Luxury watches are insanely expensive, but how pricey can they get? In this article, I’ll cover the seven most expensive watches ever sold, along with three of the most valuable watches, each priced over $40 million.
Honorable Mentions: Valued but Unsold
Before diving into the list of watches that have actually been sold, I’d like to mention a few watches that are valued at insane prices but haven’t been sold.
1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination
$55 million
Valued at approximately $55 million, the Graff Diamonds Hallucination is a watch covered in 110 carats of rare, multi-colored diamonds, this watch is more of a showpiece than a functional watch. I mean when would you ever wear this?
Its value makes it one of the most expensive watches in the world though unsurprisingly it has never been sold.
2. Graff Diamonds
The Fascination
$40 million
Another watch from Graff Diamonds, The Fascination, is valued at $40 million.
This watch features 152.96 carats of white diamonds, and its central 38.13-carat pear-shaped diamond can be detached to be worn as a ring.
Like the Hallucination, it has never been sold but remains one of the most valuable watches ever created.
3. Breguet Grande Complication Marie-Antoinette
Valued at $30 million, this pocket watch was commissioned by an “admirer” of Marie-Antoinette, the Queen of France, in the late 18th century.
Breguet took over 40 years to complete it, finishing it 34 years after her execution.
This watch is considered to be the 5th most complicated watch in the world and has not been sold.
The 7 Most Expensive Watches Ever Sold
1. Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 – $31.19 Million
This one-of-a-kind Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime was sold at an OnlyWatch auction in 2019, setting the record for the most expensive watch ever sold.
It’s a masterpiece with 20 complications, including five chimes and a reversible case. Sadly because of its value, this watch probably won’t ever be worn again.
2. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication – $24 Million
Commissioned by American banker Henry Graves in 1925, this pocket watch is the most complicated mechanical watch ever made without the aid of computers.
With 24 complications, it was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in 2014 for a then-record $24 million.
3. Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona – $17.75 Million
This Rolex Daytona, once owned by the legendary actor Paul Newman, sold for $17.75 million at auction in 2017.
The value of this watch comes mostly from its history rather than the Daytona’s casing material and mechanical complexity
4. Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 in Stainless Steel – $11.137 Million
One of only four known models, this stainless steel Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 was sold for $11 million in 2016.
It’s a rare example of a luxury watch made with stainless steel rather than gold or platinum, adding to its rarity and value.
You can read more about the watch here
5. Patek Philippe “Prince Mohammed Tewlik A. Toussou” Ref. 1518 $9.570 Million
This rare Patek Philippe Ref. 1518, named after its original owner, Prince Mohammed Tewfik A. Toussoun, was sold for $9.57 million at auction.
The watch is one of only 14 known “pink on pink” examples, with a salmon-toned dial and pink gold case.
Its historical significance, rarity, and connection to royalty make it one of the most valuable timepieces in the world.
6. Patek Philippe Gobbi Milan “Heures Universelles” Ref. 2523 – $8.967 Million
This rare Patek Philippe Ref. 2523, featuring a stunning cloisonné enamel dial, was sold for $8.967 million in 2021.
What sets this watch apart is its “Heures Universelles” world time complication, which allows the wearer to see the time in multiple cities simultaneously—a revolutionary feature at the time.
This particular model is also one of the few ever made in collaboration with the renowned Milan-based retailer Gobbi, making it even more sought after.
7. Vacheron Constantin Reference 57260 – $8 Million
Dubbed the most complicated watch ever made, this Vacheron Constantin features 57 complications and was Sold for $8 million, it’s a masterpiece of engineering and design.
Commissioned by an anonymous collector, it took eight years to create and feature unique functions like a Hebraic perpetual calendar and a split-second chronograph.
