Separately, Patek has regularly donated unique timepieces to be auctioned in aid of the charity Children Action. Its motto reading “The first human right is to have a childhood,” this Geneva-headquartered foundation runs youth-focused programmes around the world, including initiatives to provide underprivileged children with access to medical treatment, cancer care, psycho-social support and better nutrition.

The latest donation from Patek to be auctioned in support of Children Action, a unique custom Calatrava Pilot Travel Time (Ref. 5524), went for a record CHF2.3 million in 2018. A titanium Patek annual calendar watch (Ref. 5396T) fetched CHF1 million for the charity in 2015.

(Related: How The Patek Philippe Nautilus Became An Icon)

Paying Tribute

Children Action also benefited from the 2018 auction of a unique timepiece, the Homage to Walter Lange, which achieved the highest result of any A. Lange & Söhne ever sold at auction: CHF700,000. The one-off watch—with a 40.5mm case in stainless steel (a material used very rarely by Lange until this year’s introduction of the sporty Odysseus model) and a black enamel dial—was created as a tribute to the company’s late proprietor, Walter Lange, who died in 2017 aged 92. 

“Throughout [Lange’s] life, the well-being of disadvantaged young people was a matter especially close to his heart,” Lange CEO Wilhelm Schmid explained in the lead-up to the auction. “Personally, I was won over by the fact that Children Action works together exclusively with medical experts and guarantees the efficient allocation of the resources it is entrusted with.” After the gavel fell, Schmid remarked, “The result went well beyond our expectations. I’m particularly pleased that we can make a major contribution to Children Action’s important work, just as Walter Lange intended.”

(Related: A Lange & Söhne Shows New Datograph In New Light)

Quickly following the charity’s establishment in 2008, IWC Schaffhausen forged an ongoing partnership with the Fondation Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. This organisation, founded by descendants of the famed French author and aviator, works to further Saint-Exupéry’s humanist aims. Its initiatives include literacy and other educational programmes to help disadvantaged children and young people facing challenging circumstances. The long-term goal is to help these individuals fulfil their potential and provide them with better prospects in life.

IWC Schaffhausen creates special-edition Fondation Antoine de Saint-Exupéry pilot’s timepieces supporting the charity and unique watches that are auctioned to raise funds. Proceeds from auctions have been used to finance activities including the building of schools and establishment of libraries in Cambodia, installing a library in a children’s hospital in Brazil, and to help educate the disenfranchised Karen people of northwestern Thailand.

The watchmaker is also a major backer of the Laureus Sport for Good foundation, which helps uplift youth in underserved communities globally through sports training and mentorship.

Supporting women and girls in developing countries

Cartier Philanthropy focuses on addressing the challenges faced by women in economically deprived communities. A key area is girls’ education in developing countries, which has countless associated benefits not only for the individual girls, but also their families, communities and countries as a whole. Statistically, the longer a girl in a developing country stays in school, the more likely she is to one day build a small, healthy family, avoid contracting HIV and earn a higher wage. The more educated a young woman is, the later she’ll tend to marry and have children—and the more likely it is that her children will be educated and brought up in good health.

For these reasons, among its numerous other activities, Cartier Philanthropy is supporting Room to Read’s Girls’ Education Programme. This programme gives thousands of girls in Bangladesh and Cambodia (where there are particularly egregious gender disparities) the opportunity to complete secondary school—and the chance at a better life, for them and their family.

(Related: Executive Director Of Cartier Charitable Foundation Pascale De La Frégonnière Is One Gutsy Lady)

H Moser & Cie has also thrown its weight behind Room to Read’s mission to eradicate illiteracy and gender inequality. This year, Moser created two special-edition watches, proceeds from the sale of which will support the charity, whose literacy programmes have helped almost 17 million children across 16 countries. The auction pieces, both white-gold Endeavour Centre Seconds Automatic models on kudu leather straps, feature dials decorated with paintings based on art created by children attending Room to Read’s Literacy Program in India and Sri Lanka. The brand’s recent two auctions brought in a total of CHF63,000 (about HK$500,000) you’ll be pleased to read. As will the numerous children who’ll benefit from the funds raised.