For the second consecutive year, a charity auction will be held on Sunday, 1 September, jointly organised by Geneva Watch Days and Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo. The event will take place in the main pavilion at the Rotonde du Mont-Blanc and will begin at 5.00 pm.
Under the hammer of Aurel Bacs, however, no watches will be auctioned off, but rather unique objects or experiences donated either by the brands or the various partners of Geneva Watch Days. Whether it's a ball and jersey signed by a famous NBA player, a unique hand-carved and hand-polished pendant, miniature F1 helmets, a limited edition Fender Stratocaster guitar or VIP tickets for a French football championship match, the bids will be high and will also heat up the tempers in the pavilion.
The profits generated will go to the Pierre Amstutz Fund, which commemorates the former director of the Geneva School of Watchmaking. This non-profit organisation aims to support apprentices in precarious situations at the school so that they can complete their training under good conditions. The fund also promotes the professions of micromechanics and watchmaking, helps to strengthen cohesion between the apprentices and the school's teaching staff, and builds relationships between alumni and apprentices during their professional training. The watch industry is thus demonstrating its solidarity and and readiness to take action to preserve talent and expertise.
"The labour market in our industry is tight today: Finding a good watchmaker is sometimes a challenge. We felt it was important to make a concrete effort to ensure that this profession continues to exist and is enriched," explained Antoine Pin, President of the Geneva Watch Days Association.
"Phillips, in Association with Bacs & Russo, is delighted and honoured to organise this auction on a voluntary basis for the second year in a row. This joint initiative illustrates the dedication of the watch community to the art of watchmaking. We look forward to joining the generosity of the participating brands and Geneva Watch Days partners in supporting the Geneva Watchmaking School. Aspiring watchmakers can thus embark on their first journey to excellence," added Aurel Bacs, auctioneer of the event.
In 2023, CHF 110,000 was raised and fully paid into the fund. The ambition this year is of course to surpass this! To join the collective effort, all you have to do is register.
