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The fourth edition of the biennial Only Watch Charity Auction held at the Hotel Hermitage in Monaco on September 23, in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, closed with an outstanding result of EUR 4'563'000. The auction room was full in addition to the strong internet and intense telephone bidding. International participation included Japan, Switzerland, Hong Kong, China, the United States and the Russian Federation. Ronnie Woods from the Rolling Stones was also present in the room to support the auction.

“Only Watch is a fabulous event. The amount raised by the auction has doubled to € 4.5 million! But what is also great with Only Watch is that we are all united by human warmth and solidarity”, said Paul Pettavino a 15 year old teenager affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

“With € 4.5 million, the auction result is more than exceptional. Only Watch 2011 is the fruit of an excellent collaboration between watch manufactures, partners, media, organisers… but it is first and foremost an outstanding work done by men and women coming from very different horizons who joined their energies to create hope in research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy”, declared Luc Pettavino, President of the Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies and Founder of Only Watch.

After the auction, H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco thanked everyone for their work and support on this fantastic project.

The total proceeds of the auction will enable to continue finance research, organise scientific roundtables and International Collaborative Effort (ICE). Children and young adults suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy can seriously hope to benefit from the scientific and medical research that is striving to develop treatments as fast as possible:

“Thanks to Only Watch, we are going to be able to finance ICE (a program that was started in 2008). This program brings together 15 leading teams worldwide who work on therapeutic strategies on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, in particular exon skipping, gene and cell therapies. The success of Only Watch 2011 goes beyond our hopes and will undoubtedly allow us to co-finance clinical tests that have already begun and develop new research projects”, explained Luis Garcia, Directeur de Recherche at the CNRS.

Organised by the Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies, Antiquorum Auctioneers and the Monaco Yacht Show, together with the invaluable support of 40 of the most prestigious and innovative watchmakers, the auction concluded a series of preview exhibitions that took place in Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York, Milan, Geneva and Monaco (during the Monaco Yacht Show).

“The amazing outcome achieved today is the result of a perfect combination of the involvement of 40 of the world’s greatest watchmakers that have come together to offer a collection of exceptional and unique timepieces, an impressive and intense world tour with previews in the right locations to reach out to watch aficionados and connoisseurs, as well as our continuous and considerable efforts in raising awareness among the collectors”, commented Julien Schaerer, Managing Director and Auctioneer at Antiquorum Geneva.

“It is just fantastic. Exceptional timepieces raising the bids just as much as lifting our hearts, because the strength of Only Watch is very much there: the communion of the most beautiful energies around an international but above all human adventure; the faithful support of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, a strong commitment of 40 watchmakers, organisers, partners and bidders in the room, online or by telephone. The Monaco Yacht Show supports the Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies since 2001 and co-organises the thematic Only Watch Auction since its first edition on 2005”, concluded Gaëlle Tallarida, Managing Director of the Monaco Yacht Show.