A bi-annual event, Onlywatch is a charity auction first held in Monaco in 2011. Destined to raise awareness and funds for research against Duchenne muscular dystrophy, it is one of the rare events uniting the watch industry around a common goal. Watchmakers have to follow two simple rules before submitting a watch for this auction: the watch must be a uniquely assembled piece, and its design must follow the theme imposed by Luc Pettavino, the founder of Onlywatch.
We couldn’t have been prouder to be able to be a part of the 2021 auction. For our first ever participation at this important venue, we thought it would be fit to design a doctor’s watch. Using a renovated 1940s Venus 150 mechanical movement with a column wheel, this watch sports a pulsometric scale, rated for 30 heartbeats or pulses and a chronograph. Activated by a single pusher, hence the name “Monopusher”, this complication enables the person wearing the watch to know someone’s heartbeat. Activate the chronograph and count down 30 heartbeats. Once you’ve reached that number, you’ll just need to read where the chronograph hand has stopped on the dial to know the beats per minute.
Sitting inside a unique 36mm prototype case is a black lacquered dial with golden hands and applied Breguet numerals, following 2021's theme being the colors of the sun. Flip the watch the other side and you’ll see the sublime movement underneath a sapphire glass. Accompanying this watch is a custom strap imagined in conjunction with ABP Concept, a Parisian strap boutique renowned for its choice and quality.
The design of this watch and the parts used is of particular significance for us. Using a Venus movement felt like the perfect choice, as the Seagull ST19 used in the Bicompax was originally designed by that swiss manufacture. We were also delighted to see the interest this watch’s design gathered, as it shares some key elements with the MR01, a watch that just recently joined our lineup.
Estimated between 12 000 – 18 000 CHF, we couldn’t have been prouder to see this watch go for 50 000 CHF in support of this noble cause.
Case
Steel case
Diameter: 36mm
Glass
Hesalite top glass and sapphire back
Dial
Breguet applied hour markers
Black lacquered dial
Pulsometric scale
30-minute counter at 3 o'clock
Small second at 9 o'clock
Central chronograph central chronograph counter
Movement
Original Venus 150 from the 1940s
Mechanical movement with manual winding
Column wheel
Chronograph with single-push action
Strap
Calf leather hand sewn ABP Paris with stainless steel buckle
Water resistance
30m (3ATM)