Last week luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet teamed up with Sotheby's to auction off a rare timepiece in support of charity.
Last week luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet teamed up with Sotheby’s to auction off a rare timepiece in support of charity. The Platinum Royal Oak Chronograph Leo Messi N°10, bearing the famous footballer and Audemars Piguet ambassador’s number 10, was auctioned off as part of Sotheby’s Important Watches Auction on May 11 in Geneva. The entire proceeds of the sale will benefit the Leo Messi Foundation, which provides for unprivilledged children around the world.
More than 20 buyers from around the world competed for the Platinum Royal Oak Chronograph Leo Messi N°10 watch, resulting in an intense five minute bidding session. A private collector based in the U.S. placed the winning bid of CHF$81,250 (approximately US$83,737).
Commenting after the sale Leo Messi said: “I am sincerely grateful to Audemars Piguet, Sotheby’s and the anonymous buyer of the No.10 Royal Oak watch bearing my name. Their generosity will help Leo Messi Foundation to renovate “La Sala I” at the Children Public Hospital in my home city of Rosario, creating better conditions for all unprivileged children being hospitalized. It is a wonderful cause and one I am proud to share and support with everyone who believes in it.”
Last year Audemars Piguet introduced the Royal Oak Leo Messi in honor of their ambassador, who has dominated the world of football in recent years, racking up records and scoring 91 goals in 69 matches during 2012. The limited series was produced in 100-piece editions of steel, pink gold, and platinum. Now watch collectors and fans of the footballer will be able to bid on the 10th platinum model, which corresponds to Messi’s jersey number.
The Platinum Royal Oak Chronograph Leo Messi is immediately recognizable as a collectible thanks to its deep blue shade and white gold hour-markers, replacing the standard Royal Oak “tapisserie” motif. Set on a rubber strap, the caseback of this 41mm-diameter platinum also features the engraved inscriptions “ROYAL OAK LIMITED EDITION” and “LEO MESSI”, numbered 10/100. The lot was accompanied by an autographed T-shirt as well as the original sketch of the watch, signed by Messi and Audemars Piguet’s chief artistic officer, Octavio Garcia.
And the cherry on top? The winning bidder will now get to meet the legendary footballer in person while catching an FC Barcelona game.
Photos courtesy Audemars Piguet and Sotheby’s.
