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.

Swatch Group published its 2008 Annual Report yesterday.  Two things interesting about the cover of the report :

1) it invokes a bit of sarcastic humor by stating “Warning! This publication is not recommended for the acrobats and jugglers in today’s financial circus.” See image below and you’ll see what I am referring to. I find this statement quite ironic given that the Annual Report is first and foremost a reporting of the year’s financial performance used almost exclusively by shareholders as well as investors on Wall Street and Main Street around the world to make an informed decision as to whether or not to purchase stock in the company.  But I guess it is just Mr. Hayek’s way of taking a jab at the financial mess we are in, which I presume (and certainly hope) Swatch Group has no involvement whatsoever in – lest they look like real fools for making such a bold statement on their Annual Report cover!

Close-Up View of Swatch Group’s 2008 Annual Report Cover

and, perhaps of more interest to watch owners, collectors & enthusiasts….

2) it provides us with a chance to test their knowledge of the Swatch brands!!!  So tell me watch fans, how many of the 10 Swatch brands featured on the cover of Swatch Group’s 2008 Annual Report can you identify?

Full View of Swatch Group’s 2008 Annual Report Cover