2017 Patek’s New Creation of Titanium Chronograph Functions

Each year under the patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Only Watch auction benefiting muscular dystrophy sees the creation of unique luxury timepieces created in editions of one. This year Christie’s has been selected to conduct the proceedings, which will take place on Nov. 11 at the Four Seasons – Hôtel des Bergues in Geneva. Among the field of offerings earmarked for this year’s sale one in particular stands out – a replica Patek Philippe Triple Complication watch in titanium expected to bring in up to $1.1 million alone. 
The fake models were originally released in 2011 to “showcase Patek Philippe’s mastery in the sphere of grand complication replica watches.” They feature a minute repeater, a monopusher chronograph, and an instantaneous perpetual calendar displayed in apertures along an arc, and are also one of very few ultra-complicated with a self-winding mechanism.
This special watch, which was created for Only Watch 2017, is the first and only version ever produced in titanium, a metal that Patek rarely uses. It also features a blue dial adorned with a hand-guilloched carbon-fiber pattern, and the caliber R CH 27 PS QI movement, visible through a sapphire crystal display back, is black rhodium-plated. It’s a graceful piece that manages to look understated and elegant even with its million-dollar looks. Such is the genius of Patek. 
On a much more ebullient note, the auction will also feature a special innovation from Hublot. It pairs a see-through sapphire case with a micro-blasted yellow gold plated skeleton dial highlighted in green and gold and a caliber Hublot “UNICO” Manufacture self-winding chronograph flyback movement with column wheel.
We much prefer the offering from the replica Audemars Piguet, a unique Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in black ceramic estimated at up to $124,000. It features a ‘skylight’ blue Grande Tapisserie dial with polished counters in solid grey gold and an orange-tinted moon, juxtaposed against the entirely hand-finished black ceramic Royal Oak case, bezel, and bracelet. In addition to the unique dial, it’s the first black ceramic perpetual calendar wristwatch to feature a black ceramic caseback with sapphire display back, and a tour de force among rare Royal Oaks. 
There are 49 pieces in the sale in all, and ahead of the auction itself, they will be on display at the Monaco Yacht Club Sept. from 27-30 September, followed by stops in Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai, and Hong Kong.