Few other technological artifacts evoke such desire and awe as luxury watches. Stimulating the best in craftsmanship, history, and design, these price tags can reach staggering heights.
From a $55 million colorful diamond wristwatch to a timepiece ordered for the French queen Marie Antoinette in the 1700s, here are some record-breaking watches. Keep reading for a closer look at the most expensive watches in the world, and some detailed explanation of just why it is that these pieces command the prices that they do.
What Are The Most Expensive Watches In The World?
- Graff Diamonds Hallucination – $55 million
- Graff Diamonds The Fascination – $40 million
- Breguet No. 160 – $30 million
- Chopard 201-Carat Watch – $25 million
- Patek Philippe Supercomplication – $24 million
- Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch – $18 million
- Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona – $17.8 million
- Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 – $11.1 million
- Vacheron Constantin 57260 – $8 million
- Hublot Big Bang – $5 million
1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination – $55 Million
The Graff Diamonds Hallucination tops the list as the most expensive watch in the world. Unveiled at the Baselworld watch and jewelry fair, this timepiece is different and has never been seen before in the world because it comprises a total of 110 carats of diamonds. All diamond colors and cuts of Fancy Pink, Fancy Yellow, Fancy Green, and Fancy Blue, including emerald, heart, pear, marquise, and round cuts, intermingle to create this mesmerizing timepiece.
2. Graff Diamonds The Fascination – $40 Million
Graff Diamonds is best known for its ring and other diamond jewelry products that are of great luxury. They have produced The Fascination watch, with as much as 152.96 carats of diamond in the most expensive one, a 38.14-carat D Flawless pear shape. The center diamond detaches into a ring that can be worn separately.
3. Breguet No. 160 – $30 Million
The work is said to have been commissioned to Marie Antoinette by one of her lovers. It took Abraham-Louis Breguet twenty years to create this watch, starting in 1782. Before Breguet finished work on the watch he died, and it would be his son that completed the watch in 1827.
It comprised all then-known complications, having a thermometer, chime, and perpetual calendar. The watch was exhibited for a time at the L.A. Mayer Museum in Jerusalem until 1983 when it was stolen. It was later recovered and is still on exhibit in the Mayer Museum today.
4. Chopard 201-Carat Watch – $25 Million
It has 874 diamonds of multi-colors, amounting to 201 carats, making it one of the most astonishing timepieces ever made. Heading the Chopard watch are three heart-shaped diamonds: yellow, pink, and blue.
5. Patek Philippe Supercomplication – $24 Million
This gold pocket watch for the banker Henry Graves Jr. was the product of Patek Philippe in 1933. Twenty-four complications went in; inside its New York Fifth Avenue apartment are a perpetual calendar, sunrise and sunset times, and a celestial calendar.
6. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch – $18 Million
The Billionaire Watch: 260 carats of emerald-shaped diamonds, 167 individual components, and 19 jewels. The bracelet and watch face create one structure without seals all in 18K white gold.
7. Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona – $17.8 Million
Movie star and race car enthusiast Paul Newman owned this Rolex Daytona, which was sold for an unheard amount of Swiss franc 17.8 million in the year 2017. The wristwatch from 1968, with reference 6239 in an art deco style, has an engraved back of the case saying ‘Drive Carefully, Me’ by the wife, Joanne Woodward, who is an actress. Further, he passed the watch on to his daughter’s boyfriend and later husband. He has a lot of donations and proceeds and really sold a great watch for a great cause, for a good purpose.
8. Patel Philippe Ref. 1518 – $11.1 Million
In the fall of last year, the stainless steel-cased Patek Philippe ref 1518 went across the block at a watch auction and sold for slightly over $11,000,000. Patek Philippe made the 1518 model in 1941, so it is the first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch ever made in a series.
9. Vacheron Constantin 57260 – $8 Million
This Vacheron Constantin timepiece is made up of 57 complications, 2826 individual components, and 242 jewels. Eight years of work went into its design and making; apparently, it was commissioned by a private client on an estimate of $8 million.
10. Hublot Big Bang – $5 Million
The Hublot Big Bang is adorned with 1,282 shining diamonds, including over 100 carats of baguette diamonds, and six huge emerald-cut diamonds weighing more than 3 carats each. Beyoncé famously bought a Hublot Big Bang for her husband Jay-Z as a birthday present way back in 2012.
What Makes Luxury Watches So Expensive?
The primary factors that determine how much a luxury timepiece is worth are:
- Technology
- Craftsmanship
- Materials used
- Brand
These are all factors that work together, co-dependent on one another for the ultimate value of any given timepiece. It is accuracy, workmanship, function, labor, and skill that define a luxury timepiece. For instance, all Rolex watches are handled and assembled. The company also maintains its own foundry, producing all of the gold used to make each and every one of its pieces.
How To Sell Upgrade Or Trade In Your Watch
- Fill out our online form
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- Get a final price in the form of a wire, check, or store credit for up to 20% more
If you ever want to sell or trade-in any of that luxury watches, jewelry, or handbags, then myGemma provides a very safe and convenient online service. With an A+ rating from BBB, plus hundreds of independent online reviews from our customers, you can rest assured that you sell your luxury watch to a trustworthy buyer.
They do not charge any fees, and our expert buyers are able to accurately value your piece before making a strong offer.
How Much Is My Watch Worth?
After all, a limited edition timepiece that is sought after would always command high prices. And a watch that’s served well, inclusive of box and papers, often serviced, and in great condition, would be all right too.
Click the button below and see exactly how much your luxury items can be sold for, with a quoted price from our experts. Subsequently, a dedicated client representative will contact you by either email or phone, ready to serve you with any inquiries.
