- By Arthur Touchot
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is honoured to support the 2023 Action Innocence charity auction, taking place on 16 February in Gstaad, Switzerland.
Gstaad will welcome some of the world's greatest watch collectors next week as Action Innocence prepares to host its latest charity gala, led on the watchmaking side by unique pieces from two of the most sought-after independent watchmakers: F.P. Journe and Richard Mille.
Aurel Bacs will auctioneer the unique pair, made specifically for the gala auction to raise money for Action Innocence whose mission is to protect children’s dignity and integrity on the internet. A small delegation of Phillips specialists will also travel to Gstaad to provide telephone bidding support, just as they were present for the sale of a unique Patek Philippe Ref. 5270T at Children Action last November.
This will be the second time a Richard Mille watch is sold for Action Innocence, more than ten years after the watchmaker's first participation in 2011 when it donated an RM010. To mark the occasion, the watchmaker has chosen to present a unique version of the RM 67-02, a watch that is heavily associated with French skier Alexis Pinturault, one of the brand’s ambassadors. The version offered at Action Innocence will be unique in that it will be the only RM 67-02 to feature the skier’s stylized hand signature on the watch’s sapphire display caseback. The watch is also offered with a pair of skis made by HEAD that feature Richard Mille’s logo.
Meanwhile, F.P. Journe returns to Action Innocence after multiple appearances, most notably in 2015 when the Geneva-based French watchmaker presented unique versions of the Élégante and the Tourbillon Souverain, and in 2017 when he presented a unique Chronomètre Optimum. All of those watches were linked by their custom made purple dials, in honor of the foundation’s official color. This year will be no different.
F.P. Journe is donating a unique Octa Automatique with a dial that reprises the color scheme and dial pattern of the unique Tourbillon Souverain and the Chronomètre Optimum – watches that raised CHF 650,000 and CHF 200,000 respectively.
No estimates have been communicated for either watch, while 100% of the money raised by their sale will benefit Action Innocence.
Action Innocence will take place on February 16, in Gstaad. In addition to the two watches auctioneered by Aurel Bacs, guests will be able to bid on a selection of earrings and a ladies' watch by Chanel, artworks by Richard Prince, Williams Godrich, and Marc Quinn, an original Karl Lagerfeld photograph, and other collectible items auctioneered by Rémy Best.
Action Innocence
Action Innocence is a Swiss-Monegasque foundation, founded in 1999 by Valérie Wertheimer. Its mission is to protect the integrity and dignity of children, teenagers, and special needs individuals as they use screens and Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
About Arthur Touchot
Arthur is a Watch specialist and the International Head of Digital Strategy for the Watches Department. Arthur joined Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo in 2017, and is based in Geneva.
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