Luxury watches are not just timekeepers, they are works of art that combine precision engineering, intricate craftsmanship and valuable materials. Some watches are so rare, so complex and so beautiful that they are considered true masterpieces, and they are also some of the most expensive watches in the world.
These watches can fetch millions of dollars at auction, and they are often created by the most prestigious and well-known watch manufacturers in the world.
These watches are true masterpieces of watchmaking and are considered to be some of the most valuable and sought-after timepieces in the world.
1. Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 – $31 million
The Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 is a luxury watch that was sold for $31 million at a Christie’s auction in November 2019, setting a new world record for the most expensive watch ever sold at auction. The watch features a grand complication, which includes 20 complications, including a minute repeater, a perpetual calendar, a tourbillon, and a second time zone.
It is made of 18-karat white gold and features a hand-stitched alligator leather strap. The watch was produced in a limited edition of seven pieces and is considered to be one of the most complicated and luxurious watches in the world.
2. Graff Diamonds Hallucination – $55 million (estimated value)
The Graff Diamonds Hallucination watch has never been sold at an auction, it was just a unique creation by Graff. The watch was unveiled in 2014 and is considered one of the most valuable watches ever created, with an estimated value of $55 million.
This unique watch features a total of 110 carats of fancy-colored diamonds in shades of pink, blue, yellow, orange and purple, with a center piece of 10.06-carat pink diamond, a 9.75-carat blue diamond, and a 9.54-carat yellow diamond.
The watch was designed and created by Laurence Graff, the founder of Graff Luxury Watches, who is known for his high-end diamond jewelry and watches.
Why is graff diamonds hallucination number two in the list and not number one since it costs more?
It is not considered the most expensive watch ever sold because it was not sold at an auction or publicly.
The list of top 10 most expensive watches is based on the record of the sale price, if a watch was sold publicly, at an auction, or privately, and the price that it was sold for.
In this case, the Graff Diamonds Hallucination is considered one of the most valuable watches ever made, but it is not considered the most expensive watch ever sold because it was not sold publicly or at an auction.
But still, given it’s very high estimated value it deserved a second spot in our top 10 list of most expensive watches.
3. Chopard 201-Carat Watch – $25 million
The Chopard 201-Carat watch is a luxury timepiece created by Chopard, a Swiss luxury watch and jewelry company. The watch was introduced in 2013 and is considered one of the most expensive and luxurious watches in the world.
The watch features a total of 874 diamonds, including three heart-shaped diamonds that weigh 15 carats, 12 carats, and 11 carats respectively, and is set with 201 carats of diamonds in total. The watch is made of 18-karat white gold and is encrusted with diamonds on the case, bezel, dial, and bracelet.
The watch also features a hand-wound mechanical movement and has a power reserve of approximately 50 hours. The watch was valued at $25 million, and is a true masterpiece of the jewelry and watch making art.
4. Louis Moinet Meteoris – $4.6 million
The Louis Moinet Meteoris is a luxury watch collection created by Louis Moinet, a Swiss luxury watch brand that was founded in 2004. The Meteoris collection is inspired by the history of space exploration and features four unique watches, each representing a different celestial body: the Moon, Mars, Mercury, and a piece representing a comet.
Each watch is made of 18-karat gold or platinum and is set with meteorite fragments that were discovered in different parts of the world. The collection also features a unique complication, a “tourbillon with remontoir d’égalité”, which ensures the watch maintains a high level of accuracy.
The Louis Moinet Meteoris collection is considered to be one of the most expensive and exclusive watch collections in the world, with a price tag of several million dollars.
5. Patek Philippe Supercomplication – $24 million
The Patek Philippe Supercomplication watch is a luxury timepiece created by Patek Philippe, a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer. The watch was made in 1933 and features 24 complications, making it one of the most complicated watches ever made.
It was commissioned by American banker, Henry Graves Jr. and took over five years to complete, and was considered the most complicated watch in the world at that time. The watch includes a perpetual calendar, a minute repeater, a moon phase indicator, a split-seconds chronograph, and a sky chart that shows the positions of the stars.
The watch is made of 18-karat gold and is encased in a yellow gold case. The watch is considered a true masterpiece of watchmaking and is considered to be one of the most valuable and sought-after timepieces in the world.
In 1999, it was sold for a record-breaking $11 million at a Sotheby’s auction, a record that stood for 15 years. That’s why it deserves a spot in our top 10 of most expensive watches.
6. Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon – $1.2 million
The Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon watch is a luxury timepiece created by Patek Philippe, a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer. This watch is considered one of the most complicated watches ever made, featuring 12 complications.
It has a double-faced design, with one side featuring a tourbillon, a perpetual calendar, and a sky chart that shows the positions of the stars, while the other side features a chronograph, a minute repeater, and a lunar calendar that tracks the phases of the moon.
The watch is made of 18-karat white gold and features a hand-stitched alligator leather strap. The watch is considered a true masterpiece of watchmaking and is considered to be one of the most valuable and sought-after timepieces in the world. It is a limited edition watch and the price tag is in the millions of dollars range.
7. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher – $1.1 million
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher watch is a luxury timepiece created by Audemars Piguet, a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer.
This watch is a limited edition model, created to honor the legendary Formula One driver Michael Schumacher, who was also an ambassador of the brand. The watch features a unique chronograph complication called “Laptimer”, which allows the wearer to measure and compare lap times, a function that was developed in partnership with Michael Schumacher himself.
The watch is made of titanium and features a black ceramic bezel, with a black and white dial, and a black rubber strap. The watch is also equipped with a flyback function and a column-wheel mechanism.
The watch is considered a true masterpiece of watchmaking and is considered to be one of the most valuable and sought-after timepieces in the world. The watch is limited to 221 pieces and it was sold at a high price tag.
8. Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600 – $1 million
The Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600 is a luxury timepiece created by Vacheron Constantin, a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer. This watch is considered one of the most complicated watches ever made, featuring 23 complications, including a tourbillon, a perpetual calendar, a minute repeater, and a host of astronomical indications.
The watch is also equipped with a “grande sonnerie” which allows the watch to chime on the hour and quarter hour. The watch features a double-faced design, with one side displaying the time and the other side displaying the astronomical indications, including a sky chart, a representation of the solar system, the age and phase of the moon, and the signs of the zodiac.
The watch is made of 18-karat white gold, and is encased in a 42mm diameter case. It is considered a true masterpiece of watchmaking, and is considered to be one of the most valuable and sought-after timepieces in the world. The watch is a limited edition, and it was sold at a high price tag.
9. Blancpain 1735 Grande Complication – $800,000
The Blancpain 1735 Grande Complication is a luxury timepiece created by Blancpain, a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer. This watch is considered one of the most complicated watches ever made, featuring a total of nine complications, including a minute repeater, a perpetual calendar, a tourbillon, and a grande sonnerie.
The watch features a traditional “Grande Complication” design, with a white enamel dial and a 43mm diameter case made of 18-karat white gold. The watch is powered by an in-house, hand-wound mechanical movement, and has a power reserve of approximately 8 days.
The watch is considered a true masterpiece of watchmaking and is considered to be one of the most valuable and sought-after timepieces in the world. The watch is a limited edition, and it was sold at a high price tag.
10. A. Lange & Söhne Grand Complication – $716,000
The A. Lange & Söhne Grand Complication is a luxury timepiece created by A. Lange & Söhne, a German luxury watch manufacturer. This watch is considered one of the most complicated watches ever made, featuring a total of 13 complications, including a minute repeater, a perpetual calendar, a tourbillon, a split-seconds chronograph, and a grande sonnerie.
The watch features a traditional “Grand Complication” design, with a white enamel dial and a 44.2mm diameter case made of 18-karat white gold. The watch is powered by an in-house, hand-wound mechanical movement, and has a power reserve of approximately 36 hours.
The watch is considered a true masterpiece of watchmaking and is considered to be one of the most valuable and sought-after timepieces in the world. The watch is a limited edition and it was sold at a high price tag.
We need to mention that these are the prices that these most expensive watches were sold for, in some cases they were sold at charity auctions or privately, and the prices may not reflect their current value. Also, due to the rarity and exclusivity of these luxery watches, it’s possible that there might be other watches that are even more expensive.