PRESS RELEASE

IT’S TIME TO DEFEAT CANCER

The auction « It’s time to defeat cancer: horologery for the AIRC » will be held on the 26th of November, at 5pm – Montanelli’s room, via Solferino 26 Milano – Prototypes and rare specimens given by the most famous Horologery Houses will be auctioned to raise funds for research on cancer. This project will close the series of events linked to Cancer Research Day.

This will be an exclusive event bringing together famous horological brands to fight for a common cause: to help to defeat cancer. The 29 houses participating in this event went looking for wonders in their safes, working prototypes, unique pieces, special or limited edition pieces, and offered them to the AIRC for this charity auction. For this very reason the watches will be offered at affordable prices: those real “objects of desire”, usually unattainable, will be accessible.

This 2009 auction is the second edition of « It’s About Time To Defeat Cancer », as the first one took place in 2007 and raised over 240’000 EUR, proceeds which were entirely given to sustain the three year program « Brain Gain » created by the AIRC to form a new generation of researchers, destined to run independent projects. This year too all proceeds from the auction will be supporting this program, a clear priority in AIRC’s strategy.

The brainchild in 2007 of Augusto Veroni this auction was made possible thanks to the contribution of UniCredit Group, RCS Media Group and Patrizzi & Co. Auctioneers.

The 32 exceptional pieces will be auctioned by Osvaldo Patrizzi to the public and aficionados in the room, as well as to people on the phone or directly on-line worldwide through the Patrizzi & Co website: www.patrizziauction.com

The lots will be sold without reserve and there will be no buyer’s commission.

PROGRAM

The Auction will be held on Thursday the 26th of November, at 5pm, in the Montanelli Room, Via Solferino n.26, Milano. The Auction is open to everyone, not only to watch collectors or and aficionados, but also to curious visitors or anyone looking for a special gift for this Christmas

• Press conference, at noon, in the Aula Magna Room, Uni Credit, Via T. Grossi n.10, Milano;
• Public exhibition of all the pieces, from 2pm to 7pm, in the Aula Magna Room, Uni Credit, Via T. Grossi n.10, Milano;

Public exhibition of all the pieces, from 10am to 7pm, in the offices of Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers, Via Monte di Pietà n.24, Milan.

Public exhibition of all the pieces, from 10am to 7pm, in the Montanelli Room, Via Solferino n.26 Milan.

Highlights of the sale:

• An Audemars Piguet pocket watch : a unique piece with a pink gold case, made in 2000 to celebrate the 125th birthday of Audemars Piguet Built on a complication called “Star Wheel”: on a star-shaped gear, three sapphire glass discs which will automatically change position to mark the month and date.
• A Chopard wristwatch. A prototype made this year, with a white gold case, unique dial and engraving, certified by the Fondation de Qualité Fleurier (FQF), who guaranties that the quality of the finished piece matches the criteria of high horologery: precison of the movement (COSC certified), resilience, sustainability, perfection of the finish
• A Parmigiani Fleurier wristwatch. A prototype of the Pershing 005, chronograph, with a stainless steel case and automatic movement, made in 2008 in partnership with the Pershing shipyards. This very same model was sold last October in a Sotheby’s auction in Hong-Kong, with an estimate of 35'900 USD.
• A Terra Cielo Mare wristwatch. A unique piece from 2009 with a gold case: the first one ever made by this fine house with a precious metal case, following the strong wish of one of the recently deceased partners, Emilio Fontana, a major protagonist of the italian horological history.
• A Victorinox wristwatch. A sporty piece with a platinum case and rubber details, one of a very limited series made in 2006. An example of a rare mix of materials, it shows the capacity of this brand to work also in precious metal.

The catalog, by AIRC, is available on line on the www.patrizziauction.com website and will of course be also available in every exhibition room.

The following brands and houses have taken part in this project: Audemars Piguet – Baume & Mercier – Breil Milano – Chaumet – Chopard – Chronoswiss – Dior Watches - Fortis – Giuliano Mazzuoli – Girard-Perregaux – Glashütte Original – Gucci – Hermès – Jaeger-LeCoultre – JeanRichard – Linde Werdelin – Locman – Maranello – Mikimoto – Montblanc – Omega – Parmigiani Fleurier – Paul Picot – Porsche Design – Rado – Terra Cielo Mare – Vacheron Constantin – Victorinox – Zenith.

A special thank-you goes to Pisa Orologeria for the exhibition showcases, and to Ferrari for the security and transport of all the pieces.

Further Press information:
AIRC –Press Relation– Donatella Tarantini
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - tel. 02-7797214 - fax 02-7797246 - www.airc.it

Public Information about the Auction:
Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - tel. 02-45480754 - www.patrizziauction.com