# The 21 Most Expensive Watches In The World: For When You Strike It Rich

> Your shopping list sorted.

- Canonical: https://luxe.digital/watches-jewelry/most-expensive-watches/
- Author: Cora Harrison (https://luxe.digital/author/cora-harrison/)
- Published: 2026-02-07 · Updated: 2026-06-19
- Publisher: Luxe Digital (https://luxe.digital/)

If there’s one word that’s synonymous with luxury watches, it’s *expensive. *The world’s most exciting, exclusive, and extravagant timepieces are **multi-million dollar creations** destined to end up in fiercely guarded private collections, if not museums. It’s called *Haute Horlogerie *for a reason.

There are [pilot watches](/watches-jewelry/best-pilot-watches/), [dive watches](/watches-jewelry/best-dive-watches/), [field watches](/watches-jewelry/best-field-watches/), and [dress watches](/watches-jewelry/best-dress-watches/). But the world’s most expensive watches are in a class of their own. Their very *raison d’être *appears to be to **break world records**, catch the eye of top collectors, and encourage millionaires and billionaires, members of royal families, and Hollywood A-listers to empty their pockets.

Hailing from the most expensive watch brands in the world (think [Patek Philippe](/brands/patek-philippe/), [Rolex](/brands/rolex/), [Chopard](/brands/chopard/), and [Vacheron Constantin](/brands/vacheron-constantin/)), these watches turn the heads of anyone even mildly interested in timepieces with their exquisite engineering, superb styling, precious stones, precious metals, and their exclusivity—many being **one-offs or limited editions.**

So if you want to know the most expensive watch in the world* with its price*, keep reading. We used inflation-adjusted prices to create our list of the world’s most high-end watches ever sold, so you know how much these watches would be worth if they went on the market today.<sup>[[1](#cite_note-1)]</sup>

Our rundown of the world’s most expensive watches—many of which also happen to be the rarest watches in the world—includes a whole range of timepieces, from vintage [pocket-watches](/watches-jewelry/best-pocket-watches/) to timepieces more akin to [luxury jewelry](/watches-jewelry/best-jewelry-brands/). Sure, you might not be able to afford any of them right now—but **what’s the harm in dreaming?**

Looking for more? Explore the [phones with six-figure price tags](/technology/) and the [fragrances that cost a small fortune](/beauty/most-expensive-perfumes/).

## The 21 most expensive watches in the world

| **#** | **Watch Model** | **Sale Price** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 21 | [Rolex Daytona Unicorn Ref. 6265](#Rolex-Daytona-Unicorn) | $6.1 million |
| 20 | [Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A-018 "Tiffany & Co."](#Patek-Philippe-Nautilus-Tiffany) | $6.5 million |
| 19 | [Patek Philippe Titanium Ref. 5208T-010](#Patek-Philippe-Titanium) | $6.6 million |
| 18 | [Patek Philippe Gold Chronograph Ref. 1527](#Patek-Philippe-Gold-Chronograph) | $6.8 million |
| 17 | [Patek Philippe White Gold Calibre 89](#Patek-Philippe-White-Gold) | $6.9 million |
| 16 | [Patek Philippe Two-Crown Worldtime Ref. 2523 Eurasia](#Patek-Philippe-Two-Crown-Worldtime) | $7.7 million |
| 15 | [Audemars Piguet "Grosse Pièce" No. 16869](#Audemars-Piguet-Grosse-Piece) | $7.74 million |
| 14 | [Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Ref. 5016A-010](#Patek-Philippe-Stainless-Steel) | $7.9 million |
| 13 | [Vacheron Constantin 57260](#Vacheron-Constantin) | $8 million |
| 12 | [Patek Philippe Gobbi Milan ‘Heures Universelles’ Ref. 2523](#Patek-Philippe-Gobbi-Milan) | $9 million |
| 11 | [F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance Souscription No. 007](#F-P-Journe-Resonance) | $13.9 million |
| 10 | [Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Ref. 1518](#Patek-Philippe-Stainless-Steel-1518) | $17.6 million |
| 9 | [Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch](#Jacob-Co-Billionaire) | $18 million |
| 8 | [Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6239](#Rolex-Paul-Newman-Daytona) | $18.7 million |
| 7 | [Chopard 201-Carat](#Chopard-201-Carat) | $25 million |
| 6 | [Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication](#Patek-Philippe-Henry-Graves-Supercomplication) | $26 million |
| 5 | [Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette](#Jaeger-LeCoultre-Joaillerie-101-Manchette) | $26 million |
| 4 | [Breguet Grande Complication Marie Antoinette](#Breguet-Grande-Complication-Marie-Antoinette) | $30 million |
| 3 | [Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010](#Patek-Philippe-Grandmaster-Chime) | $31 million |
| 2 | [Graff Diamonds The Fascination ](#Graff-Diamonds-The-Fascination) | $40 million |
| 1 | [Graff Diamonds Hallucination](#Graff-Diamonds-Hallucination) | $55 million |

### 21. Rolex Daytona Unicorn Ref. 6265: $6.1 million

![most expensive watches rolex daytona unicorn ref 6265 - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-rolex-daytona-unicorn-ref-6265-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

The second [most expensive Rolex](/watches-jewelry/most-expensive-rolex/) ever to be sold in public, this timepiece has been making waves ever since Hodinkee first profiled it in 2013. Collectors can’t get their heads around the existence of a *white gold* vintage Daytona. The Daytona was meant to be an everyday sports watch, and so the decision to make it from **a material as luxurious as white gold** is unconventional, to say the least.

The Rolex Daytona Ref. 6265 was manufactured in 1970 and today comes with a deluxe white gold bracelet. This **one-off wonder** also features a beautifully contrasting black dial with white gold indexes.

**Best for:** Demonstrating that if there’s one thing better than gold, it’s *white *gold.

[Learn more about Rolex watches](/brands/rolex/).

| Manufacturing date: | 1970 |
| --- | --- |
| Case size: | 37 mm |
| Material: | 18k white gold |
| Movement: | manual |
| Auction date: | 12th May 2018 |
| Auction house: | Phillips |
| Auction place: | Geneva |
| Sale details: | [www.phillips.com](https://www.phillips.com/detail/ROLEX/CH080318/8) |

### 20. Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A-018 "Tiffany & Co.": $6.5 million

![most expensive watches patek philippe nautilus tiffany - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-patek-philippe-nautilus-tiffany-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

Few modern watches have caused the frenzy this one did. Created to mark the **170-year partnership between Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co.**, it pairs the steel Nautilus—already one of the most sought-after sports watches on earth—with an unmistakable Tiffany Blue dial.

Patek made just **170 examples**, sold exclusively through a trio of Tiffany boutiques. When the first one reached auction, it sold for well over a hundred times its retail price, with all proceeds going to The Nature Conservancy.

The ingredients are deceptively simple: a 40 mm stainless steel case, the self-winding caliber 26‑330 S C, and that lacquered blue dial signed by both houses. It’s proof that desirability—not diamonds—can carry a watch into the millions.

[Learn more about Patek Philippe](/brands/patek-philippe/).

**Best for:** The collector who knows the right shade of blue is worth more than gold.

| Manufacturing date: | 2021 |
| --- | --- |
| Case size: | 40 mm |
| Material: | stainless steel |
| Movement: | automatic |
| Auction house: | Phillips |
| Auction place: | New York |
| Sale details: | [www.patek.com](https://www.patek.com/en/home/) |

### 19. Patek Philippe Titanium Ref. 5208T-010: $6.6 million

![most expensive watches patek philippe titanium ref 5208T 010 - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-patek-philippe-titanium-ref-5208T-010-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

Many of the world’s most expensive watches are one-offs—or at least incredibly rare. Like this Patek Philippe timepiece, the **first and only titanium version** of the Reference 5208 Triple Complication wristwatch. The brand very rarely uses titanium, immediately elevating this watch in the eyes of collectors. The timepiece also features a minute repeater, monopusher chronograph, and an instantaneous perpetual calendar.

The blue watch face has a hand-guilloched ‘Carbon’ motif, while a display back allows the lucky owner to admire the impeccable craftsmanship at work.

**Best for:** Turning heads with titanium, one of the rarest materials in the luxury watch world.

| Manufacturing date: | 2017 |
| --- | --- |
| Case size: | 42 mm |
| Material: | titanium |
| Movement: | automatic |
| Auction date: | 11th November 2017 |
| Auction house: | Christie’s |
| Auction place: | Geneva |
| Sale details: | [www.patek.com](https://www.patek.com/en/company/news/only-watch-2017) |

### 18. Patek Philippe Gold Chronograph Ref. 1527: $6.8 million

![most expensive watches patek philippe gold chronograph ref 1527 - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-patek-philippe-gold-chronograph-ref-1527-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

This important precursor of future Patek Philippe wristwatches created quite a stir when it was first launched in the 1940s. Its case design was indisputably **avant-garde in style** and proportions—rounder, larger, and with elongated and slightly curved lugs.

Despite the efforts of horology experts to uncover the details, not much is known about this watch, except that it was one of just two Ref. 1527 timepieces. It features a chronograph with date and moon phases. The movement also includes 23 jewels. The buckle is made from **18k gold** which, along with the watch’s rarity, partly explains the reason why it fetched such a high price when sold at auction.

**Best for:** A timepiece with an air of mystery and an aura of the unexpected.

| Manufacturing date: | 1943 |
| --- | --- |
| Case size: | 37.6 mm |
| Material: | 18k gold |
| Movement: | mechanical |
| Auction date: | 10th May 2010 |
| Auction house: | Christie’s |
| Auction place: | Geneva |
| Sale details: | [www.christies.com](https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5309213) |

### 17. Patek Philippe White Gold Calibre 89: $6.9 million

![most expensive watches patek philippe white gold calibre 89 - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-patek-philippe-white-gold-calibre-89-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

We’ve already explored the Calibre 89, aka **the most complicated wristwatch in the world**, and the timepiece returns again here as the 15th priciest watch ever sold, this time in white gold.

Patek Philippe first created the watch for the brand’s 150th anniversary and incorporates an almost [outrageous number of complications](/watches-jewelry/watch-complications-guide/), including a second time-zone, sunrise and sunset timer, perpetual calendar, century leap year correction, solstice and zodiac indication, and **an unusual date of Easter indication**. This latter complication is particularly noteworthy—complicated to create given it’s determined astronomically and varies each year.

With the extensive engineering going on inside the case, it’s no wonder that this astronomical watch is an impressive 88.2 mm in diameter and 41.07 mm thick—**a true behemoth**.

**Best for:** More complications than you could ever possibly need.

| Manufacturing date: | 1989 |
| --- | --- |
| Case size: | 88.2 mm |
| Material: | 18k white gold |
| Movement: | manual |
| Auction date: | 24th April 2004 |
| Auction house: | Antiquorum |
| Auction place: | Geneva |
| Sale details: | [www.antiquorum.swiss](https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/patek-philippe-lot-51-301) |

### 16. Patek Philippe Two-Crown Worldtime Ref. 2523 Eurasia Dial: $7.7 million

![most expensive watches patek philippe two crown worldtime ref 2523 - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-patek-philippe-two-crown-worldtime-ref-2523-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

Known as a ‘grail’ watch, highly covetable and superbly desirable, this Patek Philippe timepiece is one of the most **mythical and legendary** in the horological world—befitting of a brand that has created some of the best men’s watches of all time.

The watch is known as the Silk Road 2523. Its standout feature is a dial featuring a map of Eurasia. It also boasts a world time complication, dual crown, 41-city ring, and is both elaborate and instantly iconic at once. Only three yellow gold 2423 world timers with this particular dial exist—hence why collectors are willing to pay **over $7.5 million** to own one.

**Best for:** Billionaire travelers and bling-hungry jetsetters, off on a tour of Europe.

| Manufacturing date: | 1953 |
| --- | --- |
| Case size: | 36 mm |
| Material: | 18k yellow gold |
| Movement: | manual |
| Auction date: | 8th May 2021 |
| Auction house: | Phillips |
| Auction place: | Geneva |
| Sale details: | [www.phillips.com](https://www.phillips.com/detail/patek-philippe/CH080121/33) |

### 15. Audemars Piguet "Grosse Pièce" No. 16869: $7.74 million

![most expensive watches audemars piguet grosse pièce - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-audemars-piguet-grosse-piece-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

The first Audemars Piguet to make this list does so emphatically, shattering its estimate to set a new auction record for the maison. So significant is the piece that **AP bought it back itself**, with plans to put it on display at its museum in Le Brassus.

Known as the *Grosse Pièce*, or “Big Piece,” this pocket watch was commissioned in 1914 by a London retailer for an American client. The First World War delayed its completion until 1921—and the wait was worth it. With **19 complications**, it remains one of the most complicated pocket watches AP has ever built.

The roll call is staggering: a minute repeater, grande and petite sonnerie, a perpetual calendar, an equation of time, and the only tourbillon AP fitted to a pocket watch of its era. A **celestial chart** even maps the night sky over London, with 315 stars and 18 constellations.

[Learn more about Audemars Piguet](/brands/audemars-piguet/).

**Best for:** The historian-collector who wants horology’s deep canon in the palm of their hand.

| Manufacturing date: | 1921 |
| --- | --- |
| Material: | 18k yellow gold |
| Movement: | manual |
| Auction house: | Sotheby’s |
| Auction place: | New York |
| Sale details: | [www.audemarspiguet.com](https://www.audemarspiguet.com/com/en/home.html) |

### 14. Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Ref. 5016A-010: $7.9 million

![most expensive watches patek philippe stainless steel ref 5016A 010 - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-patek-philippe-stainless-steel-ref-5016A-010-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

This Patek Philippe timepiece is based on the brand’s reference 5016 and is an exquisitely complicated and wondrously high-end creation. While the Ref. 5016 fell out of production around 2011, the company decided to resurrect it for this occasion. The reference is **already incredibly rare** and this one-off is totally unique, hence the willingness of watch fanatics to dig deep to secure it.

The timepiece features a minute repeater, a tourbillon, and a perpetual calendar with a retrograde date—**three of the most cherished watch complications**. It also comes with a distinctive blue dial made of Grand-Feu enamel and the movement is housed inside a small 36.8 mm case.

**Best for:** The rebirth of a classic, brought back to life for one lucky owner.

| Manufacturing date: | 2015 |
| --- | --- |
| Case size: | 36.8mm |
| Material: | stainless steel |
| Movement: | manual |
| Auction date: | 7th November 2015 |
| Auction house: | Phillips |
| Auction place: | Geneva |
| Sale details: | [www.phillips.com](https://www.phillips.com/detail/PATEK-PHILIPPE/CH080415/16) |

### 13. Vacheron Constantin 57260: $8 million

![most expensive watches vacheron constantin 57260 - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-vacheron-constantin-57260-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

A commission for a private client, this Vacheron Constantin timepiece really *is *the most complicated watch in the world and includes **57 different complications**, made up of 2826 individual components and 242 jewels. Ten of those complications were brand new horological inventions at the time of manufacture.

Some of the most exceptional functions? The Judaic calendar, a ‘night mode’, and a double retrograde split-seconds chronograph. The case is relatively simple and unfussy, allowing the peerless mechanics to take center stage. It seems appropriate that this watch sold for around $8 million, given that it **took three watchmakers** **8 years to design and create**.

[Learn more about Vacheron Constantin](/brands/vacheron-constantin/).

**Best for:** The last word in intricate, ornate, and *ridiculously *complicated timepieces.

| Manufacturing date: | 2015 |
| --- | --- |
| Case size: | 98 mm |
| Material: | white gold |
| Movement: | manual |
| Sale details: | [www.vacheron-constantin.com](https://www.vacheron-constantin.com/ww/en/maison/heritage/iconic-watches.html) |

### 12. Patek Philippe *Gobbi Milan* ‘Heures Universelles’ Ref. 2523: $9 million

![most expensive watches patek philippe gobbi milan heures universelles ref 2523 - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-patek-philippe-gobbi-milan-heures-universelles-ref-2523-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

As this list proves, Patek Philippe is particularly skilled at creating the kind of watches that collectors will fight over, and this **double-crown world timer** is yet another example.

Featuring a blue enamel dial that contrasts beautifully with the luxurious 18k pink gold case, it doesn’t take a watch expert to identify this timepiece as something special. It features the Heures Universelles **world time system** as patented in the 1930s by horological icon, Louis Cottier. And it’s also the only known reference 2523 to feature the signature of both Patek Philippe and Gobbi Milano.

**Best for:** Telling the time all over the world in the most traffic-stopping and eye-catching way.

| Manufacturing date: | 1953 |
| --- | --- |
| Case size: | 35.5 mm |
| Material: | 18k pink gold |
| Movement: | manual |
| Auction date: | 23 November 2019 |
| Auction house: | Christie’s |
| Auction place: | Hong Kong |
| Sale details: | [www.christies.com](https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6235645) |

### 11. F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance Souscription No. 007: $13.9 million

![most expensive watches f.p. journe chronomètre à résonance souscription - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-fp-journe-chronometre-resonance-souscription-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

The most expensive watch by an independent watchmaker ever sold at auction—and the clearest proof yet that the grandes maisons hold no monopoly on horological obsession. Where most of this list leans on heritage names, this F.P. Journe earns its place on engineering alone.

Its backstory is as rare as the watch itself. To finance his fledgling manufacture, François-Paul Journe offered just **20 early Résonance pieces** to founding clients, who paid in advance for a watch that didn’t yet exist—a subscription model borrowed from 19th-century Breguet. No. 007 is one of a handful cased in **two-tone platinum and 18k pink gold**, with a matching pink gold dial.

What sets it apart is genuinely novel: **two independent movements that beat in resonance**, each steadying the other for exceptional accuracy. No diamonds, no theatrics—just the quiet authority of a watchmaker’s watch.

[Learn more about F.P. Journe](/brands/f-p-journe/).

**Best for:** The collector who prizes ingenuity over insignia.

| Manufacturing date: | circa 2000 |
| --- | --- |
| Case size: | 38 mm |
| Material: | platinum and 18k pink gold |
| Movement: | manual |
| Auction house: | Phillips |
| Auction place: | New York |
| Sale details: | [www.fpjourne.com](https://www.fpjourne.com/en/collection/classique-collection/chronometre-resonance-0) |

### 10. Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Ref. 1518: $17.6 million

![most expensive watches patek philippe stainless steel ref 1518 - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-patek-philippe-stainless-steel-ref-1518-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

Part of a limited edition four-piece series, the main appeal of this particular watch lies in its case. Made with a **high-grade stainless steel** case, it distinguishes itself from other Patek Philippe luxury watches, typically made of yellow or rose gold.

First introduced in 1941, the Patek Philippe Ref.1518 made horology headlines as the **first-ever perpetual calendar and chronograph**—yet another reason why this watch impresses collectors. And while you might think steel would make a watch less valuable than gold, it’s hard to find high-end watches in this material. Rarity always pushes prices up.

This particular example—the very first steel 1518 ever made, numbered “1” inside its caseback—now stands as **the most expensive vintage Patek Philippe ever sold at auction**. Rarity, in the end, always wins.

**Best for:** Proof that stainless steel can also be sophisticated and sought-after.

| Manufacturing date: | 1943 |
| --- | --- |
| Case size: | 35 mm |
| Material: | stainless steel |
| Movement: | manual |
| Auction date: | 8th November 2025 |
| Auction house: | Phillips |
| Auction place: | Geneva |
| Sale details: | [www.patek.com](https://www.patek.com/en/home/) |

### 9. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch: $18 million

![most expensive watches jacob co billionaire watch - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-jacob-co-billionaire-watch-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

Now we’re into the top 10 most expensive and rarest watches in the world. And no luxury timepiece has ever been more aptly named than Jacob & Co.’s Billionaire watch.

It certainly lives up to its designation, encrusted with **189 carats of Akosha diamonds**—a cut that’s meant to make each [diamond](/watches-jewelry/diamonds/) appear 30% bigger than a standard emerald cut diamond (one of the [most popular diamond shapes](/watches-jewelry/popular-diamond-shapes/)). Then there’s the skeleton face, where you can see the intricate and hand-crafted tourbillon movement at work, composed of 167 elements and 18 jewels.

The bracelet and dial are seamlessly integrated and made of 18k white gold, while a final **rose-cut jewel on the crown** is the cherry on this extremely expensive cake. No wonder Floyd Mayweather decided to buy it.

**Best for:** A watch that says it like it is.

| Manufacturing date: | 2015 |
| --- | --- |
| Case size: | 47.5 mm |
| Material: | 18k white gold |
| Movement: | manual |
| Sale details: | [www.jacobandco.com](https://jacobandco.com/timepieces/high-jewelry-masterpieces/billionaire-tourbillon-white-diamond) |

### 8. Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6239: $18.7 million

![most expensive watches rolex daytona paul newman ref 6239 - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-rolex-daytona-paul-newman-ref-6239-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

**Actor and heartthrob Paul Newman** was known for his love of fine watches and for being a devoted racing car fan. Hence why, when she had it commissioned in 1968, his wife Joanne Woodard had this watch engraved with the words *Drive Carefully.*

With its unusual black and cream exotic dial and elegant Art Deco style, the Paul Newman Rolex Daytona Ref.6239 appeals to more than horological buffs and anyone interested in Hollywood memorabilia alike.

**The auction lasted only 12 minutes** before the watch was sold to the highest bidder by telephone. No surprise, really, given that Rolex is not only the most famous watch company in the world but also one of the [most celebrated luxury brands](/business/most-popular-luxury-brands/) in existence.

**Best for:** A Hollywood-approved timepiece with a uniquely beguiling backstory.

| Manufacturing date: | 1968 |
| --- | --- |
| Case size: | 36.5 mm |
| Material: | stainless steel |
| Movement: | manual |
| Auction date: | 26th October 2017 |
| Auction house: | Philipps |
| Auction place: | New York |
| Sale details: | [www.phillips.com](https://www.phillips.com/detail/ROLEX/NY080117/8) |

### 7. Chopard 201-Carat: $25 million

![most expensive watches chopard 201 Carat - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-chopard-201-Carat-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

It may not be subtle, but this Chopard timepiece certainly makes a statement. With **874 diamonds**—201 carats in total—in a whole range of spectacular colors, this 25 million dollar watch is probably the magnum opus of the Swiss watchmaker, a favorite of both A-listers and royalty.

Some people are drawn to high-end watches for their engineering and technical skills. Others just want some bling. This Chopard timepiece, with its 15-carat pink diamond, 12-carat blue diamond, and 11-carat white diamond—is probably the latter. But if you can afford it, then why not? It’s just an extra bonus that it happens to tell the time. And if this particular model isn’t for you, take a look at our ranking of the [best luxury watches for women](/watches-jewelry/best-women-watches/) for more ideas.

[Learn more about Chopard](/brands/chopard/).

**Best for:** Confirmation that diamonds are literally* anyone’s *best friend.

| Manufacturing date: | 2000 |
| --- | --- |
| Material: | white gold and yellow gold |
| Sale details: | [www.chopard.com](https://www.chopard.com/) |

### 6. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication: $26 million

![most expensive watches patek philippe henry graves supercomplication - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-patek-philippe-henry-graves-supercomplication-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

Originally crafted in 1933 for a wealthy American banker by the name of Henry Graves, this Patek Philippe gold pocket watch took **7 years to design and build**, back when watchmaking had to rely on craftsmen rather than the calculations of computers.

One of the world’s most expensive [pocket watches](/watches-jewelry/best-pocket-watches/), its impressive range of complications includes a perpetual calendar, minute repeater with Westminster Chimes, sunrise and sunset times, and **a celestial chart** based on the night sky as it looked from Graves’ home in New York.

Following a 15-minute bidding war between some of the world’s top watch collectors, the intricate timepiece was sold to an **anonymous bidder.** A dream addition to the collection of any pocket watch fan.

**Best for:** The pocket watch to rival all pocket watches.

| Manufacturing date: | 1932 |
| --- | --- |
| Case size: | 74 mm |
| Material: | gold |
| Movement: | manual |
| Auction date: | 11th November 2014 |
| Auction house: | Sotheby’s |
| Auction place: | Geneva |
| Sale details: | [www.sothebys.com](https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2014/important-watches-ge1404/lot.345.html) |

### 5. Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette: $26 million

![most expensive watches jaeger lecoultre joaillerie 101 manchette - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-jaeger-lecoultre-joaillerie-101-manchette-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

If we told you that top-tier brand Jaeger-LeCoultre crafted this intricate timepiece as a gift for none other than **Queen Elizabeth II** to celebrate the 60th year of her reign, it would give you some idea of what to expect.

Indeed, with its utterly unique profile, made from white gold and featuring a series of polished and diamond-set links, plus **a miniature caliber 101 movement** (one of the smallest in the world), this watch deserves to be worn in the chambers of historic palaces and to exclusive state functions.

[Learn more about Jaeger-LeCoultre](/brands/jaeger-lecoultre/).

**Best for:** Royal-approved refinement from masters of the minimalist timepiece.

| Manufacturing date: | 2012 |
| --- | --- |
| Material: | white gold |
| Movement: | manual |
| Sale details: | [www.jaeger-lecoultre.com](https://www.jaeger-lecoultre.com/) |

### 4. Breguet Grande Complication Marie Antoinette: $30 million

![most expensive watches breguet grande complication marie antoinette - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-breguet-grande-complication-marie-antoinette-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

Legend has it that this watch was initially **commissioned for the iconic French queen** and fan of life’s finest things, Marie Antoinette, by one of her lovers. Crafting this exceptional piece **took around 40 years,** and she was executed before the work was complete—only adding to the romance and enigma of this historic timepiece.

Encased in gold, it includes every complication that existed at the time, including a perpetual calendar and thermometer. After being **stolen in the late 1900s,** the watch is now safely locked away in the L.A. Mayer museum but is available for purchase for those with $30 million.

**Best for:** A legendary timepiece with a compelling tale behind it.

| Manufacturing date: | 1827 |
| --- | --- |
| Case size: | 63 mm |
| Material: | gold |
| Movement: | automatic |
| Sale details: | [www.breguet.com](https://www.breguet.com/en/house-breguet/manufacture/marie-antoinette-pocket-watch) |

### 3. Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010: $31 million

![most expensive watches patek philippe grandmaster chime ref 6300A 010 - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-patek-philippe-grandmaster-chime-ref-6300A-010-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

If you’re going to spend $31 million on a timepiece, then it’s a bonus to know you’re getting **two for the price of one**. This timepiece has two dials, one on the front, and one on the back.

The most expensive Patek watch ever sold, the Grandmaster Chime boasts 20 different complications, including **five different chiming modes** (hence the name), as well as an acoustic alarm and date repeater. Both dials are blue opaline with gold-applied numerals and 18K solid gold dial plates. The case is white gold, and the strap is made of navy blue alligator leather.

**Best for:** Being roused from sleep by the sound of the 3rd costliest watch in the world.

| Manufacturing date: | 2019 |
| --- | --- |
| Case size: | 47.7 mm |
| Material: | white gold |
| Movement: | manual |
| Auction date: | 9th November 2019 |
| Auction house: | Christie’s |
| Auction place: | Geneva |
| Sale details: | [www.patek.com](https://www.patek.com/en/company/news/only-watch-2019) |

### 2. Graff Diamonds The Fascination: $40 million

![most expensive watches graff diamonds the fascination - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-graff-diamonds-the-fascination-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

Occupying the second place in our rundown of the most expensive watches in the world, The Fascination is the work of Graff Diamonds, a British jeweler brand known for acquiring and polishing **some of the world’s most famous diamonds**.

Not only is The Fascination a masterpiece of horological craftsmanship, but it’s also a unique demonstration of diamond mastery. Definitely, one to give all other [women’s watches](/watches-jewelry/best-women-watches/) a run for their money.

This timepiece consists of 152.96 carats of white diamonds and a 38-carat pear-shaped diamond dial in the middle, which can also be worn as a ring. A convertible watch means double bang for your buck—all **$40 million** of it.

**Best for:** Gems and jewels galore for big spenders with a penchant for bling.

| Manufacturing date: | 2015 |
| --- | --- |
| Sale details: | [www.graff.com](https://www.graff.com/international-en/home/) |

### 1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination: $55 million

![most expensive watches graff diamonds hallucination - Luxe Digital](https://media.luxe.digital/most-expensive-watches-graff-diamonds-hallucination-luxe-digital-1280.jpg)

The most expensive watch ever made is another Graff Diamonds creation. The Hallucination is, as the name suggests, truly **breathtaking and brilliantly fantastical**.

Featuring a kaleidoscopic array of 110 carats of different colored diamonds in a range of different cuts, set into a platinum bracelet, The Hallucination brings high fashion to the world of Horlogerie. About as far from a [tactical watch](/watches-jewelry/best-tactical-watches/) as you can get, it’s almost easy to forget this piece’s timekeeping capabilities, but there is **a tiny dial in the center** of all that sparkle.

With the eye-wateringly high price tag of $55 million when it was first unveiled at Baselworld in 2014, the Hallucination is the culmination of **thousands of hours of work** from a team of designers, gemologists, and expert craftsmen.

**Best for:** A sparkling and sensuous spectacle, sure to make you feel a million dollars.

For more extravagance, explore the [Most Expensive Sneakers Ever Sold](/style/most-expensive-sneakers/), [Ballin’ Without A Budget: Most Expensive Jordans](/style/most-expensive-jordans/), and [Beyond Playthings: Most Expensive 1000%](/scene/most-expensive-bearbricks/).

| Manufacturing date: | 2014 |
| --- | --- |
| Material: | platinum |
| Movement: | quartz |
| Sale details: | [www.graff.com](https://www.graff.com/international-en/home/) |

## Frequently asked questions about the world’s most expensive watches

- *[List of most expensive watches sold at auction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_expensive_watches_sold_at_auction)*, Wikipedia, February 2024.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the #1 watch in the world?

The #1 most expensive watch in the world is Graff Diamonds’ The Hallucination, purportedly worth $55 million. This quartz-powered watch features 110 carats of different colored diamonds along with a tiny dial and was first revealed in 2014.

### How much is the most expensive watch?

The most expensive wristwatch is said to be worth $55 million and is called The Hallucination. Designed and made by Graff Diamonds, it features 110 carats of diamonds in a variety of colors, all set into a platinum bracelet.

### What is the most expensive men's watch in the world?

The most expensive men’s watch in the world is the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010. Created for the Only Watch 2019 charity auction, it features two dials, 20 complications, and is made of white gold with a blue alligator strap.

### What are the top 10 most expensive watches?

The 10 most expensive watches in the world are: 1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination 2. Graff Diamonds Fascination 3. Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime 4. Breguet Grande Complication Marie Antoinette 5. Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette 6. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication 7. Chopard 201 carat watch 8. Rolex Paul Newman Daytona 9. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch 10. Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Ref. 1518.

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- [LIV Swiss Watches Review: Modern Performance, Classic Appeal](https://luxe.digital/watches-jewelry/liv-swiss-watches-review/)