Expensive watches are not only timepieces, it is also symbols of status, craftsmanship, and timeless elegance. The most expensive watches in the world are coveted for various reasons—be it as a statement of success, an appreciation for precision engineering, or heirlooms that last through generations.
We’ve gathered a list of the world’s priciest watches for the curious. Each watch justifies its staggering price with unmatched craftsmanship and attention to detail.
These top-tier watches often set records for their complications or ornamentation, with fascinating stories behind their creation, from sources of inspiration to achieving impressive technical feats. They blend high fashion with exquisite watchmaking, representing status, opulence, or understated elegance.
Here are the 10 most Expensive Watches in the world
- Graff Diamonds Hallucination – $55 million
- Graff Diamonds The Fascination – $40 Million
- Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 – $31 Million
- Breguet Grande Complication Marie Antoinette – $30 Million
- Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette – $26 Million
- Chopard 201-Carat – $25 million
- Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication – $24 Million
- Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6239 – $17.8 Million
- Jacob & Co. Billionaire Ashoka – $18 Million
- Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Ref. 1518 – $11 Million
1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination – $55 million
The Hallucination by Graff Diamonds is the world’s most expensive watch, made under the vision of Laurence Graff, Chairman of Graff Diamonds. It is designed to showcase the company’s passion, skill, and authority in the diamond industry, it has 110 carats of multi-colored diamonds in various cuts, set in a platinum bracelet.
Unveiled at Baselworld in 2014, the watch’s multicolored body houses a tiny pink diamond quartz dial. Crafted with the expertise of top designers, gemologists, and master craftsmen, thousands of hours were spent bringing this famous timepiece to life.
2. Graff Diamonds The Fascination – $40 Million
The Fascination by Graff Diamonds is the second most expensive watch in the world, created by the renowned British jewelry brand known for its expertise in acquiring and polishing exceptional diamonds. This convertible timepiece features 152.96 carats of white diamonds and a 38.13-carat D Flawless pear-shaped diamond as the central dial.
Crafted in 2015, the watch can be styled as a bracelet, with the pear-shaped diamond detachable and wearable as a ring, showcasing Graff’s mastery in both watchmaking and diamond artistry. The movement is quartz.
3. Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 – $31 Million
The Grandmaster Chime is Patek Philippe’s most expensive watch, selling for $31 million at the 2019 Christie’s Only Watch charity auction. Originally crafted in 2014 to celebrate the brand’s 175th anniversary, it is the most complicated wristwatch ever made by Patek, boasting 20 different complications.
Key features include five chiming modes, a patented alarm, a date repeater, and two blue opaline dials with gold-applied numerals on 18K solid gold plates. The dials can swivel and lock into place, while the white gold case and navy blue alligator leather strap complete this extraordinary timepiece. The movement is manual.
4. Breguet Grande Complication Marie Antoinette – $30 Million
This $30 million watch, commissioned in 1783 for French Queen Marie Antoinette, took 44 years to complete and was finished in 1827, long after her death. It is designed by Abraham-Louis Breguet, and the gold-encased masterpiece features advanced attributes of its time, such as a perpetual calendar and thermometer.
The watch’s history was theft from the L.A. Mayer Museum in 1983 and eventually recovered in 2006. Today, it remains displayed at the museum, adding to its mystique and romantic legacy. The movement is automatic.
5. Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette – $26 Million
Ranked 5th among the most expensive watches, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette was crafted in 2012 as a gift for Queen Elizabeth II to mark her 60-year reign. Made from white gold, it features 577 diamonds and a manual movement. The watch is famous for its miniature Calibre 101 mechanism, one of the smallest movements globally, and a sapphire glass-covered dial that showcases its intricate design.
6. Chopard 201-Carat – $25 million
Thought this was a brooch when I first saw it. The world of watches never surprises me.
Known for making watches that are a cut above the rest, Chopard certainly didn’t disappoint with this one. It was made in 2000, this colorful timepiece features a beautiful array of colorful diamonds in unusual ues and fancy shapes. The watch is completely handmade and has a whopping 874 high-grade diamonds overall!
7. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication – $24 Million
This intricate pocket watch, made in 1933 for banker Henry Graves Jr., is one of the most complex ever created, with 920 parts including 430 screws and 110 wheels. The gold watch features dual dials, minute-repeating chimes, a split-second chronograph, a perpetual calendar, moon phases, sunrise/sunset times, and a celestial chart for New York. It took three years to design and five to build, cementing its status as a horological marvel.
8. Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6239 – $17.8 Million
Manufactured in 1968, the Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6239 became legendary due to its connection with actor and race car enthusiast Paul Newman. The watch was a gift from his wife, Joanne Woodward, who had the case back engraved with “DRIVE CAREFULLY.” Newman frequently wore the timepiece during the 1980s, leading to its nickname. In 2017, the watch made history when it sold at auction for $17.8 million, setting a record as the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at that time. Its fame and unique engraving continue to make it highly sought after.
9. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Ashoka – $18 Million
Crafted in 2015, the Jacob & Co. Billionaire Ashoka watch is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece featuring 189 carats of rare ASHOKA-cut diamonds. These unique diamonds, known for their rectangular shape and rounded corners, create an illusion of being 30% larger than standard emerald-cut diamonds. The watch’s skeleton face showcases a complex tourbillon movement, with 167 components and 18 jewels. Made from 18K white gold, both the bracelet and dial are adorned with ASHOKA diamonds, while a rose-cut jewel graces the crown.
10. Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Ref. 1518 – $11 Million
Released in 1943, this watch is one of just four stainless steel versions ever made, making it extremely rare. The Ref. 1518 is renowned as the first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch, setting a new standard in horological history. While most of the 281 pieces were encased in yellow or rose gold, the stainless steel version remains the rarest. Its design was revolutionary for the time and continues to be highly valued by collectors and watch enthusiasts.
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Bottom Line:
The most expensive watches in the world are not just luxury products; they are the epitome of beauty and craftsmanship in watchmaking. These watches do more than just tell time; they are living examples of ingenuity, history, and expert craftsmanship that frequently span decades or even years.
Every watch on this list has a distinct backstory and displays a unique combination of luxury, creativity, and technological prowess. These watches are the peaks of elegance and success for connoisseurs, collectors, and people who value better things in life. As such, they are not merely investments in time but also art and history.
