Luxury watch brands such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Audemars Piguet are renowned for their premium quality and exorbitant prices. These brands are highly sought after by individuals who are willing to splurge on items that not only serve a functional purpose but also serve as a status symbol.
The makers of watches have become experts in creating timepieces that are not only precise and dependable but also stunning works of art that are highly sought after by lovers and collectors of watches.
Here are the Most Expensive Watches
1. Patek Philippe
Patek Philippe is regarded as the last independent and family-owned Genevan watch manufacturer. Since 1839, this company has always designed, developed, and crafted watches that are considered to be among the world’s finest. In 2019, they sold the most complicated watch ever produced by them and cemented their place as the most expensive watch in the world.
The Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime 6300A sold for $31 million at Only Watch, a charity auction held in Geneva. Before now, they held the previous record for the world’s most expensive watch with the Henry Graves Supercomplication in 2014. It sold for $24 million.
2. Rolex
Rolex is another Swiss watchmaking giant. Founded by Hans Wilsdorf, the company has been at the forefront of innovative designs. For example, they made the first waterproof wristwatch and the perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism. The most expensive Rolex ever sold was Paul Newman’s Daytona. It cost $17.75 million.
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3. Audemars Piguet
Since 1875, Vallee de Joux has continued to serve as Audemars Piguet’s engine house. This high-end Swiss watchmaking company houses various talented craftspeople working to produce some of the elegant watch designs.
The most expensive Audemars Piguet currently for sale is the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph, which costs $431,181. While the most expensive Audemars to be sold is the Tourbillon Openworked Only Watch. It cost over $1 million
4. Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin is the oldest watchmaker brand in Switzerland. Since 1755, the company has entertained orders from the high and mighty, including Napoleon Bonaparte, the European and Arabian royalties, and the papacy. King Fuad I remains the most expensive Vacheron watch to be sold. It cost $3.6 million.
5. Richard Mille
In 2001, the first Richard Mille watch made its debut. The RM 001 Tourbillon and later the RM 002 received a warm reception. Since then, the company has been able to compete with the giants in the timepiece industry and is a brand not to be waved away. The Sapphire RM56-02 cost $1.9 million, making it the most expensive Richard Mille to be sold.
6. Breguet
Breguet entered the watch-making business in 1775 and has made some timeless pieces. Even the infamous Marie-Antoinette was a fan and even bought a number of their products. Noticing this, a secret admirer ordered a watch from Breguet as a gift to the queen. Sadly, she never got to see the present, as it was completed 44 years later.
Today, Marie-Antoinette Grande Complication became the most expensive Breguet to be sold. It was sold for $30 million.
7. Jaeger-LeCoultre
Jaeger-LeCoultre is among the pioneers in the Swiss watchmaking industry. Since 1833, this company has continued to produce all its luxury watches from start to finish. Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie sold for $2.5 million, making it the most expensive Jaeger-LeCoultre to be sold.
8. Ulysse Nardin
Ulysse Nardin is an independent, integrated Swiss watchmaker. They entered the business in 1846, are committed to technical excellence, and bring unconventional approaches to watchmaking. The Royal Blue Tourbillon watch costs $1.1 million.
9. A. Lange & Sohne
A. Lange & Sohne is a German brand that creates classy and tasteful timepieces. Their Grand Complication sold for $2.5 million and is the most expensive A. Lange and Sohne watch ever sold.
10. Blancpain
Blancpain was founded in 1735 and was responsible for creating the Fifty Fathoms, the world’s first modern diver’s watch, in 1953. The Pain Le Brassus Tourbillon Carrousel is the most expensive watch from this brand ever to be sold. It cost $3.8 million.
11. Piaget
Piaget is a high-end luxury watchmaker that has been operating for nearly two centuries. Their product, Emperador Temple, cost $3.3 million and is the most expensive Piaget watch ever sold.
12. Roger Dubuis
Roger Dubuis belongs to the most elite and expensive watch brands in the world. The company is known for its amazing craftsmanship. The Excalibur Quatuor cost $1.1 million and is the most expensive Roger Dubuis timepiece sold.
13. Louis Moinet
Louis Moinet is an independent watch brand specializing in mechanical art and innovative technology The Louis Moinet Meteoris costs $4.6 million and is the most expensive watch from the brand.
14. Jacob & Co
Founded by Jacob Arabo, this luxury brand was launched in 1986. The most expensive watch by Jacob & Co. to be sold is Billionaire, which cost $18 million.
15. Jaquet Droz
Jaquet Droz is a luxury watch brand that has been operating for over 200 years. The founder, Pierre Jaquet-Droz, even had orders from faraway China to make watches. The most expensive timepiece this brand has ever sold is the Tropical Bird Repeater, valued at $661,500.
16. Greubel Forsey
Founded in 2004, Greubel Forsey quickly joined the list of the most expensive watch brands in the world. The company’s watch, Grande Sonnerie, took 11 years to develop and was sold for $1.2 million
17. Hublot
Hublot was founded in 1976 by Carlo Crocco. This luxury watch brand became the first to use natural rubber straps on their timepieces. The most expensive watch from this company is called Hublot too, and it took 14 months to develop. It was sold for $5 million.
18. Zenith
Zenith is a Swiss company that offers high-end timepieces. Mahatma Gandhi found the brand enticing and got a sterling silver pocket watch. In 2009. It sold for $2.5 million at an auction in 2009, making it the most expensive Zenith watch ever sold.
19. Panerai
Panerai is an Italian watch brand that began operations in 1860. Its products are associated with class. Panerai’s Luminor 1950 Tourbillion Equation of Time was sold for $248,400 and is the most expensive watch from this company to be sold.
20. Corum
Corum is a Swiss watch brand known for creating innovative and eye-catching designs. The Men’s Tourbillon by Corum has only 25 pieces made and is sold for $505,500.
