We believe that time is best used to give back. COVID-19 has affected people on a global scale and so we created the Giving Time Auctions to help people and communities impacted by the pandemic. To do this, we auction luxury timepieces, donated by generous donors to charities making a difference during this time. This is our second auction, and it’s even bigger than the last.
In April, we launched the first Giving Time auction with our friend Alton Brown as he generously donated an IWC Portuguese and an OMEGA Speedmaster “Dark Side of the Moon.” So, we put up a Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight and raised $25,000 for The Giving Kitchen in our hometown of Atlanta.
This time around we have six great watches, from awesome donors and they will support The Giving Kitchen and MusiCares. The Giving Kitchen is helping restaurant workers affected by COVID-19 through a network of community resources and financial support. MusiCares is the Grammy’s national charity and has set up a COVID-19 relief fund for musicians and music gig workers impacted by the loss of shows, and tours. Both are very worthy causes.
But, let’s take a look at these great watches and their donors:
2014 was the early days of Weiss and during that time, the serial numbers on Weiss watches weren’t linear. Alton’s watch is #0053 but was actually the 8th watch of approximately 100 made in the carbon colorway. At that time, all of his watches were manually machined, and the dials were hand painted by Cameron in his home workshop. He also did the watchmaking finishing and hand assembly in that shop. This watch has a matte carbon gray dial with dark hand painted indices and a double domed crystal. It comes on coordinating cordura canvas strap also manufactured by Weiss.
Originally created with free diver Mark Healy, this Bremont supported the Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii initiative. It is now giving back again as a part of this auction. This limited edition watch, one of just 300 pieces, has a white dial with blue indices and the noted S500 case style with the crown placed at the 2 o’clock position. With a 500m depth rating this watch will take you to the pool, ocean and on some serious dives.
Richard F is an independent donor based in New York.
This Porsche Design watch is a great marriage of form and function. Like the cars themselves, this watch makes use of titanium to make it lighter on the wearer’s wrist. It has a chronograph with a flyback function that gives a serious nod to motorsports and its great racers. The watch has a handsome brown dial and comes on brown leather for a rugged, but sleek look. For any car enthusiast, like John, it’s a great addition to a collection.
This watch is truly one of a kind. It is Cameron’s personal prototype for his limited edition run of the Titanium American Issue Field Watch.
To honor the traditions of watchmaking and aviation while pushing the bounds of innovation, Cameron turned to the aerospace industry in Los Angeles. Together they created a new version of the Cal 1003 movement using an aluminum alloy normally reserved for fuselages and wings. The combination of an aluminum alloy movement and a titanium case is a first in the industry. The result is a watch that looks rugged and masculine but is light and comfortable.
For some it is hard to stack up a quartz watch to an automatic, but the 9F movements in the Grand Seiko are quite a marvel. But to put one in a well-rounded, classic watch and give it an exhibition caseback is bold. It is a rarity in watchmaking. This piece is versatile and can go from the office to the weekend seamlessly. It is in stainless steel with a 38mm case and large lugs, so its profile seems a bit larger, but it will work well for almost all wrists. Plus, the sword hands and metallic blue seconds hand give it an extra sharpness and modern touch.
The DateJust is about as classic as a watch gets, but this version, the DateJust 41, is sporty and modern. It is currently one of the hottest watches on the market and can be really tough to find.
Sitting a little larger in case size, this DateJust comes in at 41mm, but is thin enough to not overwhelm the wrist. It has a beautiful blue sunray dial and stick indices with the recognizable Rolex Chromalight blue luminescence. It’s the perfect watch to go from tee to tux and is a great addition to a collection for now or for a lifetime.
The collection of watches in this auction is pretty well-rounded and 100% of their sales will support great charities. Plus, a portion of each sale is tax deductible. So, you can make your wrist look great while doing a bit of good.
Protect What You Love With Hodinkee Insurance We're here to help avoid a potential heartache.…
Watching Movies: Adam Driver Takes Over The Gucci Family Empire Wearing A JLC Reverso in…
Second Opinions: The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Is Not A Submariner Alternative It's its own…
Your Watch Just Tripled In Value – Now What? Auction season is around the corner.…
A Week On The Wrist: The 40mm TAG Heuer Aquaracer Could Be Your Only Watch…
Five Critical Things To Do Before Buying A Watch Online Originally published by Hodinkee, March…