The most expensive watches in the world
The 10 most expensive watches in the world
- Graff Diamonds Hallucination – $55 million
- Graff Diamonds The Fascination – $44 million
- Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref 6300A-010 – $31 million
- Breguet Grande Complication Marie-Antoinette – $30 million
- Jaeger LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette – $26 million
- Chopard 201-Carat – $25 million
- Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication – $24 million
- Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6239 – $18.7 million
- Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch – $18 million
- Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Ref. 1518 – $12 million
Luxury watches have always been a symbol of wealth, status, and style. These exquisite timepieces are not just functional but also serve as a form of investment, with some of the world’s most expensive watches fetching millions of dollars at auctions. From hand-crafted complications to diamonds-encrusted dials, the most expensive watches are a feast for the eyes and a true representation of fine craftsmanship. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the world’s most costly timepieces, their unique features, and the story behind their making.
1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination - $ 55 million
The Graff Diamonds Hallucination watch is a one-of-a-kind luxury timepiece that was pioneered by Laurence Graff, the Chairman of Graff Diamonds in 2014. It is considered one of the most expensive watches in the world, with a price tag that exceeds $55 million.
What sets the Hallucination apart is its stunning design that features over 110 carats of multicoloured diamonds set in a mesmerising, kaleidoscope-like pattern embedded in a platinum bracelet.
The diamonds used in this watch are of the finest quality, including. Fancy Pink, Fancy Yellow, Fancy Green, Fancy Blue, and Fancy Orange. The watch has a minimalist dial, with just a few hour markers, allowing the diamonds to be the true focal point of the timepiece.
The Graff Diamonds Hallucination watch is a true masterpiece of craftsmanship and design, making it a highly sought-after timepiece among watch collectors and luxury connoisseurs. The watch’s rarity, beauty, and exceptional quality make it a true statement piece that can be considered a work of art.
2. Graff Diamonds The Fascination - $44 million
The Fascination is another magnificent piece of jewellery created by Graff, a high-end jewellery brand known for its exquisite diamond creations. The Fascination is considered one of the most expensive watches in the world, with a price tag that exceeds $40 million.
What sets the watch apart is its intricate set of 152.96 carats of the purest white diamonds and its adjustable 38.13 carat “D Flawless” pear-shaped diamond. Next to Hallucination it can be considered as the second most expensive watch with a price tag that exceeds $40 million.
This jaw-dropping Graff creation was exhibited during the Baselworld Watch and Jewellery Show in 2015.
3. Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref 6300A-010 – $31 million
Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 is a highly complicated wristwatch manufactured by Patek Philippe, a Swiss luxury watch brand. It was first introduced in 2014 to celebrate the brand’s 175th anniversary.
The watch has 20 complications, including a minute repeater, a grande and petite sonnerie, an instantaneous perpetual calendar, and a second time zone. It also has two faces, which can be flipped over, allowing for an additional time zone and day/night indication. The Grandmaster Chime is considered one of the most complex wristwatches ever made and is produced in very limited quantities.
The 8th Only Watch auction took place on Saturday, November 9th, 2019 in Geneva.
The first and only Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime in steel was sold for CHF 31 million. This record price in the 2019 auction makes it the most expensive watch in the world.
4. Breguet Grande Complication Marie-Antoinette – $30 million
The Breguet Grande Complication Marie-Antoinette is a highly complicated pocket watch created by Abraham-Louis Breguet, one of the most famous watchmakers of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It is believed to have been commissioned by an unknown member of French royalty, possibly Marie-Antoinette herself, for whom the watch is named. The watch was intended to be the most complicated ever made and was completed in 1827, several years after Breguet’s death.
The watch features a number of complications, including a minute repeater, a grande and petite sonnerie, a power reserve indicator, a perpetual calendar, a thermometer, and a detent escapement. It is considered a masterpiece of horological engineering and is one of the most valuable timepieces in the world.
Unfortunately, the watch was stolen from a gallery in Jerusalem in the 1980s and was rediscovered in 2007. It was considered one of the most valuable stolen watches, with an estimated value in excess of $30 million.
5. Jaeger LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette – $26 million
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette is a women’s wristwatch from the luxury Swiss watch brand, Jaeger-LeCoultre. It is part of the brand’s high-end jewelry collection and is renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship and delicate beauty.
The Joaillerie 101 Manchette is named after its unique bracelet-style band, which resembles a manchette, a French term for a bracelet. The band is made of precious metals such as white or rose gold, and is set with diamonds and other precious gemstones.
At the heart of the watch is the iconic Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 101, one of the smallest mechanical movements in the world. Despite its small size, the movement is highly precise and features a long power reserve of up to 43 hours.
The watch features a small, round dial that is simple and understated, allowing the beauty of the bracelet-style band to take center stage. The dial is available in various colors and materials, including mother-of-pearl, diamond-set, or enamel.
6. Chopard 201-Carat – $25 million
The Chopard 201-Carat Watch is a one-of-a-kind timepiece that is a true masterpiece of luxury and craftsmanship. It was first introduced by Chopard, a Swiss luxury watch and jewelry brand, in the late 1990s and has since become one of the most sought-after watches in the world.
One of the most distinctive features of the Chopard 201-Carat Watch is its diamond-encrusted exterior. The watch is set with 201 carats of diamonds, making it one of the most dazzling timepieces ever created. The diamonds are expertly set in white gold, which creates a stunning contrast against the sparkling gems.
The movement of the Chopard 201-Carat Watch is just as impressive as its exterior. It is powered by a mechanical self-winding movement, which is both reliable and accurate. The watch also features a power reserve of 42 hours, so you never have to worry about winding it when you’re on the go.
7. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication – $24 million
The Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication is one of the most famous and valuable watches in the world. It was commissioned by American banker Henry Graves Jr. in the 1920s and took eight years to complete. The watch is a masterpiece of craftsmanship, featuring 24 complications, including a minute repeater, a perpetual calendar, and a celestial chart of the night sky.
The Supercomplication is considered to be one of the most complex watches ever created, with over 900 parts. It was made entirely by hand, using traditional watchmaking techniques and high-quality materials. The result is a timepiece that is not only functional but also aesthetically stunning.
The timepiece is housed in a yellow gold case and features a white enamel dial with black Breguet numerals. The watch is finished with a hand-stitched alligator strap, adding to its overall elegance and luxury.
The Supercomplication is considered a true masterpiece of horology and has set multiple world record prices at auction. In 1999, it sold for a then-record price of $11 million, and in 2014, it sold again for a record-breaking $24 million. The Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication remains one of the most sought-after and valuable watches in the world.
8. Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6239 – $18.7 million
The Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6239 is a highly sought-after vintage watch from the luxury Swiss watch brand, Rolex. It was introduced in the 1960s and named after the American actor Paul Newman, who wore the watch and helped to popularize it.
The Ref. 6239 is a manual-wind chronograph with a unique “exotic” dial featuring a contrasting outer track with a bold font for the tachymeter scale, as well as a distinctive subdial layout. This design set it apart from other Rolex Daytona models at the time and has since become one of the most recognizable and collectible dials in the watch world.
The watch is powered by Rolex’s in-house Caliber 722 manual-wind movement and features a stainless steel or 14k gold case, along with a leather or stainless steel bracelet. It also features a screw-down crown and case back, offering improved water resistance compared to earlier models.
The Ref. 6239 is a highly collectible timepiece, with prices for good condition examples ranging from hundreds of thousands to over a million dollars at auction. Its iconic design and association with Paul Newman make it a true classic in the world of vintage watches.
9. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch – $18 million
The Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch is a high-end luxury timepiece from the Swiss watch brand, Jacob & Co. It is known for its over-the-top diamond-encrusted design, which features a total of 260 carats of diamonds. The watch was first introduced in 2018 and has since become one of the most recognizable and sought-after watches in the world.
The Billionaire Watch is powered by a mechanical movement and features a tourbillon, a complication that helps to improve the accuracy of the timekeeping by compensating for the effects of gravity. It is available in white gold, rose gold, and platinum, and can be customized to the buyer’s specifications
The watch’s bracelet is integrated into the case, creating a seamless and elegant design. The diamond-encrusted dial, bezel, and case further accentuate the watch’s luxury and style, making it a true statement piece.
In addition to its impressive design, the Billionaire Watch is also known for its exceptional craftsmanship. Jacob & Co. is a well-respected brand in the luxury watch industry and is known for its attention to detail and commitment to quality.
10. Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Ref. 1518 – $12 million
The Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Ref. 1518 is a rare and highly collectible wristwatch from the prestigious Swiss luxury watch brand, Patek Philippe. It was introduced in 1941 and was the first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch, a feat that was considered groundbreaking at the time.
The Ref. 1518 is powered by Patek Philippe’s Caliber 13“‘ chronograph movement and features a stainless steel case, which is highly unusual for a Patek Philippe watch of this caliber. The watch features a perpetual calendar, which automatically takes into account the different number of days in each month, as well as leap years, ensuring that the date is always accurate.
The watch also features a chronograph, a stopwatch function that can measure elapsed time up to 12 hours, making it a highly functional timepiece as well as a collectible item. The dial features a clean and classic design, with a subdial for the chronograph function, a display for the perpetual calendar, and a moon phase indicator.
The Ref. 1518 is a highly sought-after timepiece, with its combination of a stainless steel case, perpetual calendar, and chronograph making it a true classic in the world of luxury watches.
The most expensive watches in the world are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts alike, who appreciate their exceptional beauty, intricate mechanics, and exclusivity. From the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication to the Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch, these timepieces are a testament to the timeless art of watchmaking and a symbol of luxury, style, and prestige. Whether for personal enjoyment or investment purposes, these watches are sure to be treasured for generations to come, making them a truly unique and valuable addition to any collection.