by Mike Disher

November 14, 2003

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Last night a large group gathered at Westime's new store at 254 N. Rodeo Dr. in Beverly Hills to preview Audemars Piguet celebrity watches and other items that will be auctioned at a gala event to raise money for the Afghanistan World Foundation. The setting was splendid - the new Westime shop is beautiful, and so were the fine timepieces on display (not to mention the Rolls Royce Phantom parked in front!) Special Guests included Audemars Piguet North America President Francois Bennahmias, Chairman and Founder of the Afghanistan World Foundation Sonia Nassery Cole, and Foundation supporter and entertainer Natalie Cole.

The auction, which will raise funds for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, will be held at the St. Regis Hotel in Los Angeles on December 2, 2003. Projects funded by the Afghanistan World Foundation emphasize education and public health, construction of schools, hospitals and clinics, medicine for common illnesses, school supplies, and other facilities and supplies to meet the basic needs of the people of Afghanistan.

During the evening, 18 watches engraved with signatures of personalities from the worlds of entertainment, sports, and politics will be auctioned. Participants to date include Muhammad Ali, Tom Cruise, Henry Kissinger, Shaquille O'Neal, Al Pacino, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan. Several of the watches are shown below.  There will also be several other silent and live auction lots auctioned, including a 2004 Rolls Royce Phantom, shown below.   

During the dinner, a concert will be performed by Natalie Cole and Stevie Wonder. Tables are currently being sold at $10,000 and $25,000. Some individual tickets may still be available. For information about the auction, or to pre-qualify to bid, please contact Levy Pazanti & Associates, 9911 West Pico Blvd, Suite 1530, Los Angeles, CA 90035. Phone (310) 201-5033 or fax (310) 201-5053.       

And now, some scenes from the evening...

Westime's new store at 254 N. Rodeo Dr. in Beverly Hills.

Natalie Cole addresses the crowd about the need to support the people of Afghanistan

L to R Francois Bennahmias, Sonia Nassery Cole, Luis Kreckler and Natalie Cole

The party gets underway 

L to R, Barbara and John Simonian of Westime, and Sonia Nassery Cole

Sonia and actress Roma Downey show us their Audemars Piguets

Westime is Royal Oak HQ in L.A.

Below are some of the Audemars Piguet timepieces that will be auctioned on December 2...

The Arnold Schwarzenegger T3

Tom Cruise's 18K white gold Royal Oak Chronograph

President Hamid Karzai's Equation of Time

Al Pacino's Edward Piguet Chronograph with date in white gold

Henry Kissinger's Jules Audemars handwinding watch

Natalie Cole's Promesse with diamonds

Shaquille O'Neal's Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph in titanium

This awesome Rolls Royce Phantom will also be auctioned.

Thanks again to our hosts John and Barbara Simonian of Westime, Francois Bennahmias of Audemars Piguet and Sonia Nassery Cole of the Afghanistan World Foundation.