Christie's and Swiss manufacturer F.P. Journe’s collaboration in selling the new Centigraphe Sport wristwatch has been hailed as a huge success, with the timepiece reaching a final price of $465,170 at auction in Hong Kong.
However, it was no ordinary sale, as this spectacular all-aluminium mechanical chronograph watch from the 'Sport Line' collection was sold to help raise money for the aid effort in Japan, after the devastating recent earthquake and tsunami.
Its staggering final price was almost ten times more than its original estimate. It's no surprise though when you look at the exquisite design of the timepiece, with sophisticated details which match even the very best watches made by the likes of Patek Philippe.
 F.P. Journe's amazing Centigraphe watch raised $465,170 |
Clearly the bidding went high because of the important nature of the event, to help make as much money as possible, but the undoubted quality of the watch, labelled 001, also played a key part.
Founder of the company, Francois-Paul Journe, said he thanked 'all those who have allowed this extraordinary project to come to reality, Christie's as well as all auction bidders. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.'
All proceedings will be donated to Médecins du Monde Japan and Franco-Japanese foundation FERE, which set up a program called 100 maisons pour 100 familles - 100 homes for 100 families - which constructs temporary anti-seismic wooden houses to relocate victims of the natural disaster.
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