WatchPro – August 2019

About the author: Tom Mulraney is a 10-year veteran of the watch industry. He is the publisher and editor of The Watch Lounge, a digital magazine with a unique

take on the world of luxury watches. http://www.thewatchlounge.com

MAURICE LACROIX AIKON MERCURY
Earlier this year Maurice Lacroix
debuted its patented “free hand”
system, a whimsical complication that
allows the hour and minute hands to
spin freely when not in use. As soon as
the watch is held upright, however, the
hands spring back as if by magic into
their rightful positions to indicate the
current time.
For Only Watch 2019, this
mischievous little timekeeper will be
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case, paired with a leather strap. To
ensure it is easily recognizable on the
wrist, the hands and some parts of the
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Only Watch theme colour of blue.

ZENITH EL PRIMERO A386

Zenith is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its fabled El

Primero chronograph movement this year, which is very

good news for one lucky buyer. On offer is a unique

remake of the original A386, complete with a distinctive

turquoise blue sub-dial at 3 o’clock in tribute to this

year’s Only Watch theme colour. Presented in a

38mm white gold case, it comes complete with its

own one-of-a-kind Only Watch collector’s box and a

lifetime warranty.

But that’s not all. As part of the 50th anniversary

festivities, the winning bidder will be invited to visit the

Monde étoile de Zenith and the famous grenier of its

Manufacture in Le Locle, the attic where Charles Vermot

hid the famous tools for the El Primero movement that was

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the new owner will also be a guest at the closing event of the

El Primero 50th anniversary “Le Grenier Club” tour in Geneva.

From the 25 September to 9 November, the organizers of Only Watch, in

collaboration with Christie’s, will be taking all 50 entries on a world tour. It

starts at the Monaco Yacht Show and ends at the Four Seasons Hôtel des

Bergues in Geneva, where the auction will take place at 2pm Geneva time on

the 9th of November.

PATEK PHILIPPE GRANDMASTER CHIME

As one of the most coveted names in watch

collecting, the Patek Philippe entry is always

hotly anticipated. In the 2017 edition, the

titanium-cased Ref 5208T-010 hammered for

a staggering CHF 6,200,000 (or roughly 58%

of the total money raised).

For the eight edition of Only Watch, Patek

Philippe has pulled out all the stops, offering its

breathtakingly complex Grandmaster Chime

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time. And if that wasn’t enough, the winning

bidder will also be invited (along with a guest

of their choosing) to visit the workshops of

Patek Philippe and have a private lunch with

Company President, Thiery Stern. Expect the

bidding to be red-hot on this one.

TUDOR BLACK BAY

CERAMIC ONE

As one of the

stand-out

performers

at the past

two-editions

running, all

eyes will be on

the entry from

Tudor this year to

see if it once again

rockets past its high

estimate. If the brand

is feeling any pressure though,

they’re not letting on. In fact, this

year they’ve gone full stealth mode.

Literally.

The Tudor Black Bay Ceramic

One is entirely mat black, from the

case (which is a blend of ceramic,

steel and titanium) to the dial and

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luminescent material, as well as the

hybrid rubber and matte alligator

strap. This unique variation certainly

puts the ‘black’ in Black Bay.

ULYSSE NARDIN EXO-
SKELETON X
Truly embodying the
spirit of Only Watch,
for its unique piece
Ulysse Nardin has
taken inspiration
from Autonomyo, a
walking exoskeleton
that enables people with
degenerative muscular
diseases to have more
freedom.
The titanium Exo-
Skeleton X sports a carapace giving it a bionic
look and accentuating its ergonomic design.
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screws, one on the case and the other on the
MVH
FOIBODJOHUIFmFYJCJMJUZPGUIFQJFDFCZ
allowing some movement between the lug bar
and the case.

Estimate:

CHF 4, 500 -

5,500

Estimate:

CHF 10,000 -

15,000

Estimate:

CHF 2,000,000 -

2 ,500,000

Estimate:

CHF 35,000 -

45,000 Estimate:

CHF 19,900 -

29,900

CHARITY / ONLY WATCH 2019

26 WATCHPRO / AUGUST 2019 / watchpro.com