figures from the world of watchmaking, finance and politics, who congregated in Geneva for this annual celebration of the 12th art. This 15th edition of the GPHG registered a record participation with representation from all the major watchmaking groups as well as a number of independent companies.
News: Introducing the Richard Mille RM 030 Automatic 'Black Dash'. A 50-Piece Limited Edition Right on Time for the SIAR Mexico City 2015.
As the SIAR 2015 kicks-off in Mexico City today, we are pleased to announce the new Richard Mille RM 030 Automatic 'Black Dash'. We will bring you live pictures later today. The newest version of Richard Mille’s RM 030 Automatic with Declutchable Rotor, cloaked in black with scarlet red details, debuts as the dark and dramatic sibling to previous editions of the popular tonneau-shaped timepiece. Like a carbon negative to this year’s White Rush limited edition, the Black Dash incorporates boundary-pushing new materials and a hand-finished innovative movement to achieve a new level of style and performance in haute horlogerie. Black TZP sand-blasted ceramic forms the front and back bezels of the RM 030 Black Dash, while its caseband is comprised of incredibly strong and light black NTPT carbon. The watch’s crown and rubber strap are also black, while the combination of red and white for its Arabic numerals, hands, indicators and inner flange produce a high degree of legibility.
News: Introducing the Tudor Heritage Black Bay Black ref. 79220N. What Everyone was Dreaming of and More.
The day Tudor unveiled the Black Bay One unique piece for ONLY Watch Auction —as we reported here—, everyone started dreaming of Tudor one day releasing the model for the general public. While the new Tudor Heritage Black Bay Black ref. 79220N is not exactly identical to the Black Bay One made for the ONLY Watch Auction —as it lacks of the red writing on the dial—, this new model is a wonderful addition to the Heritage Black Bay lineup joining its siblings the Black Bay Burgundy Red and the Black Bay Blue. After receiving the information from the brand, we immediately knew that this watch was going to be a home run and probably sold out the same day its hitting the stores. Hopefully we will be able to get one today as it is supposed to be available at the Tudor authorized dealer network. We'll keep you posted on that front.
News: Introducing the HYT H4 Alinghi. Live Pictures and Pricing. Fitted with a Mechanically Powered White Light Under the Crystal.
Innovation within tradition, the DNA of haute horlogerie, the movement heritage, and so on: forget it all. HYT does things its own way, and discards these received ideas. Need a known quantity to hang on to? Good news: the H4 Alinghi tells the time. As for the rest, you will need to forget anything that has been seen, designed, or even imagined before now. Nothing has changed, except the essential. The chassis is a familiar beast. Since the start of the year, the H4 has had more ink in publicity than it has in its capillary. It is based on the same movement architecture as the H1, HYT's inaugural piece, which has been completely skeletonized. With a 65-hour power reserve, it unveiled its sculptural mechanism for the very first time and opened up a new creative universe for HYT. One so appealing that the brand decided not to meddle with it: the new H4 Alinghi is virtually a carbon copy of its big brother. Or is it? All is not as it seems. Using this as its basis, HYT has returned to its favourite game: creating, surprising, sometimes unsettling, always astounding. This time the brand has applied a radiant idea, as brilliant as it is difficult to spot at first glance.
News: Introducing the Girard-Perregaux 1966 in Stainless Steel. Available in Steel for the First Time.
Available in stainless steel for the first time, Girard-Perregaux the manufacture based out of La-Chaux-de-Fonds unveils the new Girard-Perregaux 1966 in a metal never used before for this collection. Often suggested, long imagined, Girard-Perregaux presents the eagerly awaited steel edition of the 1966 collection. Girard-Perregaux is a Manufacture known for its haute horlogerie and emblematic Three Gold Bridges. Its expertise in finishing movements has earned it the status as one of the most prestigious supporters of workmanship. The Manufacture of la Chaux-de-Fonds presents a minimalist style by introducing a new material to its flagship 1966 collection: steel. The new star of the collection mixes styles and genres —male-female and classic-contemporary— but maintains the iconic aesthetic and manufacture movement of the 1966 line. The model joins the ranks of watchmaking “must-haves”. Like a piece of Haute Couture designed with expertise and precision, this Girard-Perregaux 1966 steel watch delivers all the messages of traditional watchmaking.
News: Introducing the Hautlence Tourbillon 01. The First Tourbillon for this Manufacture and Powered by H. Moser & Cie. Calibre HMC 802.
Contemporary watchmaker Hautlence enlarges its Atelier collection with the addition of the Tourbillon 01, an elegant timepiece featuring H. Moser & Cie.’s exclusive Calibre Tourbillon HMC 802 beating at its heart. Equipped with a dual-time function, a one-minute tourbillon, a three-day power reserve and an automatic winding system, the Tourbillon 01 introduces new synergies between two brands owned by the Meylan family company, MELB Holding. The new Hautlence Tourbillon 01 reinterprets all of the design codes that are dear to Hautlence and follows in particular the aesthetics of the very first HL05 timepieces, offering a three-dimensional dial with a multi-level reading of time. Demonstrating Hautlence’s avant-garde approach to design, this new timepiece is housed in a round 44 mm two-tone case crafted out of rose gold and black PVD-coated titanium. Built on several levels, the dial highlights a black enamelled base embellished by Côtes de Genève decoration.
News: Introducing the New Richard Mille RM 011 RED TPT Quartz. The New Little Red Devil on the Block in a 50-piece Limited Edition.
Continuing with the recent launches of new watches from Richard Mille, may we present you the new Richard Mille RM 011 Red TPT Quartz, and when we say quartz we are not talking about a battery operated watch but the quartz used in the case material. Coupled with its RM 011 automatic flyback chronograph caliber, Richard Mille presents the latest incarnation of its TPT quartz case dressed in vibrant red. A unique color in fine watchmaking, it redefines the graphic limitations of this material. Since it was unveiled two years ago, Richard Mille’s NTPT carbon has enabled the Jura-based brand to produce cases and components with exceptional mechanical performances. Originally developed for the manufacture of racing boat sails, this material finds applications in Formula 1 chassis construction, aeronautic and now watchmaking, since it has rapidly become the brand’s trademark composite material.
News: Introducing the Richard Mille RM 26-02 Tourbillon Evil Eye. A $575,000 USD Watch in a 25-Piece Limited Edition.
The concept of the Evil Eye, also known as Ayin Harsha in Arabic, Mauvais OEil in French, Dhristi in Hindu and Ayin Ha’ra in Hebrew, is recorded in every culture from early history. This universal symbol of foreboding summons suffering and misfortune to whoever is exposed to its power. The Evil Eye knows no bounds except those imposed on it by various protective talismans, such as the Eye of Horus amulet, the Jewish red string or the Irish four leaf clover, to name just a few. Today, a new talisman to protect against these negative energies in the 21st century has been developed by a visionary of contemporary watchmaking. Nonconformist by nature, Richard Mille seized on this imagery as inspiration for the new Richard Mille RM 26-02 Tourbillon Evil Eye just unveiled at Watches & Wonder 2015 in Hong Kong. In the same way as he did when creating the earlier RM 052 skull timepiece —recalling the spirit of Memento Mori— with its remembrance of our personal mortality, both of these technical masterpieces, born in the Swiss Jura, go far beyond the norm to bring timekeeping to inspirational and intriguing levels of expression.
News: Introducing the Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic Universal Time. Our Favorite World Timer at the Moment.
Renowned for its horological mastery and its creative talent, Jaeger-LeCoultre now wishes to share the fruits of its expertise with a broader public. This is why it is introducing an original collection with a pure, uncluttered design, driven by a new Haute Horlogerie calibre encapsulating the inventive spirit of the Manufacture. In 1958, the International Geophysical Year, Jaeger-LeCoultre created a chronometer for scientists on mission. Capable of withstanding the magnetic fields of the North Pole while losing nothing of its formidable precision, its overriding characteristic was extreme resistance. The new Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic Universal Time with its 41.6 mm is available in either stainless steel or 18K pink gold. This new watch is fitted with a stunning dial that features a planisphere where the sea is depicted with subtly graded lacquered shades of blue, while the engraved continents are graced with a magnificent sunburst finish.
News: Introducing the Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic True Second. A Dead Beat Seconds Timepiece at its Finest.
Renowned for its horological mastery and its creative talent, Jaeger-LeCoultre now wishes to share the fruits of its expertise with a broader public. This is why it is introducing an original collection with a pure, uncluttered design, driven by a new Haute Horlogerie calibre encapsulating the inventive spirit of the Manufacture. In 1958, the International Geophysical Year, Jaeger-LeCoultre created a chronometer for scientists on mission. Capable of withstanding the magnetic fields of the North Pole while losing nothing of its formidable precision, its overriding characteristic was extreme resistance. The new Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic True Second with its 39.6 mm x 11.7 mm case is available in either stainless steel or 18K pink gold. This new watch is fitted with a stunning silver grain dial with applied markers matching the metal of the case. Its finely grained dial lends added texture and further accentuates the readability of the information provided. The hands and hour-markers stand out clearly against their backdrop.
News: Introducing the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731. The Thinnest Minute Repeater in the World, Now in Two New Platinum-Clad Versions.
Here we have another two new pieces also just unveiled at 2015 Watches & Wonders in Hong Kong. The new Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731 is the thinnest manual wound calibre and the thinnest manual wound minute repeater watch on the market, at respectively 3.9 and 8.1 mm thick. Initially introduced in 18K 5N pink gold, this timepiece now appears clothed in a platinum case —framing a silvered opaline or slate-colored opaline dial— naturally bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva. The first repeater watch appeared in the 18th century in an age before the advent of electric lighting. The timepiece enabled its owner to tell the time in the dark by means of an audible indication. While this complication is no longer an imperious necessity, it nonetheless remains a pinnacle of the watchmaking art. Each minute repeater watch is indeed unique and carries the signature of the master artisan who made it.
News: Introducing the Vacheron Constantin Maître Cabinotier Perpetual Calendar Regulator. A 'Pièce Unique' That is Simply Amazing.
Here's the new one-of-a-kind Vacheron Constantin Maître Cabinotier Perpetual Calendar Regulator ref. 4000C/000R-B121 right on time for the 2015 Watches & Wonders in Hong Kong. With this new watch —a unique-piece—, Vacheron Constantin showcases its expertise in creating original and exclusive calibers providing a highly specific time read-off. This exceptional timepiece is distinguished by its regulator-type display, inspired by the precision clocks used to adjust watches from the 17th century onwards. Along with this dissociated display of the hours and minutes, the 2460 RQP movement specially designed for this model also drives a major horological complication: the perpetual calendar. An elegant hand-guilloché dial accentuates the exclusive nature of this watch certified by the Hallmark of Geneva, crafted in keeping with the spirit of the 18th century Geneva cabinotiers.
News: Introducing the Bell & Ross BR 01 Skull Bronze Limited Edition. Hands-On Live Pictures and Pricing.
In 2009, Bell & Ross made a lasting impression by breaking with traditional watchmaking codes with its first "Skull" BR 01. This year, the brand presents a surprising variant in a limited edition of 500 pieces. The new Bell & Ross BR 01 Skull Bronze —the inspiration for the Bell & Ross Skull Tourbillon for ONLY Watch auction— with its distinctive character, pays tribute to the epic of the parachutists of the Second World War. On their jumpsuits, these elite fighters proudly wore a crest bearing a skull and these words: "Death from Above". Falling from the sky at dawn on June 6, 1944, the troops of the 101st and 82nd American airborne divisions played a vital role in the Normandy landings. From time immemorial, the most formidable fighters have shown their courage by sporting such skulls, both to intimidate their adversaries and to ward off bad fortune. Today, while it continues to figure on a lot of military equipment —such as uniforms, emblems and even airplanes—, the famous "Jolly Roger" as decorative element appears as a talisman or a rebel symbol.
News: Introducing the New Ferdinand Berthoud Brand and its First Creation, the Chronomètre FB1. An In-House Fusée-Chain Chronometer with Tourbillon in White or Rose Gold.
Ferdinand Berthoud is the latest resurrection of a very well-known name in the horological world but forgotten by many. The responsible for the resurrection of the Ferdinand Berthoud name is Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the co-president of Chopard and founder of Chopard's in-house manufacture L.U.C division. Fueled by the rich history of the horologist after which their manufacture has been named, last night September 22, 2015 at the Hotel de Vendôme in Paris, the brand was officially launched and its first creation the Chronometer FB1 presented. Ferdinand Berthoud was a master watchmaker and chronometer-maker that left an indelible imprint on history with his fabulous creations, including the 18th century Marine Clocks that guided the vessels of the King of France towards new horizons.
News: Presenting the Vacheron Constantin ref. 57260. The Most Complicated Watch Ever Made in the History of Horology.
oday, September 17th, 2015 will be forever remembered in the history of horology as the most complicated watch ever created gets unveiled. In François Constantin's words: “ Do better if possible, and that is always possible”. The very essence of this motto drives Vacheron Constantin to cultivate special ties with the great patrons and exceptional men whose dreams have fired them to contributing to the advancement of art and of haute horlogerie over the past two centuries. To celebrate the 260th anniversary of Vacheron Constantin, the manufacture has created the most complicated timepiece ever made featuring 57 complications —three of them never seen in a watch before. The pocket watch ref. 57206 was developed and finished over the course of eight years by the hands of three master watchmakers. Below are some of the complications never before seen in a watch and that are included in the new Vacheron Constantin ref. 57260. Up to date the most complicated watches ever made were the Patek Philippe Calibre 89 with 33 complications, the Patek Philippe Star Calibre 2000 with 21 complications, the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication and the Vacheron Constantin Tour de l'Ile with 16 complications.
News: Introducing the New Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26574. Now with a 41 mm Case and the New Automatic Calibre 5134.
After the release of the amazing Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Acoustic Research Episode 1 we brought you here and the Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher we presented you here, our friends from Le Brassus are hitting another home run with the launch of the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26574. This Royal Oak Quantieme Perpetuel returns to the center stage with four different versions —two in stainless steel and two in 18K pink gold with either silver toned/white dial or blue dial. The reference numbers are as follows: 26574OR.00.1220OR.01 18K rose gold with silver toned dial, 26574OR.00.1220OR.02 18K rose gold with blue dial, 26574ST.00.1220ST.01 in stainless steel with silver toned dial and 26574ST.00.1220ST.02 in stainless steel with blue dial. Continuing with the shift in watch case size that began in 2012, the new Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar is now 41 mm —instead of the classic 39 mm like the one we featured here—, yet still extremely thin.
News: Introducing the Richard Mille RM 011 Flyback Chronograph 'Midnight Fire'. 88-Piece Limited Edition for the Americas.
Introducing the new Richard Mille RM 011 Flyback Chronograph 'Midnight Fire'. This new watch is available in a 88-piece limited edition exclusively available in the Americas. Fire glows brightest in the darkest of night. Richard Mille’s new limited edition version of the RM 011 Automatic Flyback Chronograph, “Midnight Fire,” employs high-tech materials to capture the deepest black of the night’s darkest hour, and ignites it with fiery red details. Black TZP ceramic is extremely resistant to scratches while not being brittle. For the RM 011 Midnight Fire, the material is blasted to provide a matte finish, then formed into the front and back bezels of the timepiece’s tripartite case. The center caseband of the Midnight Fire is crafted from NTPT —North Thin Ply Technology — carbon. Already used in the fields of aerospace technology, the manufacture of racing sales, and Formula 1 racecar design, NTPT carbon is incredibly strong and light, and composed of multiple layers of parallel filaments obtained by dividing carbon fibers.
