FAQ

Only Watch is a biennial charity auction of unique timepieces created and donated by the most sought-after brands and watchmakers to raise funds to accelerate research on neuromuscular diseases in general, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy in particular. It was created in 2005 by Luc Pettavino.

Only Watch was launched in 2005 by Luc Pettavino, father of Paul Pettavino who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at 4 years old in 2000, in his efforts to raise funds to accelerate research on a cure for this illness. Luc and Monique’s son, Tess’s brother Paul passed in 2016 but the Pettavino family and the Only Watch community decided to continue this beautiful endeavor that is making such a sizeable difference on the journey to a therapeutic solution, also as Paul’s legacy into this world.

Having worked on Only Watch as a personal commitment on top of her academic and then professional projects for about 15 years, Tess Pettavino joined the Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies’ permanent team in September 2022 as CEO of the non-profit organization, taking care and developing ties with the research and scientific world, working on impact measure, and communications with the charity’s communities.

Last, but definitely not least, Only Watch is a community of hundreds if not thousands of people in participating companies – watchmaking brands, auction house, generous partners, world tour hosts... - and collectors, media, watch afficionados and Only Watch supporters all over the world that make it all possible.

No, Only Watch is the main fundraising project of a non-profit organization called “Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies” (Monaco Association against Muscular Dystrophies) that was created in 2001 whose goal is to accelerate research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disease that affects approximately 1 boy in 3,500.

Over the years we’ve adapted our funding to the progress that was made in the field and in the sums that were raised in our auctions.
Over the years Monaco Association against Muscular Dystrophies has adapted its funding to the progress that was made in the field and in the sums that were raised in Only Watch auctions. First, the charity started funding roundtables that got researchers from all over the world together, in Monaco to share knowledge and create synergies.

Rapidly, the association started funding studies, post-docs, contracts for additional staff members for researchers working on interesting leads and so on.

In 2012, the charity created a first biotech- Synthena - to allow researchers to develop a promising biotechnology: a new generation of nucleotides for the synthesis of antisense oligonucleotides called “tricyclo-DNA”. In 2015, another one – SQY Therapeutics - was created thanks to Only Watch funds, on another part of the promising technology.Today, thanks to those financial efforts a clinical trial on a first exon (number 51) was launched on a proprietary molecule that could change the lives of many. The association continues to support other research projects in complementary fields.

Most of the projects and people the charity finances are de facto currently in majority in Europe: France, Monaco, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany. But we have also financed projects in Australia and the United States, amongst others.

The 10th edition of the Only Watch auction, dedicated to raising funds for research into muscular dystrophy, will take place at PALEXPO (in Geneva) and online on May 10, 2024, at 2PM (Central European Time).

Seats in the room are reserved in priority for bidders, participating brands and media but we try to open spots for Only Watch supporters.

Online bidding will be made available on christies.com.

Only Watch only auctions one-off pieces donated by participating brands.

No, we do not.

For all media enquiries, please write to media@onlywatch.com.