Top 7 Most Expensive Watches In The World

What a good way to show off your wealth by showing the sparkles on your wrist by wearing the most expensive watch you can find out there. Not only does this watch tell time but it also acts as a symbol of wealth for the super-rich aside from acting as an investment and hobby.

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But one question that comes to mind will be what made these watches so expensive and what differentiates them from the rest in the market. There are several factors that will influence the price of a watch namely;

1. Complicated engineering is something so small
2. The use of expensive jewelry like diamonds, gold or even meteorite
3. Unique collections owned by famous people who have deceased

In this article, we will share some of the top brands for some of the most exclusive and highly-priced watches in the world. These watches are perfected by the most skillful craftsman with the softest touch that clearly spells perfection. 

7. Omega ($5,000 - $1.87 million)

Popular models: Speedmaster, Bullhead, Planet Ocean, and Skywalker X-33

Omega has changed its name three-time ever since 1848. Most of the designs created by the Omega company to this day have been modernized but some of the classic features still remain.

The most expensive Omega watch to ever be sold in the auction will be the exclusive 1960 Elvis  Presley watch for a bid of $1.87 million in Geneva in 2018. Another model, Omega Stainless Steel Tourbillion 201 was sold in an auction in Geneva in 2017 for a whopping $1.4 million.

Another interesting fact about The Speedmaster Professional Chronograph model will be that it is the first watch ever worn by astronaut Buzz Aldrin on the moon during his Apollo 11 NASA mission.

6. Jaeger-LeCoultre ($7,250 - $2.6 million)

Hybris Mechanica a Grande Sonnerie

Popular models: Reverson, Joaillerie 101, Duoplan and Atmos

For almost 200 years operating, Jaeger-LeCoultre has registered more than 400 patents for the designs of their watches and also hundreds of discoveries in the watch industry. The company is currently owned by the red groups from Switzerland known as Richemont.

One of their most complicated models includes the Hybris Mechanica a Grande Sonnerie. Only 30 units of these models were ever created and sold for a whopping $2.6 million.

This company also managed to produce a watch with the smallest mechanical movement in the world which is the Caliber 101 model in which 98 of the component of the watch merely weighs 1 gram. 

On top of that in 1953, even Queen Elizabeth II wore one of the watches made by Jaeger-LeCoultre during her coronation ceremony in 1953. 

5. A. Lange & Söhne ($11,250 - $2.7 million)

Grand Complication model

Popular models: Lange 1, Lange 1815, Zeitwerk and Grand Complication

A. Lange and Söhne brands can be bought from many of their branches in 70 countries worldwide. However, you better be quick as only a few thousand units of these brands will ever be produced each year giving it exclusivity.

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Almost all the designs for this particular brand have a unique classic English style. In one auction in Geneva in 2018, one watch of the model 1815 Homage to Walter Lange was successfully sold in auction for $880 thousand. 

It was considered the first version of the 1815 model which was designed by the founder himself, Ferdinand Adolph Lange. In 2013, the company launched a new model called Grand Complication which was the most complex watch to ever be made in this modern era.

Only 6 units of Grand Complication were ever made and you should be ready to spend big bucks if you want to get your hand on this as it will cost you $2.7 million each.

4. Breguet ($10,200 - $7 million) 

Popular models: Breguet & Fils, Paris and Sympathique Clock

Breguet is one of the oldest brands of watches in the world that became the pioneer in several technologies of making watches. This brand was founded by Abraham Breguet back in 1801.

The brand which is well known for the blue hand also produces other products such as women's cosmetics, cufflinks, and even luxurious stationeries. 

In one auction in Geneva in 2016, one of the Breguet pocket watches (Breguet & Fils No. 217) was sold in auction for $3.4 million. However, the most expensive model ever sold will be the Sympathique Clock No.128 & 5009 for the huge price of $7 million. 

3. Vacheron Constantin ($15,000 - $11.4 million)

Vacheron Constantin Reference 57260 pocket watch

Popular models: Reference 57260, Kallista, and Tour de Lille

Vacheron Constantin was established in 1755 and ever since 1992, it has become part of the Swiss Richemont Group. This company has 15 boutiques and more than 500 shops across the globe.

In one auction at the Geneva Antiquorum 2005, a Vacheron Constantin Ref. 402833 pocket watch which was once owned by King Fuad I from Egypt was successfully sold for $2.8 million. 

But in 2015, this brand launched the Reference 57260 model which become one of the most complex mechanical watches ever to be made. It comprises 57 complications based on functionality and it took 8 years to be fully made.

2. Rolex ($20,700 - $18.4 million)

Rolex Daytona

Popular models: Rolex Daytona, Rolex GMT Master II Ice, and Sky-Dweller Oystersteel

I'm pretty sure everyone who is reading this would have heard of this brand before and Rolex is the biggest chronometer producer in Switzerland. In 2019, the company has produced as many as 800,000 watches with a revenue of $5.4 billion. 

In 2020, Forbes has classified Rolex as the 8th most valuable brand in the world. Not just that but Rolex also makes watches for a specific type of activity and this can be anything from aviation, rock climbing, and even deep-sea diving.

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For instance, the Sea-Dweller model that was made in 1967 has a helium-releasing valve that can release the gas that has been accumulated during the compression process. The Rolex Daytona which is a collection of the Hollywood veteran, Paul Newman is the second most expensive watch in the world.

It was once sold at auction in New York for the price of $18.4 million.

1. Patek Philippe ($20,700 - $32.2 million)

Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010

Popular models: Patek Philippe Ref. 1518, Star Calibre 2000, and Henry Graves Supercomplication

Founded in 1839, Patek Philippe is considered the most luxurious watch brand in the world. The company has over 400 retail shops worldwide. It's even believed that the uniqueness of this brand lies in the watch's movement.

Whether the design is modernized or classical in nature, the sales of Patek Philippe watches surpass other known brands. Up until this day, 7 out of 10 most expensive watches to ever been auctioned come from this particular brand. 

In an auction at Sotheby in 2014, Henry Graves Supercomplication model was successfully sold for $24.9 million. On the other hand, at Christie's auction in Geneva in 2019. the Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 was sold for a staggering $32.2 million and holds the record for the most expensive watch to ever be sold.

Also read: Top 7 Most Expensive Submarines in The World