Only Watch, the world-renowned charitable fundraiser for research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy fetched a total of €10.45 million ($11.22 million), making it the most successful edition to date.

Held every two years since 2005, the much awaited sixth edition of the auction took place on November 7 at La Réserve in Geneva, Switzerland, in the presence of 300 people including watch manufactures’ representatives, collectors and philanthropists, more than 300 people in the room, in addition to numerous bidders online and by phone. 

The 44 one-off timepieces specially created by the world’s best watch manufacturers for the event, were sold under the hammer of watch expert Aurel Bacs.

Participating brands included Armin Strom, Bell & Ross, Blancpain, Boucheron, Bovet Fleurier, Breguet, Carl F.Bücherer, Chanel, Chopard, Christophe Claret, Chronoswiss, De Bethune, De Grisogono, Dewitt, FP Journe, Frédérique Constant, Girard Perregaux, H.Moser & Cie, Harry Winston, Hermès, Hublot, IWC, Jacob&Co, Jaquet Droz, Leroy, Laurent Ferrier, Louis Vuitton, Maurice Lacroix, MB&F, Patek Philippe, Perrelet, Piaget, Rebellion, Richard Mille, Speake Marin, Thomas Mercer, Tudor, Ulysse Nardin, Urwerk, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels, Voutilainen, Vulcain, Zenith 

“Since its creation, I support Only Watch, an inspiring altruistic project initiated by the “Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies. I warmly thank all the people associated to this initiative. I have no doubt this new extraordinary result will continue to accelerate research and give hope to patients suffering from this severe condition,” HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco said.

Luc Pettavino, President of Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies (AMM) and Founder of Only Watch, said: “I want to thank everyone who has been helping us so generously to make this 2015 edition a new amazing success and in particular HSH Prince Albert II, the 44 watchmakers, the co-organisers Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo (Mercury Group) and the Monaco Yacht Show, the partners, the collectors and the donators. Thanks to Only Watch, we have been able, for the past ten years, to play an active role in fundamental and applied research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This fantastic result will allow us to strongly continue targeting a cure on this severe disease.” 

Aurel Bacs, co-founder of Phillips’ watch department in association with Bacs & Russo, said: “It has been a privilege for us to have hosted the sixth edition of Only Watch, and to have been able to play a part in supporting such a worthy cause. This project has seen the world of watches come together with incredible generosity, not least the 44 manufacturers who donated unique timepieces.”

Gaëlle Tallarida, Managing Director of the Monaco Yacht Show, said: “What a fantastic way to celebrate Only Watch 10^th anniversary. This result is the translation of a hard work from all contributors to this charity event. And the Monaco Yacht Show is a proud co-organizer of it since 2005.”

Luis Garcia, Biologist, Director of Research, commented: “The scientific community thanks the Only Watch initiative whole heartedly for the great means given to research. We all hope and do our very best to translate the current researches into clinics.” 

The top selling watch at the auction was a Patek Philippe unique piece, which sold for CHF7.3 million ($7.26 million), making it the most expensive wristwatch ever sold publicly. 

The one-of-a-kind stainless steel Reference 5016A is a grande complication that includes a tourbillon, minute repeater, and retrograde perpetual calendar.