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The Only Watch 2011 Auction Preview

written by A.Morgan - 22nd Sep 2011

With only one sleep left before the Only Watch 2011 auction in Monaco and with all the watches now revealed, all that remains is to try and guess what immense figures these unique pieces will go for.

A quick summary for those unaware of the Only Watch auction – for four years now, an event has been held in Monaco that sees the biggest, boldest, weirdest and most wonderful watch manufacturers submit a single unique piece for auction, with all the proceeds going to help fight Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The rarity and exclusivity of these pieces sees bids shooting up fast enough to make your eyes water.

So what pieces do we think will cause the biggest stir this year? Well of course the Patek Philippe Ref. 3939 will be on the top of everybody’s wish list because not only will it be the last 3939 ever, but also the only one ever to be made in steel, which should have bidders slavering in their seats. This tourbillon minute-repeater has a Wish Price of €450,000 – 650,000, but it’s likely to go for much more.

The dark horse of the event is the Richard Mille RM 027 Tourbillon – not strictly speaking a unique piece, but instead a prototype worn by Rafael Nadal when he won the 2011 Monte Carlo championships. It is so incredibly light that, in a blind test, it could easily be confused with a packet of crisps. Incredible – like the Wish Price of €400,000 – 600,000.

Our favourite piece of the auction has to be the MB&F HM4 Flying Panda, which does exactly as it says on the tin. The HM4 is already an incredibly imaginative and grin-inducing piece, but to see a white gold panda straddled on top of it holding a pair of reigns is a refreshing change from the often conservative and serious luxury watch industry. A relative bargain at a Wish Price of €170,000 – 230,000.

There are many other exciting and intriguing pieces, and too many to talk about here, so we have compiled a montage of every single piece that’s going to be there. We’ll be back with a run-down of the auction next week.