Credits: Article and images by Ian Skellern @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/09/18/11-colorful-watches-from-only-watch-2023-the-2023-theme-is-rainbow-plus-best-story-wildest-clock-and-the-most-only-watch/
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Lot 41. Maurice Lacroix: Masterpiece Only Watch 2023
The Maurice Lacroix Only Watch 2023 is presented in a sapphire case, a first for the Maison. The making of a sapphire crystal case is protracted, necessitating numerous hours of polishing. Measuring 43mm in diameter, this colourless housing affords views of the hand-wound movement within.
Only Watch always celebrates colour and this year proves no exception. Inspired by the work of artist Victor Vasarely, participating brands were encouraged to juxtapose shades of blue, red, orange and green. The resultant rainbow-theme enlivens the movement plate. The hours and minutes are shown on an off-centre dial appointed with black indexes, each suffused with Super-LumiNova and presented in a different hue, again repeating the rainbow look.


Maurice Lacroix: Masterpiece Only Watch 2023
Case: Sapphire with sapphire bezel and crown — Sapphire open caseback with ONLYWATCH 2023 engraving
Dial: Anthracite sunray dial with black M-logo — Rainbow perimeter on the big disk and black perimeter on the small disk
Caliber: Manual ML330 Skeleton with rainbow plate
Bracelet: Gray nylon strap with black sandblasted M-logo and Easychange system — Stainless steel butterfly buckle with titanium cap
Dimensions: Diameter 43mm Height 11mm
Specificities: 43mm sapphire case, bezel and crown, a first for the Maison — Skeleton movement, the hand-wound Manufacture Calibre ML330 — On the movement, shades of colours are juxtaposed to create a vibrant, rainbow-theme that are referenced with the movement plate.
Estimate: CHF 25,000 – 35,000
For more information or to place a bid, please visit www.onlywatch.com/maurice-lacroix
Lot 59. Ulysse Nardin: Freak S Only Watch
Freak S Only Watch is a one and unique iteration of the Freak S launched in 2022. In order to celebrate the anniversary of Only Watch, the Ulysse Nardin manufacture and design studio have created a colorful interpretation of the UN-251 caliber based on the rainbow color pallet.
The micromechanical machinery featured in the Freak S is a carrousel, with no hands, no dial, and no crown. The Freak S indicates the time thanks to the rotation of its own movement. Two bridges rotate around its center. They respectively indicate the hours and minutes. An arrow shows the hours while the nose cone of the spaceship indicates the minutes.


Ulysse Nardin Freak S Only Watch
Case: Black ceramic upper case — Black DLC titanium case, bezel, side plates and locker — Black DLC titanium open sapphire case back — “1/1” plate on the right side of the case (in place of the crown) — “Only Watch” plate on the left side of the case — Water-resistant to 30 meters
Dial: Hour disc engraved with a black sunray pattern
Caliber: Caliber UN-251 Manufacture — Automatic movement — Hours, minutes — Flying carrousel movement rotating around its own axis and indicating time — Double oscillator in silicon — Double escapement in DiamonSil — Vertical differential system (69 components) — “Grinder” automatic winding system — 373 components — 33 jewels
Bracelet: Blue “ballistic” rubber strap — Black alligator strap with rainbow colored stitching (included in addition) — Black ceramic and black DLC titanium self-deploying buckle
Dimensions: Diameter 45mm Height 13.66mm
Specificities: Freak S Only Watch is a one and unique iteration of the Freak S launched in 2022. In order to celebrate the anniversary of Only Watch, the Ulysse Nardin manufacture and design studio have created a colorful interpretation of the UN-251 caliber based on the rainbow color pallet.
Estimate: CHF 160,000 – 200,000
For more information, please visit www.onlywatch.com/ulysse-nardin
Best Origin Story
Great watches tell a story and the Richard Mille Talisman Origine comes with a great tale.
Lot 51. Richard Mille: Talisman Origine
A millennia ago (or more accurately, once upon a lime), in a long-since vanished society where mechanics, craftsmanship and spirituality were united, this fascinating object emerged.
Discovered in the heart of the Swiss mountains, this pendant was imprisoned for an eternity in its wooden receptacle. Nicknamed “Talisman Origine” by the research teams, this mysterious golden relic certainly encapsulated the know-how of an old Swiss tribe.


Richard Mille Talisman Origine
Case: Bezels and caseback: In satin-finished red gold. Hand-polished rims. Hand-engraved symbols — Caseband: In grade 5 titanium — Claws: In grade 5 titanium, polished and microblasted with swiss rhodonite inserts
Caliber: Caliber CRMT5 — In-house skeletonised automatic-winding tourbillon movement with hours and minutes — Baseplate and bridges made of 3N and 5N gold — Free sprung balance with variable inertia — Variable-geometry rotor
Bracelet: Necklace made of swiss briarwood, gold, titanium and rhodonite — Threaded on a metal and rubber string
Dimensions: 46.77 x 77.25 x 13.10mm
Specificities: The RMS14 goes beyond the concept of a watch — This unique piece is the essence of Swiss culture — Its case and necklace are fully hand-engraved and integrates rhodonite and wooden parts
Estimate: CHF 600,000 – 800,000
For more information, please visit www.onlywatch.com/richard-mille
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Credits: Article and images by Ian Skellern @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/09/18/11-colorful-watches-from-only-watch-2023-the-2023-theme-is-rainbow-plus-best-story-wildest-clock-and-the-most-only-watch/