Charity Auction Hits Timely Note For Musicians

Thanks to the efforts of two award-winning musicians and the support of an internationally known maker of fine time-pieces, a symphony of support has been created for the musicians of New Orleans.
Shortly after witnessing the devastation caused in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina, Harry Connick, Jr. and Branford Marsalis created an organization called the New Orleans Habitat Musicians' Village.
A division of Habitat for Humanity, the Village is a charity focused on building housing for musicians who lost everything during Katrina. The idea was to keep music talent in New Orleans so that future generations could enjoy the same musical atmosphere that Connick and Marsalis experienced growing up.
Connick, who had just completed a successful four-month starring role in the Tony Award-winning revival show, "The Pajama Game," added five final benefit shows to raise funds for Musicians' Village.
To support the effort, Longines, which has counted Connick as its ambassador and "Icon of Elegance" since 2005, created a set of exclusive limited-edition timepieces for the final benefit shows.
One watch from the group was auctioned live by the auction house Sotheby's following each sold-out performance of the show. All funds from the performances and the auctions were donated to the Musicians' Village.
The Swiss brand created the Longines evidenza limited-edition Harry Connick, Jr. timepiece, which raised $220,000 during the five benefit sold-out shows.
The evidenza limited edition is an automatic chronograph timepiece, with a tonneau-shaped rose-gold case. The case-back is engraved with Connick's signature. Each watch is individually numbered.
Other features include a chocolate-brown dial with white sub-dials and Roman numerals, automatic movement and a chocolate- brown genuine alligator strap.
Only 11 of these timepieces have been manufactured worldwide. Number 11 was presented to Connick as a gift from Longines.