The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled.
We use cookies to make your experience better.To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies.Learn more
Haute Horlogerie takes watchmaking to the levels of fine art. Each miniature feat of engineering and craftsmanship can be adorned with precious stones and made from the highest quality precious metals. Their extreme artistry is why they can cost such a lot of money. For vintage watches in particular, exclusivity also drives up the value.
The watches on our list are much more than a device to tell the time. They are fashion accessories steeped in heritage and a symbol of status and wealth. This is why some of the world’s most expensive watches are found in the homes of billionaires, Hollywood film stars and royal collections. From Rolex to Patek Philippe, there are many brands that have successfully established themselves as trendsetters and innovators.
The list below looks at some of our favourite watches that also have fetched the biggest price tags in the world.
26
Girard-Perregaux Quasar Light Tourbillon
Kicking off the list is the £300,000 Quasar Light from Girard-Perregaux. Hailing from Switzerland, the brand has been established since 1791. With over two centuries of experience and skill, they have focused on bringing high precision and quality aesthetics together to make some of the most innovative watches. They have over 100 patents to their name and developed their signature ‘Three Bridges’ style that married the practicality of bridges with design.
The watch itself is a limited edition release of their signature model and only 18 were made. Perfect for those who like to indulge, it is made from sapphire metal. It has a tourbillon movement with over 79 pieces in the mechanism. The price tag is really no surprise when you consider each watch took over 200 hours of painstaking craftsmanship.
Chopard are regarded as one of the horological heavyweights. Founded in 1860, they are undeniably one of the most expert brands in the art of Swiss watchmaking. Family is at the heart of the company’s ethos, which is still family-run to this day. Their watches have graced the wrists of world leaders and can be a valuable heirloom to pass down to future generations. Chopard is focused on daring and creativity, resulting in inspired designs that incorporate the worlds of art, mythology and engineering.
The Janus Watch will set you back £374,000 most probably because of its exclusivity. Two editions of the Janus Watch were created with only ten watches released in each edition. One set was made with rose gold, while the other used one of the most durable metals on the market, platinum. The design was inspired by the story of Janus, a Roman God of new beginnings who had two faces and so the watch has two dials. It also features a perpetual calendar and astronomical readings.
Similar to Chopard, Audemars Piguet is a family-owned brand. Its history dates back to 1875 where the brand was founded in the Jura Mountains, just North of Geneva. The family were agriculturists that filled arduous winters with learning the art of watchmaking. Audemars Piquet is still run by the family, taking influences from each generation that has taken on the mantle for over 100 years.
The Royal Oak Grande differs from other watches on the list as the design features a completely matte finish on its face underneath layers of components. Every detail is finished by hand with cut-out and bead-blasted elements that have a polished bevel finish. Other features include a split-second chronograph, perpetual calendar and minute repeater. The Royal Oak Grande is valued at £741,000.
The Rolex Paul Newman Ref. 6264 is a timeless classic and highly sought after by collectors. Produced between the 1960s and 70s, the watch is one of the rarest and most expensive watches in the world, with a price tag of £1.14 million. It was produced in limited numbers and is available in 14k and 18k gold. The watch has a classic and elegant appearance, with a black plastic insert bezel and white tachymeter graduation. It is powered by the manual winding Calibre 727 and features a black dial with three sub-dials, as well as the iconic 'Paul Newman' style hour markers.
The first series of Daytona was known to include a variant dial that was often referred to as excotic, and is known now as the Paul Newman dial. Paul Newman is an American actor known for projects such as ‘Cool Hand Luke’ and ‘The Hustler’, and was purchased the piece as a present by his wife, Joanne Woodward. The watch gained this title when Newman was seen to wear it indefinitely while developing his career in racing.
A relatively new name in the world of expensive watches, Franck Muller has been creating watches in Geneva for over 25 years. Their entire ethos is focused on attention to detail, with watches being handcrafted and hand-finished with extreme care. The watchmaker has been deemed the ‘Master of Complications’ and combines modern designs with traditional Swiss manufacturing techniques.
The Aeternitas Mega 4 watch currently holds the title of the most complicated wristwatch in the world, which is perhaps to be expected from the Master. Its other world record is that it has 1,483 individual components used to build the stunning mechanism. The dial features a piece of tourbillon. It has 36 complications in total as well as an eternal calendar that you will only need to adjust every 1000 years. The glass sapphire case back is an opulent touch and it has a rather opulent price tag of £1.8 million.
The Patek Philippe Worldtimer Guilloché Ref. 2523/1 is a vintage timepiece that is extremely rare and highly sought after. It is a double-crowned world time model, with a guilloché dial, rose gold case and handset. This watch is not only incredibly exclusive, it is incredibly valuable, with many of these models going for millions of dollars. The Patek Philippe Worldtimer Guilloché Ref. 2523/1 is no exception, as it was sold at auction for an impressive £4.4 million.
The Patek Philippe Worldtimer Guilloché Ref. 2523/1 is a beautiful watch with a unique design. It features a hand-guilloche dial, and the twin crowns allow for the wearer to wind and set the movement, as well as to rotate the outer chapter ring. This timepiece is a perfect example of the craftsmanship and skill that goes into creating a unique watch like this. It is a stunning piece of history, and a reminder of the incredible value and rarity of the Patek Philippe brand.
The Patek Philippe Platinum World Time Ref. 1415 is a luxurious and exclusive timepiece that was first bought by Chairmee Lee, the son of the founder of Samsung, in 2002. Although the watch was originally released in 1939, the most well known model is that purchased by Lee. The model has a breathtaking design, with a platinum case and white gold numerals and hands, as well as teardrop lugs. It was sold in brilliant condition and has a hefty price tag of £4.7 million.
The Patek Philippe Platinum World Time Ref. 1415 is an iconic piece of craftsmanship that has been admired by watch enthusiasts for decades. Its world time feature allows the wearer to tell time in 24 different time zones. The watch also has an additional 24-hour hand, which allows the wearer to quickly recognize whether it is day or night in any given time zone. The unique features of this watch, coupled with its rarity, make it an exquisite piece of horology.
Patek Philippe is the brand behind some of the most prestigious timepieces to have ever been engineered. Based in Geneva, the company was founded in 1839. With over 150 years of experience and craftsmanship behind them, it is no wonder that they have created watches for royalty across the globe. Among the top ten most expensive watches sold at auction, you will find that seven Patek Philippe designs feature on the list.
Unlike any other entry on the list, this design is for a pocket watch. Only four Calibre timepieces were created. They were designed as a commemorative style to celebrate the company’s 150th anniversary in 1989. This version is made from classic yellow gold and sold for the eye-watering price of £4.8 million. Its sister designs were made in rose gold, white gold and platinum. The Yellow Gold Calibre watch has 33 complications and 24 hands. It took nine years of work to build just the movement of the watch.
It can provide you with sunrise and sunset times, the correct time for 125 cities worldwide and a perpetual calendar. It also has a split-second chronograph and minute repeater. If that's not enough the watch has an in-built barometer, altimeter and compass. Taking all of its features into account and the one-of-a-kind design, it is second place in our most expensive watches list.
Rolex is one of the most famous brands of luxury watches. Everyone is aware that they fetch a high price and, for many people, a Rolex watch is the ultimate symbol of success. Since 1905 Rolex have been breaking boundaries and has led the way with countless industry firsts. In an incredible show of innovation, Rolex has over 500 patents to its name. From waterproof wristwatches to auto-date changes, Rolex has made it their business to bring watchmaking into the modern world.
The Rolex Daytona is an instantly recognisable watch. We are most interested in the only existing Unicorn edition of this classic design. It is the second most expensive Rolex to have been sold in public. It is truly one of a kind, which is probably why it sold for £4.9 million. The Daytona is an everyday sports watch and has been endorsed and worn by tennis champions and Olympic athletes. However, the Dayton Unicorn is made with 18k white gold, one of the most luxurious precious metals out there. We can wonder why it was created in the first place, but the fact is it is one of the most expensive watches in the world.
The Patek Philippe Titanium Ref. 5208T-010 is an incredible feat of watchmaking mastery. This limited edition timepiece stands out from other grand complication watches due to its self-winding mechanism and its combination of a minute repeater, a monopusher chronograph, and an instantaneous perpetual calendar. Featuring a movement with 719 parts, the Reference 5208T-010 was created for Only Watch 2017 and is the only version of this timepiece crafted in titanium, a metal rarely used by Patek Philippe.
The blue dial is adorned with a hand-guilloched carbon-fibre pattern which further emphasises the craftsmanship of this watch. The calibre R CH 27 PS QI movement is visible through a sapphire-crystal display back, featuring a distinctive black rhodium-plating and a hand-guilloché platinum micro-rotor. Completing the design is a blue Cordura strap, echoing the dial colour. With its unique design, incredible craftsmanship, and its combination of complex functions, the Patek Philippe Titanium Ref. 5208T-010 is a truly remarkable timepiece. This one-of-a-kind watch sold for £5.3 million at auction.
Patek Philippe Gold Chronograph Ref. 1527 is one of the most iconic watches in history, and it recently sold for an astounding £5.5 million. Originally produced in 1943, this watch is made of 18k yellow gold with a snap back case and a brown leather strap. The watch also features a manually wound chronograph with a 30 minute counter and small seconds. The dial is a beautiful silver with black printing and gold applied hour markers.
The most remarkable feature of the Patek Philippe Gold Chronograph Ref. 1527 is its rarity. It is the only known example of this model in yellow gold, making it an incredibly rare and desirable item. This watch is believed to be the only one of its kind in existence. Its historical significance and high level of craftsmanship make it an incredibly valuable item, thus explaining why it was able to command such a high price at auction.
The Patek Philippe White Gold Calibre 89, released in 1989, is a stunning work of art. This pocket watch is a master of precision and complexity, with a total of 33 complications, 24 hands, and 1,728 components. Its intricate design and mechanics have set the standard for watchmaking, and its price tag of £5.5 million reflects that.
This watch is truly remarkable, featuring a thermometer and a star chart to provide the user with a greater understanding of the night sky. With a weight of 1.1 kg, the craftsmanship is a testament to the skill of the people who created it. It is no wonder that Patek Philippe declared it to be "the most complicated watch in the world" – it certainly lives up to that title.
Patek Philippe Two-Crown Worldtime Ref. 2523 Eurasia
This Patek Philippe Two-Crown Worldtime Ref. 2523 Eurasia is one of the most sought-after watches in the world. It is highly sought after due to its rarity, design and craftsmanship. This specific model is incredibly rare, with only two known to exist. The watch has sold for £6.2 million, making it one of the most expensive watches ever sold.
This watch features a 36mm case, dual crowns and 41-city ring, and is adorned with a stunning cloisonné enamel Eurasia motif. Its 18-jewel manual wind calibre 12-400HU is a product of the partnership between Patek Philippe and Louis Cottier. It is a stunning timepiece, and its rarity and craftsmanship have kept its value high for decades.
Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Ref. 5016A-010 is a luxurious and exquisite timepiece. It is one of the most expensive watches in the world with a price tag of £6.3 million. This reference was first introduced in 1993 and discontinued in 2011. It features a timeless and elegant design, with a round case made from stainless steel. It is fitted with a black leather strap with a stainless steel deployant clasp. This watch is powered by calibre R TO 27 PS QR, a manual-winding movement. This movement features a perpetual calendar with moon phase display, a split-seconds chronograph with a 30-minute counter and a power reserve of 48 hours.
The Ref. 5016A-010 is equipped with a silver-opaline dial with gold applied hour markers and a date window at 3 o’clock. This watch also features a moon phase display at 6 o’clock, a day counter at 9 o’clock and a date indication at 12 o’clock. The watch is topped with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and is humidity and dust protected but is not equipped with water resistance.
Vacheron Constantin 57260 is a watch of ultimate complexity, introduced in 2015 and featuring 57 complications. Produced by the Swiss luxury watchmaker, and it carries a hefty price tag of £6.4 million. This watch features over 2,826 parts and 31 hands, weighs 957 grams and spans 98 mm. It is a masterpiece of watchmaking that challenges today’s limits of mechanical complications and precision.
The Vacheron Constantin 57260 includes numerous time measurement features, such as a tourbillon, a perpetual calendar, a minute repeater, a grand and small strike, an equation of time, a sunrise/sunset indicator, a sub-dial with an equation of time and a 24 hour indicator. It also features a lunar calendar, an astrological calendar, a star chart, a power reserve indicator, a date indicator and a day/night indicator. All these features are beautifully displayed on the watch, making it a stunning and impressive piece. All of these complications are powered by a single movement, which is a remarkable feat in itself.
Patek Philippe Gobbi Milan ‘Heures Universelles’ Ref. 2523
The Patek Philippe Gobbi Milan ‘Heures Universelles’ Ref. 2523 is a highly sought after and rare wristwatch. Released in 1953, the watch is one of the most expensive models in the market. The silver-toned timepiece is crafted with a stainless steel case and a black dial which features a silvered outer dial ring with 40 cities around the world engraved and enamelled according to the time zone. The two-tone 24-hour ring indicates which locations are in night time (grey section) and daytime (silvered section). This intricate timepiece is powered by a hand-wound mechanical movement, making it a true collectible.
As one of the most expensive Patek Philippe watches, the Gobbi Milan ‘Heures Universelles’ Ref. 2523 is estimated to be worth a staggering £7.2 million. Its unique features and intricate designs make it a desirable watch for any collector. The watch is a testament to the art of watchmaking and is a symbol of status and luxury. From the high-end materials to the detailed design, the Patek Philippe Gobbi Milan ‘Heures Universelles’ Ref. 2523 is one of the most coveted.
Patek Philippe's Stainless Steel Ref. 1518 is one of the most desirable vintage timepieces in the world. With a price tag of around £9.6 million, it is one of the most expensive watches ever sold. In total, 281 of these watches were produced between 1941 and 1954, with only 4 stainless steel models, less than 60 in pink gold, and the rest in yellow gold.
The 1518 features a classic design, with its applied indices and leaf-shaped hands. The day of the week and the month are shown through two openings at the 12 o’clock mark, while a lunar phase function occupies the top half of a sub-dial at 6. Between 1947 and 1948, the watchmaker swapped the “Patek Philippe & Co.” signature for a sleeker “Patek Philippe” stamp. This slight design change has only increased the watch's value and desirability. Despite the incredibly complicated nature of the timepiece, the 1518 has a timeless elegance that makes it a highly sought after collector's item.
The Paul Newman Rolex Daytona Ref. 6239 is one of the most iconic watches in the world and certainly the most collectible Rolex ever made. It is an iconic timepiece that has achieved almost mythical status amongst collectors. This watch was first released in 1963 alongside the very first “official” Daytona model. It has a retro style chronograph with an off-white or ivory dial, minimal graphics, and three black sub-dials. The seconds chapter ring has unique red markings, while the stainless steel bezel has tachymeter markings. The stick style hands give it a unique and timeless look.
The Paul Newman Rolex Daytona Ref. 6239 is highly sought after and has been known to sell for outrageous prices. A pristine example of the Paul Newman Rolex Daytona Ref. 6239 sold for an astonishing £13.5 million. While it is unlikely that you will ever come across such a rare and valuable watch, the Paul Newman Rolex Daytona Ref. 6239 will remain one of the most iconic and desirable watches ever created.
Jacob & Co. is a luxury watchmaker and jewellery company that has been creating exquisite pieces since 1986. Their Billionaire Watch collection is one of the most expensive and coveted watches in the world. With only one in existence worldwide, the Billionaire is a unique piece adorned with Emerald-Cut Diamonds with an approximate carat weight of 260 carats.
One of the most famous owners of the Billionaire Watch is Floyd Mayweather. The former boxer purchased the watch in 2015 after a collaboration between his company SARL and Flavio Briatore. According to Forbes, the watch cost Mayweather a staggering £14.4 million, making it one of the most expensive watches ever purchased. Mayweather is known for his love of bling, so it only makes sense he would own a timepiece as luxurious and opulent as the Billionaire Watch.
7
Chopard 201-Carat
Chopard 201-Carat is an iconic luxury watch released by Chopard in 2000. It features 874 individual stones in a single piece of jewellery, coated in natural coloured diamonds. This sought-after timepiece comes with a hefty price tag of £20 million. The unique design of the Chopard 201-Carat stands out from other watches in its class.
It features a unique combination of coloured diamonds of unusual hues and fancy shapes in a single piece. The diamonds come in various shades of yellow, pink, blue, and green, as well as black and white. The watch also has a timeless design that is sure to attract attention.
Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication is a pocket watch that was produced by Patek Philippe in 1933. It is widely regarded as the most complicated pocket watch ever made, featuring a total of 24 complications. The watch was commissioned by American banker Henry Graves Jr. and took over five years to produce. It has been estimated that the watch cost over $15 million in 1933, making it the most expensive watch ever made at the time.
This unique pocket watch includes a variety of complicated functions, such as a perpetual calendar, a sidereal time display, a minute repeater and a celestial chart of the night sky over New York City. The watch was sold at auction for a record breaking £20.9 million and the watch is now on display at the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, Switzerland, and is a testament to the craftsmanship and precision of Swiss watchmakers.
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette is one of the most exclusive and exquisitely crafted watches in the world. Despite being released in 1929, the watch has stood the test of time and is still an incredibly sought-after piece. It is a true piece of art and high jewellery, crafted with 576 diamonds and a sapphire dial. The watch is highly customisable, allowing wearers to adjust the diamond and sapphire combination to their liking.
The exquisite craftsmanship of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette doesn’t come cheap, with a price tag of £20.9 million. However, the watch is worth every penny; not only is it a timeless piece of craftsmanship, but it is also an excellent investment. After all, the watch is made with the highest quality of materials and is sure to hold its value for many years to come.
The Breguet Grande Complication Marie Antoinette is considered to be one of the most complicated and expensive watches ever made. With a price tag of £24.8 million, the watch is currently housed in the L.A. Mayer Institute for Islamic Art in Jerusalem, where it is kept for safekeeping and for the public to admire. It is the only known surviving example of the watch, with the original order for the watch having been placed in 1783 for the Queen of France.
The watch is made of 18-karat gold and features an impressive 823 parts, 23 complications and a full perpetual calendar. It also has a jumping hour hand and is decorated with sapphires on every working surface. This unique timepiece is a true testament to the extraordinary skill of the watchmakers of the time, and it is a highly sought after item among collectors and enthusiasts alike. It is a remarkable piece of horological history that is sure to remain in the spotlight for many years to come.
The Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 is one of the most exclusive watches in the world. It is definitely one of the most expensive watches, with a price of a staggering £25 million. This spectacular timepiece was crafted in 1920, and it is truly a sight to behold. The Grandmaster Chime reference 6300A-010 was created specially for Only Watch, and it is the only one that will ever be made in stainless steel.
The Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 features a double-face dial and a case made of stainless steel. It contains two independent movements and two faces, with one showing the time and the other showing the date. It is also equipped with 20 complications, including a grande and petite sonnerie, a minute repeater, a chronograph, and a perpetual calendar. In addition, the watch features a moon-phase display, a day/night indicator, a power-reserve indicator, and a 24-hour indicator. The watch is a true work of art and one of the most complex watches ever made. It is the ultimate expression of craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Graff Diamonds' The Fascination watch is one of the world's most expensive watches, with an estimated price of a staggering £32.1 million. It was made in 2015 and features 152.96 carats of the finest white diamonds from the Graff brand, with a rare and fancy 38.13 carat pear-shaped diamond at its centre. This special diamond is interchangeable with a watch face, which can be placed in its place to create a dazzling timepiece. It is a testament to the precision and craftsmanship of Graff Diamonds - a watch that is both beautiful and timeless. It is no surprise that The Fascination is at the top of many luxury watch collector's lists.
The Fascination watch is part of the Graff Diamonds Hallucination Collection, a spectacular series of diamond jewellery. The collection features a wide variety of unique pieces, combining Graff's most remarkable diamonds into one-of-a-kind jewellery. The collection includes an array of rings, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces, all featuring the finest diamonds from the Graff brand.
1
Graff Diamonds Hallucination
Created by the luxury jeweller Graff Diamonds, the Hallucination watch is the perfect combination of a watch and intricate jewellery. The watch contains a total of over 110 carats of extremely rare coloured diamonds, including pink, yellow and blue diamonds. The watch is set with a total of over 1,000 diamonds, each diamond has been carefully selected for its clarity, colour and size. The intricate design of the watch is a work of art, and it is composed of six different layers, each featuring a unique pattern.
The watch was first unveiled on March 26, 2014, at the Baselworld watch and jewellery show in Switzerland. The unveiling was met with much excitement, and the watch quickly became the talk of the show. The watch was sold for a record-breaking £44.1 million, making it the most expensive watch in the world. The watch is a true masterpiece, and the diamonds used to craft the watch are extremely rare and valuable. It is a work of art, and it is a testament to the craftsmanship of the Graff Diamonds team.
