Nearly all industries are looking for ways to give back during the COVID-19 crisis. Hotels have opened their doors to frontline workers, and credit cards like American Express are providing top-notch entertainment for those at home. Now, Swiss watchmaker Girard-Perregaux is hoping to raise money for charity by auctioning off a rare watch.
The brand has joined forces with the luxury watch and jewelry retailer Wempe to auction off the ultimate package for a watch lover. What does it include? First, you get a limited-edition model of a Girard-Perregaux Laureato watch. The model is automatic with 54 hours of power and has a 42 mm stainless steel case. The sporty watch became famous when the style was first introduced in 1975, featuring an octagonal case. The piece up for auction is just one of 20 and is valued at $11,600.
That’s not all that’s included in the package. The winner also gets a private tour of the facility, followed by lunch with CEO Patrick Pruniaux, and one night’s stay at the Beau-Rivage Hotel in Neuchâtel (if the hotel can’t accommodate, another comparable luxury hotel in the La-Chaux-de-Fonds region will be chosen.) Ground transportation from Geneva or Zurich airport to the watchmaker is included, as well as to the hotel.
The auction will begin June 3 at 12 pm ET via Charity Buzz. Proceeds will benefit New York’s biggest food rescue organization, City Harvest. The non-profit has seen a surge in requests for meals since the pandemic began, and both Pruniaux and Ruediger Albers, US president of Wemp, said they felt they needed to give back to the city.
