The Man Who United An Industry

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The Man Who United An Industry  - Luc Pettavino
2 minutes read
For GMT Publishing has created The Millennium Watch Book for the 20th anniversary of GMT Magazine, available for pre-order now. Read here an exclusive excerpt from the book.

On the occasion of GMT Magazine’s 20th anniversary (and WorldTempus’s upcoming 20th anniversary in 2021), we have embarked on the ambitious project of summarising the last 20 years in watchmaking in The Millennium Watch Book, a big, beautifully laid out coffee table book. The Millennium Watch Book is available exclusively now for pre-order at a discounted rate on www.the-watch-book.com, in French and English, with delivery aimed just in time for the holiday season. 

In the coming weeks, WorldTempus will be exclusively sharing excerpts from the book, to give you a taste.

Only a few days left to get an additional 10% discount on the Millennium Watch Book. To obtain your code, fill in the information requested in the dedicated area to the left of the article.

Here’s is an exclusive excerpt from our section “Who’s who”, where we name the 80 industry players, from CEOs to Creative Directors to retailers and independent watchmakers, who have indelibly shaped the last two decades of watches, written by those in the industry who perhaps know them best. For more information, visit www.the-watch-book.com.

Who’s who: Luc Pettavino, Founder and organiser of Only Watch

Excerpt “The Millennium Watch Book”: Luc Pettavino

Luc Pettavino has brought the watchmaking industry together in a burst of creative solidarity that has now become an international institution – an achievement he would rather have done without in many ways. For him, the dawn of the third millennium coincided with a personal drama: his son, Paul, was diagnosed with an incurable neuromuscular disease. In 2003, having been president of the Monaco Yacht Show for 11 years, Pettavino set up the Monaco Association against Muscular Dystrophy to fund research, beginning a race against time to save his son. His cause and charisma won over His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, 34 watch brands – each of them creating a unique timepiece – along with auctioneers Antiquorum and other partners in the worlds of media and logistics. Only Watch was launched in 2005. Right in the middle of the Monaco Yacht Show, collectors were snapping up these exceptional watches, at prices of up to CHF 2 million. It was a moment of pure magic at the iconic Port Hercule, perhaps best symbolised by the partnership between Richard Mille and Philippe Starck, who produced a joint model. Once he had recovered from the surprise, Luc consulted the watchmaking brands with which this minor miracle had struck a chord, and arranged another event two years later. Only Watch become a unique international biennial watch exhibition, travelling around the world; moreover, it set the pace for collectors, stimulating brands’ creativity to a rare degree. After five editions and CHF 17 million raised in Monaco with Antiquorum, in 2015 Only Watch brought together some 50 brands in Geneva for an auction (presided over by Aurel Bacs of Phillips, Bacs & Russo) that raised over CHF 11 million. By the time Christie’s took its turn in 2017, raising a similar amount, Paul had sadly passed away, but his energy lived on in the hearts of all those involved. The convergence of talent and acts of kindness under Luc’s guiding hand was stronger than ever. He received the GPHG Jury’s Special Award in November 2019, two days before a spectacular auction at Christie’s in which 50 watches went under the hammer for a total of CHF 38.5 million – 31 million of which was for the Patek Philippe, a historic record. In 15 years, 99% of the staggering CHF 74 million raised has gone to research, and clinical trials are now within sight.