Only Watch is a charity auction of unique watches created by many of the most important watch brands in Switzerland. This exceptional event is held every two years in Monaco during the Monaco Yacht Show and is under the patronage of HSH Prince Albert 11. All the proceeds from Only Watch go to support research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The next Only Watch auction is organized in close collaboration with Patrizzi & Co and the Monaco Yacht Show, and will take place on 24 September 2009.

Participating brands include Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, BNB Concept, Bovet Fleurier, Breguet Montres, Cartier, Corum Montres, De Bethune, Delacour, Franck Muller, Frédérique Constant, Glashütte Uhrenbertrieb, Hermès, Hublot, Jaquet Droz, Louis Vuitton, Maximilian Büsser & Friends, Mont Blanc, Omega, Patek Philippe, Piaget, Richard Mille, Swatch, Tag Heuer, Tourneau Timepieces, Ulysse Nardin, Urwerk, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels, Zenith International.

Below is a mosaic of their “pieces uniques”  – you can view larger images and a quote from each respective brand about their 2009 “Only Watch” contribution HERE.

It appears the answer is Yes.  Reports indicate that Jaeger-LeCoultre may soon wear the “King of Complicated Watches” crown, as the manufacture is set to release the new Duometre Grande Sonnerie “Hybrid Mechanica 55″ which will reportedly boast a whopping 26 complications, including one that plays Big Ben’s Westminster Chimes from beginning to end in succession.

The Mechanicca 55 Grande Sonnerie will handily best IWC’s Il Destriero Scafusia (cir. 1993, 21 complications) and Vacheron Constantin’s Tour de l’Ile (cir. 2005, 16 complications).  And it will just surpass the Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega with 25 complications including its own Westminster chimes.  It even rivals highly complicated pocket watches such as the Breguet Ref. 1160 “Marie-Antoinette”, the Patek Philippe Henry Graves (cir. 1933, 24 complications), and the grand-daddy of them all, the Patek Philippe Caliber 89 (cir. 1989, 33 complications).

Now don’t forget your checkbook because, according to the the Financial Times, this amazing new watch will cost you a cool $2.5 million.  Well, I am being a bit disingenuous here because the watch is actually exclusively available as part of a set of three highly complicated Jaeger-LeCoultre watches – meaning that for your $2.5 million JLC will also “throw in” a couple more of the world’s finest watches – the Gyrotourbillon and the Reverso a Tryptique.   The trilogy, will be limited to 30 sets and will be presented in a customised, six-foot tall, 800 kilo safe.  What to say but “Wow!”

Below are some pictures:

On June 9th, Bell & Ross launched its new limited edition BR01 Airborne (the “skull” watch) at Colette, the Parisian fashion and style boutique. At the store, the BR01 Airborne collection was on display, including the two never before seen diamond versions of the watch, shown here:

The BR 01 Airborne (limited edition of 500 pieces) was developed in honor of the courageous soldiers who fought during World War II, particularly the paratroopers of the US Airborne divisions. The skull was one of the emblems they wore on their uniforms as a symbol of courage in the face of death.

Bell & Ross produced a video tribute to the soliders which you can watch here:

I think B&R did a very good job with the video as it is portrayed in a tactful and tasteful manner as a “tribute” video should be. While the B01 Airborne has been criticized by some, and there others who say that they “don’t get it”, I think that the B01 Airborne is a very special watch with profound symbolism behind it, and I applaud Bell & Ross for producing it.

In a surprising development, Business Montres reports that Concord CEO Vincent Perriard has tendered his resignation as CEO of Concord.  Mr Perriard, who oversaw creation of the C1 collection and the development of the much hyped C1 QuantumGravity concept watch, will be joining TechnoMarine.

Here is the article from Business Montres in French.

Here is the Business Montres article translated into English with Google Translate.

Now here’s an exciting development from the world of watches – Linde Werdelin, maker of fine luxury watches with attachable high performance digital instruments – has launched its own blog.  The blog is called “The Lab – where creative thoughts flow” and you can visit it by clicking the logo below.

“The Lab” is written by LW’s creative director and co-founder, Morten Linde.  The theme of The Lab seems to be to give readers a look into the window of Linde Werdeln through Morten Linde’s eyes, and so far the content fits this concept.

Linde Werdelin joins another independent, “high horology”, watch brand that also maintains an excellent blog that I look forward to reading – MB&F’s A Parallel World.

More broadly, I think that having a blog is one of the best things that small production, independent watchmakers/brands can do to help create greater brand awareness.  If published regularly, they are an excellent way to constantly reach out and “touch” (and even expand) your audience (for an independent watchmaker that offers web sales, these are potential customers, after all!).  This is especially true for someone like me who can’t live without my Google Reader (and the 65+ watch blog feeds I follow).  Also, a blog is a perfect platform for helping to shape and fine tune the identity of a brand beyond just the pictures.  And finally, a blog is a great point of differentiation vs. the “big brands” who I think are unlikely to run their own blogs, because these brands have grown way beyond the individual(s) who are behind the brand.  Truly offering that high level of customer contact and interaction with watch owners, collectors & enthusiasts that the big brands can not and will not ever offer!

So well done, Linde Werdelin – I look forward to following “The Lab – where creative thoughts flow.“

Sage Vaughn:  Reseda Butterfly © Galerie Bertrand & Gruner