Bulk Metallic Glass watches

What do charity and innovation have to do? The answer is to be found in Only Watch 2021, the ninth edition of the charity auction that takes place under the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco, in which the most important watch brands in the world highlight their products in limited edition.
The date is set for November 6, if you are interested.



The proceeds will be donated to research against Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rapid degenerative muscular disease that affects one child (male) in 3500. It is the most serious muscle disease ever. The improvements made by medical science allow these childs to have a life span of around 30 years. Thanks to Only Watch, more than 70 million euros have already been raised in eight years.

Bulk metallic glass debuts at Only watch 2021 with Audemars Piguet

54 watch brands will participate in Only watch 2021, including Audemars Piguet, with one of the most iconic pieces of its entire repertoire, The Royal Oak 15202 Jumbo Extra Thin.

This watch has a very interesting peculiarity: it is the first AP piece to have used bulk metallic glass in the bezel and bracelet studs.


Robin Swithinbank, GQ’s journalist, commented on this world premiere: “If that doesn’t blow away its £250,000 high estimate, I’ll find a hat to eat”.

More new innovative watches in BMG

The news does not pass only for Only Watch, there are two other brands that use Bulk Metallic Glass for the new models.



A few days ago Panerai presented the new Luminor Submersible 1950 BMG-TECHTM - PAM692 which stands out for its case (47 mm) made of the innovative BMG-TECHTM material, developed and patented by Panerai (where BMG stands for Bulk Metallic Glass). Panerai has chosen this alloy to guarantee greater strength and resistance to corrosion, external shocks, and magnetic fields.



IWC has also developed a component for the new Big Pilot's Watch collection made for pilots, the Shock Absorber XPL, in bulk metallic glass. It’s a spring that protects the gears from gravitational forces generated by impacts on the watch. The spring cushions the movement, and everything stop in a more delicate way. A mechanism that has been tested during impact tests for pilots in the cockpit in the IWC laboratories.