There are lots of expensive watches in the world. From iconic pieces with loads of history and heritage, to iconic pieces with rare jewels it in. According to research, here are the top most expensive watches known till this day.
Honorable Mention: Breguet & Fils No. 2667 Precision Watch – $4.7 million: This special, fine and rare timepiece was first sold for a small amount of 5000 francs. But was sold at auction for a scratch over $4.6 million.
10. Patek Philippe Ref. 2523 – $8.97 million: The most expensive watch ever auction in Asia, the Patek Philippe World Time Ref. 2523 was sold at Christies Auction House just short of $9 million. It is just one of two examples known to this date, not to forget that it is in magnificent condition. It was produced in 1953 and made out of 18k Pink Gold with a 24 hour indicator. One of its best known characteristics is the double crown.
9. Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 – $11.1 million: This stainless steel Patek Philippe was sold at auction for a scratch over $11 million. Patek Philippe produced the 1518 model in 1941, making it the first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch ever produced in a series. Only 4 watches of this reference were ever produced.
8. Rolex Daytona Paul Newman 6241 – $17.8 million: Perhaps one of the most popular vintage watches in the eyes of watch fanatics, The Paul Newman’s Paul Newman Daytona sold at Phillips watch auction for a whopping $17.8 million dollars. The watch was gifted to Newman by his wife, and had “Drive carefully. -Me” engraved on its caseback. The Paul Newman Daytona models are still available for purchase in the grey market, and sell for around $150,000.
7. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch – $18 million: Purchased by the famous Floyd Mayweather in the 27th of June, 2018. This absolute masterpiece really shows the talent of the jewelers of Jacob & Co. It features a tourbillon for extra accuracy. It has about 260 carats of diamonds for the maximum amount of “bling” on your wrist.
6. Patek Philippe Super-complication – $24 million: This amazing gold pocket watch was made in 1933 for banker Henry Graves Jr. This timepiece took about 5 years to design and build. It features 24 complications: sunrise and sunset times, a perpetual calendar, and a celestial calendar just to name a few.
5. Chopard 201-Carat Watch – $25 million: This insane timepiece features 874 diamonds, totaling 201 carats, in different colors as well. The center of this watch is made up of three heart-shaped diamond in pink, yellow and blue.
4. Breguet No. 160 – $30 million: This timepiece was allegedly commissioned for Marie Antoinette by one of her lovers. Abraham-Louis Breguet began working on the watch in 1782. However, Marie Antoinette was executed before it was completed in 1827 by Breguet’s own son. The timepiece included every known complication at the time, including a thermometer, perpetual calendar and chime. This masterpiece was displayed at the L.A. Mayer Museum in Jerusalem but was stolen in 1983. The watch was eventually recovered and is still on display at the Mayer museum today.
3. Patek Philippe Ref. 6300a – $31 million: This incredible timepiece is a piece unique made for the Only Watch auction and was sold in 2019. It has dethroned the well known Rolex Paul Newman to claim the title of “Most expensive watch sold at auction”. It is noteworthy that is watch is also the first ever steel Grandmaster Chime Patek Philippe ever produced, as well as being the only one with the popular-among-collectors salmon dial.
2. Graff Diamonds The Fascination – $40 million: This fascinating timepiece contains 152.96 carats of diamond with a center diamond that is a 38.14-carat D Flawless pear shape. The center diamond that covers the crystal detaches into a ring that can be worn on its own.
1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination – $55 million: Believe it or not, but the most expensive watch ever known till this day uses a quartz movement. This timepiece was unveiled at the Baselword watch and jewelry fair. It is made up of 110 carats of diamonds. Diamonds of all colors, including Fancy Pink, Fancy Yellow, Fancy Green, and Fancy Blue, and cuts: including emerald, heart, pear, marquise, and round, are combined to create this spectacular timepiece.
