The most expensive watch in the world represents a blend of exceptional craftsmanship, intricate mechanics, rare materials, and exclusivity. Here is a list of the most expensive watches ever made:
1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination
- Price: $55 million
- Highlights:
- Features 110 carats of rare, multi-colored diamonds set in a platinum bracelet.
- The design showcases an array of diamond cuts, including heart, pear, emerald, and round.
- This watch is more of a jewelry masterpiece than a timepiece.
2. Graff Diamonds The Fascination
- Price: $40 million
- Highlights:
- Features a 38.13-carat D Flawless pear-shaped diamond that can be detached and worn as a ring.
- Contains an additional 152.96 carats of white diamonds.
- Combines the functionality of a watch with the elegance of high jewelry.
3. Breguet Grande Complication Marie-Antoinette
- Price: $30 million
- Highlights:
- Commissioned in 1783 for Queen Marie-Antoinette, this watch took over 40 years to complete.
- Features a gold case, perpetual calendar, thermometer, and chime.
- Known for its intricate craftsmanship and historical significance.
4. Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010
- Price: $31 million
- Highlights:
- Holds the record as the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction (2019).
- Features 20 complications, including a perpetual calendar, moon phase, and minute repeater.
- Made with white gold and a reversible double-faced design.
5. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch
- Price: $18 million
- Highlights:
- Encrusted with 260 carats of emerald-cut diamonds, each weighing up to 3 carats.
- Features a skeletonized dial that showcases the manual-wind tourbillon movement.
- A true statement piece for luxury lovers.
6. Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona
- Price: $17.8 million (sold at auction in 2017)
- Highlights:
- Owned by the legendary actor and race car driver Paul Newman.
- Its historical and celebrity connection significantly boosted its value.
- A vintage, stainless steel Rolex with a unique design.
7. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication
- Price: $24 million (sold at auction in 2014)
- Highlights:
- Considered one of the most complicated mechanical pocket watches ever made.
- Features 24 complications, including a perpetual calendar, sunrise/sunset times, and a celestial chart.
- Commissioned by banker Henry Graves Jr. in 1933.
8. Chopard 201-Carat Watch
- Price: $25 million
- Highlights:
- Embellished with 874 high-grade diamonds totaling 201 carats.
- Features three heart-shaped diamonds in pink, blue, and white as the centerpiece.
- Functions more as a dazzling piece of jewelry than a conventional watch.
9. Vacheron Constantin 57260
- Price: $8 million
- Highlights:
- Holds the title for the most complicated watch in the world, with 57 complications.
- Includes astronomical functions, multiple calendars, and a tourbillon.
- Took eight years to design and build.
10. Richard Mille RM 56-02 Sapphire
- Price: $2 million+
- Highlights:
- Features a fully transparent case made from sapphire crystal.
- Known for its innovative design and use of ultra-light materials.
- Offers a view of the intricate, skeletonized movement.
Summary
The Graff Diamonds Hallucination currently holds the title as the most expensive watch in the world, blending horology and fine jewelry into a $55 million masterpiece. Each of these watches is not just a timekeeping device but a symbol of luxury, rarity, and artistry.