Time to watch out

It is that time of the year when watch collectors suit up, equipped with Loupes and loaded bank accounts to invest in truly the rarest of watches ever made. The Only Watch auction, as the name suggests, auctions one-of-a-kind timepieces made by some of the greatest watch brands and independent watchmakers, especially for this event.

Since it was first hosted in 2005, the Only Watch auction has raised more than $2 billion. It is a biennial event; and funds research against Duchenne muscular dystrophy; a genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. This year, on November 11, 49 rare timepieces will go under the hammer in Geneva. Here are some of the more unique and intriguing pieces that are expected to stimulate a bidding war between the world’s most envied watch collectors.

‘Arpal One’ is a gallant collaboration between two outstanding brands with very different styles of horology. Laurent Ferrier is known for their classic and straightforward style of watch-making, while Urwerk uses contemporary designs to tell time. An unexpected collaboration between the two has resulted in one of the leading highlights of the Only Watch auction.

The name of the watch, Arpal One, stems from the metal used to build its case. Arpal+ is an alloy that comprises of 75 per cent precious metal. Its special quality is that it has proven to be scratch resistant when compared to white gold or steel. Laurent Ferrier has designed the contemporary case and Urwerk has used it in its house satellite time telling-movement to power the watch. Arpal One is estimated to command about $72,000.

Russia has a wild card entry to the auction. Joker’s eccentric look is a rarity in the assortments usually offered at Only Watch. At first glance, it may look similar to a children’s watch but on closer inspection that perception changes. It is a serious (to channel Batman) moon-phase watch. The Joker’s eyes on two discs count hours and minutes. Its smile and mischievous tongue tell the phase of the moon. Chaykin has used the Joker as a symbolic game-changer. It comes out to beat any other card, creates incredible combinations and provokes spectacular moves. The Russian watchmaker has used an automatic movement so that the piece won’t need manual winding. Another interesting detail about the Joker is that its large case is made with zirconium, a metal rarely used to make watches. This atypical watch is expected to be auctioned for an asking price of $11,000 to 16,000.

This wristwatch is one of the most thoughtfully created ones for the auction. Maximilian Büsser of MB&F collaborated with a 15-year-old artist from Madrid to strengthen the message of Horological Machine No 8 Only Watch by MB&F to bring in a youngster’s perspective to the product. MB&F has produced the Can-Am race inspired Horological Machine watch before, but a lot changes in the special watch created for the auction. A beautiful doodle covers the surface of the dial.

A closer look at the doodle will give us a peek into the child’s imagination: robots, jet planes, toy cars, jellyfish, video game controllers and an ice cream cone make their presence felt. A calm-looking elephant’s head has been carved prominently between the hours and minutes display discs. The elephant is made of white gold. Instead of adding the usual MB&F logo on the face, Maximilian has used a smiley. Undoubtedly, the watch is expected to earn one of the highest sale price at Only Watch 2017, ranging between $83,000 to 103,000.

Hublot will pitch a watch from its popular Big Bang collection with a transparent case made from polished sapphire, one of the most difficult materials to machine. The successful bidder of this watch will not only win a unique piece but also get a chance to meet and greet the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt. The rare Big Bang watch comes with a transparent strap and an additional one made of yellow-gold colour calfskin. Sub dial at 9 o’clock sports a silhouette of Usain Bolt’s signature victory dance move. Overall, the dial is carpeted with micro-blasted yellow gold plated skeleton dial. The watch inspired by Hublot’s brand ambassador Usain Bolt is expected to fetch between $52,000-83,000.

Patek Philippe watches have ruled auctions for decades. There is probably no diversified watch auction that has been successful without a chronograph representing the country in it. In the last Only Watch auction hosted in 2015, it was a chronograph from the erstwhile company that broke the Only Watch auction records by commanding a majestic bid of $7 million. At 42 mm, the Patek Philippe 2017 entrant Reference 5208T-010 will best suit a large wrist. The watch has a grand complication, which has several functions other than just minutes, hours and seconds. The Patek Philippe 5208T-010 houses a minute repeater, a monopusher chronograph, and an instantaneous perpetual calendar displayed in apertures along an arc. Usually, most watches with so many functions require manual winding, but not this one. The Patek Philippe Only Watch for 2017 is not only self-winding, but also the only one of its kind to be made in titanium.

Shilpa Dhamija is the editor of luxuryvolt.com.

COMMENT NOW