A watch is more than just an accessory showing the exact time. They demonstrate owner status no worse than the most expensive yacht or car. Many of the most expensive watches are so intricate and complex that they are more like a work of art. And the watchmakers are working on them no less, if not longer, than the sculptor over the majestic sculpture or the jeweler over the diamond necklace.
These incredible creations can cost millions of dollars. Of course, price is not the only reason to admire a luxury watch. Below we will talk about the most expensive watch in the worldwho have survived the test of time.
25. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication - $ 725 thousand
The Swiss company Audemars is famous for its luxury watches. But the Grande Complication, made entirely of ceramic, is undoubtedly their best creation. Through the anti-reflective glass made of sapphire crystal, you can see the mechanism, all the details of which are made by hand.
And most importantly, this watch looks damn stylish and asks for the hand of a respectable, wealthy man.
24. Ulysse Nardin Hannibal Minute Repeater Tourbillon - $ 758 thousand
One of the most expensive men's watches in the world was created for those who appreciate the ancient Roman culture, and in particular its stage associated with the Punic Wars. They are decorated with figures reminiscent of the Carthaginian commander Hannibal and his fighting elephants.
However, engraving is not the only thing that makes this watch so extravagant and expensive. Each component is made by hand, the case is made of platinum, and the strap is made of alligator leather. And the watch also boasts a special musical system - “Westminster Battle”. The Hannibal Minute Repeater Tourbillon series includes only 30 items.
23. Greubel Forsey Art Piece 1 - $ 1.5 million
This watch boasts excellent mechanical properties, such as a 30-degree double tourbillon. But their value of $ 1.5 million is due to the uniqueness of the design. A tiny sculpture is hidden inside the watch, which is visible only thanks to the miniature optical system. It is located on the crown and acts like a microscope.
The sculptures created so far include a ship, a mask, a Coca-Cola bottle and a hummingbird.
22. Vacheron Constantin Tour de l’Ile - $ 1.5 million
This superb combination of mechanics and aesthetics was created to mark the 250th anniversary of Vacheron Constantin.
Each of the seven existing instances includes 16 "complications." Tour de l’Ile watches were awarded the Golden Hand Award - this is the main prize of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève international watch competition.
21. Richard Mille RM 56-02 Sapphire - $ 2 million
The appearance of this watch, released in a limited series of 10 pieces, is as unique as its mechanism.
A sturdy and beautiful sapphire was used for an exquisitely smooth transparent case. And the clock mechanism is suspended on cables, due to which it seems that it hovers in the air. The composition is completed by a comfortable rubber strap tightly fitting the wrist.
20. Rolex ref. 4113 - $ 2.4 million
Just three times, this gentleman-like watch in a steel case appeared at an auction. And they have never been in free sale. Rolex has designed all models in this series for a small number of riders, of whom it has been a sponsor for some time.
The next, but perhaps not the last time the watch was sold in 2016.
19. Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie - $ 2.5 million
This watch is admired not only by its classic and elegant design (white gold case combined with a black strap), but also by the fact that they are the most complicated minute repeater in the world. It is louder and more melodious than repeaters of other luxury watches, and the triple tower with a height of 5.15 mm serves as the “brain” of the repeater.
You can see in the photo with the clock that they have a dial on the right, and on the left the watch developers placed an open minute repeater mechanism so that the owner of the accessory could at any moment watch how all these tiny wheels and levers rotate.
18. Lange & Söhne Grand Complication - $ 2.5 million
So far, this model, which debuted in 2013, remains the most expensive of the German luxury brand Lange & Söhne.
Inside the large gold case, a complex mechanism is hidden, combining the perpetual calendar, big and small battle, as well as a split chronograph, which allows you to determine time intervals with an accuracy of 1/5 second.
Unlike many luxurious and expensive watches, in which the dial is so intricate that you can hardly see the time, this model has a simple and clear at first glance.
17. Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4 - $ 2.7 million
With 36 different “complications”, 1,483 parts, a 1,000-year calendar and many other eclectic features, Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4 is one of the most complex watch movements in the world.
A team of watchmakers led by the famous Pierre-Michel Golei worked on this watch for six years. Their brainchild has many impractical options, such as big and small battle, but who needs practicality when it comes to a work of art?
16. Patek Philippe Ref. 5004T - $ 4 Million
The famous top brand of Swiss watches released Ref. 5004T in 2013, specifically for a charity auction. The 5004T is a unique titanium version in the beautiful Patek Philippe collection. Their gold dial is decorated with handmade engraving that imitates a classic chess pattern.
Swiss watches caused a stir in the industry, because they got a more sporty, more colorful look than the more conservative “family members”.
15. Breguet Antique Number 2667 - $ 4.5 million
Breguet is one of the oldest watch companies in the world since 1775. And Antique Number 2667 is considered the third most expensive watch released by Breguet. They feature a stylish and austere design, as well as a luxurious 18-carat gold case. They also have two moves and are based on the principle of resonance.
This accessory has two dials: the first consists of Arabic numerals, the second consists of Roman numerals. Unusual watches fully reflect the exquisite aesthetic taste of Breguet and his inventive genius.
14. Louis Moinet, Meteoris Collection - $ 4.6 million
This watch with an astronomical price tag was named after Louis Mouine, the famous 18th century watchmaker. The collection includes four watches, decorated with precious stones and pieces of a real meteorite, built into the dials.
- The Tourbillon Mars watch contains a fragment of the Martian meteorite Jiddat al Harasis 479, which fell to Earth. Martian meteorites can cost up to $ 1,000 per gram.
- The Rosetta stone watch contains a piece of the oldest meteorite that fell to Earth and was found in the Sahara desert.
- For the Asteroid watch, a piece of the asteroid was used, which formed near the Sun.
- And on the dial of the Moon tourbillon, you can see the dark structure of the Moon with small inclusions.
13. Hublot Big Bang - $ 5 million
This diamond wrist watch is an ideal option for those who appreciate chic and have free 5 million dollars. Hublot Big Bang is adorned with 1,280 diamonds of 3 carats each. And all the stones were faceted by one New York jeweler with 40 years of experience, so that each of them had the same signature.
12. Rolex Ref. 6062 Bao Dai - $ 5 million
A nice looking combination of a gold case and a black dial is not the only advantage of this model. The hour indexes in it are interspersed with diamond marks.
But the main thing in Bao Dai watches is the name thanks to which the watches are known to all watch collectors. Once they belonged to the last emperor of Vietnam, and are a legend among Rolex enthusiasts. The motto of the reign of the last representative of the Nguyen dynasty sounded like "Bao-dai", which translates as "guardian of greatness."
11. Rolex Oyster Cosmograph Ref. 6265 “The Unicorn” - $ 5.9 million
Until this watch was presented to the public in Geneva in 2018, it was believed that Ref. 6265 was produced exclusively in steel or gold cases. But it turned out that for one rich lucky company, Rolex in 1970 created a unique masterpiece - a cosmograph made of precious white metal.
The only model in a white gold case was the jewel of the John Goldberger collection. For a long time, Goldberger argued that this cosmograph would never be sold, as it simply cannot be replaced with another instance.
However, then the collector nevertheless decided to sell this watch in the interests of Children Action, a fund dedicated to improving the lives of youth around the world.
10. Patek Philippe Caliber 89 - $ 6 million
If the second number in the top 10 most expensive watches in the world has 24 “complications”, then Caliber 89 boasts as many as 33. However, on September 17, 2015, Vacheron Constantin introduced the luxury accessory Ref. 57260, in which there are 57 "complications." This is an unrivaled result to date.
In total, four instances of Caliber 89 were made, three in gold cases of different types and one in a platinum case. Last year, an accessory with a yellow gold case was offered at Sotheby’s auction, but did not go into private hands due to disappointingly low trading results.
9. Vacheron Constantin Reference 57260 - approximately $ 10 million
This is not the most expensive watch in the world, but at the moment the most complicated. Their assembly took eight years. The watch has 2826 parts and weighs 957 grams.
The Reference 57260 price negotiated between Vacheron Constantin and the customer is confidential and not officially disclosed. However, various sources estimate this watch at $ 10 million. They were created for one client, whose personal data is kept confidential. It is only known that this man is “the chief collector of watches”.
8.1518 - $ 11 million
This is the first of four Ref models. 1518 with stainless steel case and bracelet. The watch, made in 1941, became the world's first perpetual calendar with a chronograph, which was ever produced in the series.
Seven bidders fought for such a valuable lot at The Geneva Watch Auction in 2016. As a result, a super-expensive accessory went to a private collector.
7. Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Paul Newman” ref. 6,239 - $ 17.7 million
In 2017, this watch went out of bidding for an amount previously unattainable for Rolex. This is because they belonged to the famous Hollywood actor, producer and director Paul Newman.
6. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch - $ 18 million
The very name of these watches hints that they are affordable only for owners of billions, that is, billionaires.
So far, this excellent accessory with emerald-cut diamonds weighing 260 carats exists in a single copy and belongs to businessman Flavio Briatore.
5. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication - $ 24 million
The most expensive men's watches were sold to an anonymous buyer at Sotheby’s auction for an amount that surprised even experienced collectors.
Inside a very weighty (over 500 grams) watch there is a very complicated mechanism, over which Swiss craftsmen worked for eight years. They were created as a result of a rivalry between banker Henry Graves and the owner of "factories, newspapers, ships" James Packard. Each of them dreamed of becoming the owner of the most complex watch on Earth. And the victory went to Graves, who got Henry Graves Supercomplication with 24 “complications”. True, with the release of Caliber 89 Supercomplication watches have lost their “unsurpassedly complicated” status, but they remain the envy of all watch collectors in the world.
4. Chopard 201-Carat - $ 25 million
This elegant bracelet watch, created by the masters of the Swiss Chopard house, is decorated with 874 diamonds weighing 201 carats. Can you imagine how all this splendor shines in the bright sun or under the light of a huge crystal chandelier?
The three largest heart-shaped diamonds are connected to a spring mechanism. If you need to see how much time, the mechanism “reveals” diamonds like flower petals.
3. Marie-Antoinette N ° 1160 - $ 30 million
The third most expensive watch in the world was made by the masters of the Breguet house, commissioned by a mysterious admirer of the former French queen Marie Antoinette (the one to which the expression “if they don’t have bread, let them eat cakes” is falsely attributed).
The legendary watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet began creating watches in 1783, and his son finished work in 1827.
A complex mechanism based on the most revolutionary technologies of that time is visible under the golden dial. After all, the queen had to get all the best. The problem is that the Breguet masters probably took too long to ponder this order. Marie Antoinette was guillotined 34 years before her failed gift saw daylight (or darkness inside her pocket).
A precious historical exhibit was stolen in the late 1900s from a museum in Jerusalem and was found again only in 2007. Now the watch is securely locked in the museum of L. A. Mayer, waiting for you to arrive there with a suitcase full of money.
2. Graff Diamonds The Fascination- $ 40 Million
If you are willing to spend about $ 40 million on watches, they must be able to do more than just show the time. It is these watches that Graff Diamonds has. They have a removable part that becomes a ring.
The Fascination watch is made up of many white diamonds. But the main pride of the accessory is an exquisite rare diamond with a D-shape and weighing 38.13 carats. It is this pear-shaped masterpiece that is the dial of a watch, or it can be removed and worn like a ring.
According to Lawrence Graff, founder and chairman of Graff Diamonds, their watches are designed to showcase the close ties between the London diamond house and Swiss watchmaking.
1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination - $ 55 million
Wearing a watch of such value on hand, packed in a light and luxurious shell, is just a hallucination for most people on Earth. But for Graff Diamonds, this is a reality embodied in the most expensive watches in the history of the watch industry.
The platinum bracelet and watch case are decorated with diamonds of different colors. The total weight of the gemstones is 110 carats. All this stunning beauty took more than a thousand hours of work of watchmakers, gemologists and designers.
