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Celestial sum raised for charity at Monaco Yacht Show
2011-02-11 18:14
OnlyWatch 2009 at the Monaco Yacht Show
Only Watch is a luxury watch auction held every two years in Monaco during the Yacht Show, under the patronage of HSH Prince Albert II. This year 35 major watchmaking brands each contributed a unique piece. The auction, organized by Patrizzi & Co, took place on 24 September 2009, and all proceeds went to support research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
The highest-selling watch was the Patek Philippe 'Celestial' , which at €535,000 fetched nearly twice the amount bid for the next piece, a watch by upmarket Swiss manufacturers Confrérie Horlogère. But the best news of all is that over €2million was raised for the selected charity.
What is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a seriously debilitating genetic disorder that affects one in every 3,500 boys. The disease is characterized by a weakening of the muscles, respiratory and cardiac problems, which can become fatal as the child gets older. In Europe there are around 30,000 sufferers of the disease (the same as the population of Monaco) who inevitably require constant care and the special facility needs of disabled people.
Thanks to the generosity and hard work of people such as the participants and sponsors of Only Watch and in particular Luc Pattavino (founder of the Monagasque Association against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (AMM) and the driving force behind Only Watch), and Patrizzi & Co (the organizers of the auction event), great progress is being made in research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and the genes which cause the disease. In 2008 alone, 15 research teams were supported at a cost of around €1.7 million.
Saut d’Exon – a surgical technique which enables the cellular machinery to “forget” to read that part of the gene which carries the abnormality of the illness, has been developed by Luis Garcia, Head of Research at CNRS (recipients of AMM financing) and his team. Garcia, who is a key person in the field of Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, is optimistic for the future, particularly given the formidable progress that has been made to date.
Participating Watch Brands 2009
Audemars Piguet, Bell & Ross, Blancpain, Bovet Fleurier, Breguet Montres, Cabestan, Cartier, Chaumet, Chanel, Confrerie Horlogere (by BNB Concept), Corum Montres, De Bethune, Delacour, Franc Vila, Franck Muller, Frédérique Constant, Girard Perregaux, Hermès, Hublot, Jaquet Droz, Les Ateliers de Monaco, Louis Vuitton, MB&F, Montblanc, Omega, Patek Philippe, Piaget, Swatch, Tag Heuer, Tourneau Timepieces, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels, Zenith International.
HSH Albert II (centre), Luc Pettavino, founder of Only Watch (far right), Osvaldo Patrizzi (centre back right), and Patrizzi & Co. staff
Preview exhibitions
Shanghai (Park Hyatt): 29 – 31 July
Geneva (Patrizzi & Co): 27 – 29 August
London (Asprey): 3 – 5 September
New York (Tourneau): 10 – 12 September
Milan (Pisa Orologeria): 17 – 18 September
Monaco (Monaco Yacht Show): 23 – 24 September
Auction
Monaco Yacht Show 24th September
For more information contact:
Ita McCobb
International Marketing & Communication
Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers SA
Tel +41 22 318 28 38
e-mail i.mccobb@patrizziauction.com
Audrey Baylac
Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies / Monaco Yacht Show
Tel +377 93 10 41 70
e-mail audrey@monacoyachtshow.mc This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Press Release Patrizzi