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Why the Only Watch is a Cruel Display For PuristS

You probably know what it feels like when a particular watch catches your eye and you get all excited. You immediately try to picture the watch on your wrist as you attend an event or gathering or taking a Sunday drive through the countryside with your hand on the steering wheel. The first chance that your fingertips have to reach a keyboard with a strong WIFI connection, you are off on your quest to seek out whatever information you can about this new mechanical muse that has so mercilessly captured your attention. How big is it? Will it fit my wrist? When was it released? How much is it? Where can I get one?

Only Watch 2015 - Patek Philippe 5016A-010 in steel

Girard-Perregaux Only Watch 2015: Vintage 1945 XXL, Large Date, Moon-Phases

As you mentally assemble outfits to accompany your hopeful addition, you begin to make general guesses toward the possible price of the watch only to stop suddenly in your digital tracks as you hit a wall of disappointment. Your 5-minute watch infatuation is an inaccessible, rare to-the-bone and practically off-limits, limited edition. It’s not in production and perhaps they made 10, 5 or even 88. Or the worst yet, they made 1 and ONLY 1. And the one to own that watch is almost surely NOT you.

Zenith OnlyWatch 2015 - El Primero Lightweight Tribute to the Rolling Stones

Press releases for ONLY watches are a cruel display. It’s kind of like dangling an Olympic gold medal in front of talented but non-qualifying athletes.  Serious watch collectors are being subjected to this innocently informative but prideful parade of releases by brands once again. Set to take place in November of this year, the Only Watch auction will kick off its very special event for the 6^th time in Geneva. Every other year, during the summer months leading up to the auction, manufactures announce their unique piece which will be auctioned to raise funds in support of muscular dystrophy. The worthy and charitable cause held in conjunction with the Monaco Association Against Muscular Dystrophy helps to erase the unattainability factor of these unique timepieces.

ONLY WATCH 2015 - F.P.Journe Tourbillon Souverain Bleu in Tantalum

What makes Only watches so appealing is just that. There is only one of each kind created. Who wouldn’t want to own a watch that no one else has or would ever have? Sure you can have a unique watch commissioned from an independent watchmaker or get to choose some of the details or finishing for a custom watch but if you have the funds you’d probably be able to request a duplicate if you wanted to. With the Only Watch it is unlikely you’d be able to get another one made which makes it truly unique.   

ONLY WATCH 2015 - Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Paillonnée

Brands will sometimes design and create a watch that is specifically for the auction and these are the pieces that are probably the most exciting to watch enthusiasts. New movements, dials or cases may be developed that have not been seen by the public before. Since it is a piece unique for a good cause, sometimes brands will see it as an opportunity to think outside the box, have some fun, and do something a little different from what’s expected. When you really think about it, a “unique” piece shouldn’t look like all the others. Watch companies might also take an existing collection and create a limited edition for the Only Watch event. Occasionally an Only Watch might be a special prototype that isn’t being sold anywhere by the brand.

ONLY WATCH 2015 - H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Perpetual Calendar

Around 40 watch manufactures make submissions to the charitable medical cause. Many have been released already with more to come in the following months. This year the auction was moved from its previous locale in Monaco to Geneva, a more relevant locale with other major watch auctions taking place there and many watch brands based in the area. Aurel Bacs from watch auction consultants Bacs & Russo is expected to conduct the sale held by the Phillips auction house. You can read more about this special event at: Only Watch Auction

ONLY WATCH 2015 - Breguet Type XXI 3813 Chronograph in Platinum

An Only Watch might not always be exactly what we would choose in a normal production watch purchase piece but the extreme rarity of it, (for many of us) makes up for this discrepancy. Even though Only watches may be out of reach for most of us, this Purist community still gets a huge kick out of just admiring the novelty of the new designs. Bidders at the Only Watch auction on November 7^th in Geneva are sure to be among the most enviable.

What is your favorite Only Watch from this year or a previous year? If given the opportunity, would you ever purchase one?

ONLY WATCH 2015 - Blancpain Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar

Only Watch 2015 - VULCAIN

Sources:  Adams, Ariel. “The 'Only Watch' 2015 Auction For Totally Unique Timepieces Is Coming To Geneva.” Forbes. 16 Jun. 2015.

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