Cover Zach Lu (Photo: @zachattack__25/Instagram) and Patek Philippe 6301A for Only Watch 2024
Zach Lu (Photo: @zachattack__25/Instagram) and Patek Philippe 6301A for Only Watch 2024
1 / 1
Lu is also the proud owner of the first edition Tiffany-Blue Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 watch
Conducted in partnership with Christie's, the 10th Edition of Only Watch concluded its auction on May 10, 2024, raising CHF28,320,000 (over US$31mil) to fund Duchenne muscular dystrophy research. The bulk of the contribution, not surprisingly, came from the Patek Philippe 6301A grand sonnerie and minute repeater watch which sold for US$17.3mil.
Read more: Only Watch 2024: The best luxury watches for charity
The highest bidder was Zach Lu, a New York-based watch collector in his 30s who particularly likes Patek Philippe watches. Lu also owns the coveted first of the limited-edition Tiffany-Blue Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 created in 2021 to celebrate the special relationship between the two storied maisons.
Above Patek Philippe 6301A-010 for the 10th Edition sold for US$17.3mil at the Only Watch auction
Patek Philippe 6301A-010 for the 10th Edition sold for US$17.3mil at the Only Watch auction
1 / 1
Over 115,000 people follow his Instagram (@zachattack__25) for updates on his watch-collecting journey, from getting a private tour of La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton with Jean Arnault to showing off his favourite Richard Mille Pharrell Williams sapphire watch.
One of his proudest moments has to be when the rare Tiffany-Blue Patek timepiece ended up in his possession, even though he was an underbidder for the watch at the Phillips 2021 New York Watch Auction. Long story short, the winning bidder was unable to fulfill the transaction and, according to reports, Lu was selected by Alexandre Arnault, TIffany & Co.'s executive vice president of product and communications, and Thierry Stern, president of Patek Philippe, to purchase the watch.
See also: Florence Pugh joins Tiffany & Co as its newest ambassador
Lu, who has been collecting watches since he was 15, also appears friendly with Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg, even apparently playing a bit part in Wahlberg's 2023 movie, The Family Plan.
The next two highest bids at Only Watch were Rexhep Rexhepi Chronomètre Antimagnétique (about US$2.3mil) and F.P. Journe Chronomètre Furtif (about US$2.2mil). A total of 47 exclusive timepieces were donated by 52 brands that also include Bulgari, Hublot, Chanel, and Tag Heuer.
ICMYI: From François-Paul Journe to Philippe Dufour, watchmakers reveal their favourite chronographs
Above Rexhep Rexhepi Chronomètre Antimagnétique
Rexhep Rexhepi Chronomètre Antimagnétique
1 / 1
Above F.P. Journe Chronomètre Furtif
F.P. Journe Chronomètre Furtif
1 / 1
Topics
Brian Cheong leads the watch (Tatler GMT) and jewellery content at Tatler Malaysia, combining sharp editorial insight with years of luxury lifestyle experience. A seasoned journalist in luxury watches based in Kuala Lumpur, Brian had previously helmed World of Watches, Men's Folio and Prestige Malaysia.
