The watch industry can definitely unite at times for a common cause. Just look at the way things have come together for Only Watch, culminating in 2019’s stupendous record-breaking result begetting the world’s most expensive watch.
Raising much-needed funds for worthy research into a rare disease is one thing, but what about emergency situations? Australia, for example, is burning up.
According to almost every news report available, the conservative operating numbers show that more than one billion animals and about 25 human beings have perished in the historic wildfires that are expected to continue raging for months. More than 2,000 homes and countless businesses have been lost.
To say that this is perhaps the most devastating natural disaster to hit Australia would probably be mildly understating it.
International aid has been offered by various foreign governments – with countries such as Canada and the U.S. even sending firefighters – and various organizations have begun campaigns to help raise much-needed funds to keep the firefighting efforts rolling.
Australian bushfire (photo courtesy Bloomberg)
And now the watch industry jumps in with two “hands” in the form of Australian digital publication Time & Tide, whose founder Andrew McUtchen has organized the Watch & Act charity auction.
Going live on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 9:00 am AEST, the online auction is set to raise money for bushfire victims and wildlife by auctioning special watches. The auction will close on January 30; funds are set to be dispersed immediately the next day.
All proceeds will go to Australian charities dedicated to Australians and wildlife in need.
Fifteen watches, three of which are unique pieces, have been announced at the online event hosted by invaluable.com.
Zenith Pilot Rescue ‘Australian Rescue’ Unique Piece
Two, a Zenith Pilot Rescue “Australian Rescue” edition and an Hublot Classic Fusion Ceramic Blue, were created especially for the charity event.
U2 bassist Adam Clayton wearing his Moser Pioneer (photo courtesy Ross Stewart)
The third is the personal H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer timepiece owned by U2 bassist Adam Clayton; it is the only Pioneer unique piece in the world and the only without a logo on the dial
U2 bassist Adam Clayton’s personal H. Moser Pioneer unique piece: this can now be yours
Two more of the auction lots constitute sold-out limited editions now only available on the secondary market: a limited edition Hodinkee x Oris and a Doxa SUB 200 130 Years limited edition.
A yellow gold Tubogas Bulgari Serpenti with a retail value of around $50,000 is also among the lots that also include interesting watches by Rado, Bell & Ross, and Frédérique Constant.
The auction name “Watch & Act” was not pulled out of thin air: this Australian term denotes an official bushfire threat level advising people in a bushfire-prone zone that is issued by local authorities.
Australian volunteer firefighter with rescued koala (photo courtesy NRMA)
Beneficiaries of the auction receiving 100 percent of the proceeds include Country Fire Authority, Wildlife Victoria, Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund, New South Wales Rural Fire Service, and World Wildlife Fund.
For more information about the auction, please visit www.invaluable.com/catalog/
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