A watch is more than just an accessory that shows the exact time. They demonstrate owner status no worse than the most expensive yacht or a car. Many of the most expensive watches are so intricate and complex that they look more like a work of art. And watchmakers work on them no less, if not longer, than a sculptor on a majestic sculpture or a jeweler on a diamond necklace.
These incredible creations can be worth millions of dollars. Of course, price is not the only reason to admire luxury watches. Below we will talk about most expensive watch in the worldwho have survived the test of time.
25. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication - $ 725,000
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 sapphire crystal anti-reflective glass, you can see the movement, all of which are made by hand.
And most importantly, this watch looks damn stylish and just asks for the hand of a respectable, wealthy man.
24. Ulysse Nardin Hannibal Minute Repeater Tourbillon - $ 758,000
One of the most expensive men's wristwatches in the world is created for those who appreciate the ancient Roman culture, and in particular its stage associated with the Punic Wars. They are adorned with figurines reminiscent of the Carthaginian general Hannibal and his war elephants.
However, engraving is not the only thing that makes this watch so extravagant and expensive. Each component is handcrafted with a platinum case and an alligator strap. The watch also boasts a special music system - "Westminster Strike". The Hannibal Minute Repeater Tourbillon series includes only 30 pieces.
23. Greubel Forsey Art Piece 1 - $ 1.5 million
This wristwatch boasts excellent mechanical properties such as a 30-degree double tourbillon. But their cost of $ 1.5 million is due to the uniqueness of the design. Hidden inside the watch is a tiny sculpture that is only visible thanks to the miniature optical system. It is located on the crown and acts like a microscope.
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 examples includes 16 "complications". The Tour de l'Ile watches were awarded with the Golden Hand prize - the main prize of the international watch competition Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève.
21. Richard Mille RM 56-02 Sapphire - $ 2 million
The appearance of this watch, produced in a limited edition of 10 pieces, is as inimitable as its movement.
For the exquisitely smooth transparent case, a durable and beautiful sapphire was used. And the clockwork is suspended on cables, which gives the impression that it is floating in the air. The composition is rounded off with a comfortable rubber strap that fits snugly around the wrist.
20. Rolex ref. 4113 - $ 2.4 million
Only three times this gentlemanly looking steel watch has appeared at auction. And they have never been on free sale. Rolex has dedicated all of the models in this series to the small number of riders it sponsored at one time.
Once again, 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 it is the most complicated minute repeater in the world. It is louder and more melodic than repeaters of other luxury watches, and the "brain" of the repeater is a three-tiered tower with a height of 5.15 mm.
The photo with the watch shows that it has a dial on the right, and on the left, the watch designers have placed an open mechanism of the minute repeater, so that the owner of the accessory can watch all these tiny wheels and levers rotate at any time.
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, there is a complex mechanism that combines a perpetual calendar, big and small battle, as well as a split chronograph that allows you to determine time intervals with an accuracy of 1/5 of a second.
Unlike many luxurious and expensive watches, in which the dial is so intricate that it is difficult to discern the time, in this model it is simple and understandable at first glance.
17.Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4 - $ 2.7 million
With 36 different complications, 1,483 details, a 1000-year calendar and many other eclectic features, the Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4 is one of the most sophisticated movements in the world.
A team of watchmakers headed by the famous Pierre-Michel Golay worked on this watch for six years. Their brainchild has tons of impractical options like big and small combat, but who needs practicality when it comes to a piece of art?
16. Patek Philippe Ref. 5004T - $ 4 million
Known top brand of swiss watches released Ref. 5004T in 2013, specially for the charity auction. The 5004T is a unique titanium version in the fine Patek Philippe collection. Their gold dial is decorated with hand-crafted engraving that mimics the classic checkerboard pattern.
Swiss watches caused a stir in the industry as they got a sportier, more colorful look than 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. The Antique Number 2667 is considered the third most expensive Breguet watch. They are distinguished by a stylish and austere design, as well as a luxurious 18-carat gold case. They also have two moves and are based on the resonance principle.
This accessory has two dials: the first one consists of Arabic numerals, the second one consists of Roman numerals. The unusual watches fully reflect Breguet's exquisite aesthetic taste and inventive genius.
14. Louis Moinet, Meteoris Collection - $ 4.6 million
This watch with an astronomical price tag was named after Louis Moinet, the famous watchmaker of the 18th century. The collection includes four watches, adorned with precious stones and real meteorite pieces embedded in 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 particle of the oldest meteorite that fell to Earth and was found in the Sahara Desert.
- The Asteroid watch uses a piece of an asteroid that formed near the Sun.
- And on the Moon tourbillon dial, you can see the dark structure of the Moon with small splashes.
13. Hublot Big Bang - $ 5 million
This diamond wristwatch is ideal for those who appreciate chic and have a free $ 5 million.The Hublot Big Bang is set with 1280 diamonds of 3 carats each. And all of the stones were cut by the same 40-year-old New York jeweler, so that each one has the same signature.
12. Rolex Ref. 6062 Bao Dai - $ 5 million
The eye-pleasing combination of a gold case and a black dial is not the only advantage of this model. The hour indices are interspersed with diamond indexes.
But the main thing in “Bao Dai” watches is the name thanks to which the watches are known to all watch collectors. Once owned by the last emperor of Vietnam, they are legendary among Rolex enthusiasts. The motto of the reign of the last representative of the Nguyen dynasty sounded like "Bao-dai", which translates as "keeper 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 lucky rich man, Rolex in 1970 created a unique masterpiece - a cosmograph made of precious white metal.
The only model with a white gold case was a jewel in the John Goldberger collection. For a long time, Goldberger argued that this cosmograph would never be sold, as it simply could not be replaced with another copy.
However, the collector then decided to sell the watch to Children Action, a foundation dedicated to improving the lives of young people around the world.
10. Patek Philippe Caliber 89 - $ 6 million
While the second number in the top 10 most expensive watches in the world has 24 complications, the Caliber 89 boasts 33. However, on September 17, 2015, Vacheron Constantin presented the luxury accessory Ref. 57260, which has 57 "complications". This is an unrivaled result to date.
In total, four copies of the Caliber 89 were made, three in cases of different types of gold and one in a platinum case. Last year, an accessory with a yellow gold case was offered at Sotheby's, but did not go into private hands due to disappointingly low results.
9.Vacheron Constantin Reference 57260 - Approximately $ 10 Million
It is not the most expensive wristwatch in the world, but it is the most complex at the moment. It took eight years to assemble them. The watch has 2826 parts and weighs 957 grams.
The Reference 57260 price agreed 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 secret. It is only known that this man is “the main collector of watches”.
8. Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 - $ 11 million
This is the first number of four Ref. 1518 with stainless steel case and bracelet. The watch, made in 1941, became the world's first perpetual calendar with a chronograph that has ever been produced in a series.
Seven bidders fought for such a valuable lot at The Geneva Watch Auction in 2016. As a result, the super-expensive accessory went to a private collector.
7. Rolex Cosmograph Daytona "Paul Newman" ref. 6239 - $ 17.7 million
In 2017, the watch was sold 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 this watch hints that it is affordable only for the 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 watch was sold to an anonymous buyer at the Sotheby’s auction for an amount that surprised even seasoned collectors.
Inside a very weighty (over 500 grams) watch there is a complex mechanism, on which Swiss craftsmen have been working for eight years. They were created as a result of a rivalry between the banker Henry Graves and the owner of "factories, newspapers, ships" James Packard. Each of them dreamed of becoming the owner of the most complicated watch on Earth. And the victory went to Graves, who got the Henry Graves Supercomplication with 24 complications. However, with the release of Caliber 89, the Supercomplication watch has lost its “unrivaled complex” status, but it remains the envy of all watch collectors in the world.
4. Chopard 201-Carat - $ 25 million
This exquisite bracelet watch, created by the craftsmen of the Swiss house Chopard, is set with 874 diamonds for a total of 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 diamonds in the shape of a heart are connected with a spring mechanism. If you need to look at the time, the mechanism "opens" the 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 house of Breguet by order of a mysterious admirer of the former French queen Marie Antoinette (the one who is falsely credited with the expression “if they have no bread, let them eat cakes”).
The legendary watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet began creating watches in 1783, and his son finished the work in 1827.
Beneath the gold dial is a complex movement based on the most revolutionary technologies of the time. After all, the queen had to get all the best. The problem is that the Breguet craftsmen have probably pondered this order for too long. Marie Antoinette was guillotined 34 years before her frustrated gift saw daylight (or the darkness inside her pocket).
The precious historical piece was stolen from a museum in Jerusalem in the late 1900s and was only found again in 2007. The clock is now securely locked in the L.A. Mayer Museum, waiting for you to arrive with a suitcase full of money.
2. Graff Diamonds The Fascination- $ 40 million
If you're willing to spend around $ 40 million on a watch, it should be able to do more than just tell the time. This is exactly what Graff Diamonds has. They have a detachable part that becomes a ring.
The Fascination watch is composed of many white diamonds. But the main pride of the accessory is an exquisite rare D-shaped diamond weighing 38.13 carats. It is this pear-shaped masterpiece that is the watch face, or it can be taken out and worn as a ring.
According to Laurence Graff, Founder and Chairman of Graff Diamonds, their watch is designed to demonstrate the close relationship between the London diamond house and Swiss watchmaking.
1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination - $ 55 million
Wearing a watch of this value, packed in a light and luxurious shell, is just a hallucination for most people on Earth. But for Graff Diamonds, this is reality embodied in the most expensive watch in the history of the watch industry.
The platinum bracelet and watch case are set with diamonds of different colors. The total weight of the gemstones is 110 carats. All this stunning beauty took over a thousand hours of work by watchmakers, gemologists and designers.