This ranking showcases watches at the forefront of horology, defined by craftsmanship, rarity, and historical significance. Updated with late 2025 and early 2026 auction results, including Phillips Watches’ unprecedented $370 million annual achievement and the record-breaking $17.6 million Patek Philippe Ref. 1518.
The ten most expensive watches in the world.
The ranking1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination, $55 million.
Unveiled at Baselworld 2014, the Graff Diamonds Hallucination features 110 carats of multi-colored diamonds set in a platinum bracelet. Crafted under Laurence Graff’s vision, its quartz dial is secondary to the gemwork, valued at $55 million for its unmatched opulence. This extraordinary creation represents the pinnacle of haute joaillerie watchmaking.
2. Graff Diamonds Fascination, $50 million.
Launched in 2015, the Fascination boasts 152.96 carats of white diamonds, with a detachable 38.13-carat pear-shaped diamond doubling as a ring. Its platinum design blends versatility with extravagance, priced at $50 million. This transformable masterpiece exemplifies Graff’s innovative approach to luxury watchmaking.
3. Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010, $31.19 million.
Sold for $31.19 million at the 2019 Only Watch charity auction in Geneva, this stainless steel Patek Philippe remains the most expensive wristwatch ever auctioned. With 20 complications including a perpetual calendar, minute repeater with cathedral gongs, and dual dials, this singular creation commemorated Patek Philippe’s 175th anniversary. Its unique stainless steel case and extraordinary complexity drove its record-breaking value.
4. Breguet Grande Complication Marie Antoinette, $30 million.
Commissioned in 1783 for Queen Marie Antoinette, this gold pocket watch by Abraham-Louis Breguet took 40 years to complete. Featuring a perpetual calendar, minute repeater, and thermometer, it’s valued at $30 million and resides in Jerusalem’s L.A. Mayer Museum. This legendary timepiece represents the zenith of 18th-century horological achievement.
5. Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette, $26 million.
Gifted to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 for her coronation, this white gold bracelet watch pairs the miniature Calibre 101 movement with exceptional diamonds. Valued at $26 million, its royal provenance and technical mastery of miniaturization add extraordinary allure. The Calibre 101 remains one of the world’s smallest mechanical movements.
The ten most expensive watches, continued.
The ranking6. Chopard 201-Carat Watch, $25 million.
Introduced in 2000, Chopard’s haute joaillerie masterpiece features 874 diamonds totaling 201 carats, including a 15-carat pink, 12-carat blue, and 11-carat white diamond as focal points. Priced at $25 million, its floral-inspired design showcases exceptional gemstone selection and setting artistry.
7. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication, $24 million.
This 1933 18-karat gold pocket watch, made for banker Henry Graves Jr., features 24 complications including a celestial chart of the night sky over New York, Westminster chimes, and a perpetual calendar. Sold for $24 million at Sotheby’s Geneva in 2014, it represents one of horology’s greatest achievements. The watch took three years to design and five years to construct.
8. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch, $18 million.
With 260 carats of emerald-cut diamonds meticulously set on an 18-karat white gold case and bracelet, this timepiece includes a tourbillon movement. Acquired by Floyd Mayweather, its $18 million price reflects audacious design and uncompromising gemstone quality. Every surface except the sapphire crystal is covered in diamonds.
9. Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6239, $17.75 million.
This 1968 stainless steel Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, engraved "Drive Carefully Me" and gifted by Joanne Woodward to Paul Newman, sold for $17.75 million at Phillips in October 2017. Its exotic "Paul Newman" dial and provenance make it the most valuable Rolex ever auctioned. The watch spent decades on Newman’s wrist before surfacing at auction.
10. Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Ref. 1518, $17.6 million (2025 record).
In a stunning November 2025 result at Phillips’ "Decade One" Geneva auction, this 1941 Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 perpetual calendar chronograph in stainless steel sold for over $17.6 million, becoming the most valuable vintage Patek Philippe wristwatch and the most valuable timepiece sold globally in 2025. One of only four known examples in stainless steel from the world’s first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, this grail piece shattered its 2016 record of $11.1 million. The result anchored Phillips Watches’ unprecedented $370 million year across all channels.
The record
Phillips Watches achieved an unprecedented $370 million across all channels in 2025, with the record-breaking $17.6 million Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 leading the way.
Notable 2025/2026 auction highlights.
The late 2025 watch auction market delivered exceptional results that reshaped the collecting landscape:
F.P. Journe FFC Prototype, $10.8 million. The prototype from Francis Ford Coppola’s collection set new records for independent watchmaking and any 21st-century non-charity wristwatch at Phillips in 2025.
Audemars Piguet "Grosse Pièce" No. 16869, $7.736 million. Sold at Sotheby’s in December 2025, this extraordinary early 20th-century masterpiece features double-dial construction, minute repeater with grande and petite sonnerie, one-minute tourbillon, and perpetual calendar.
Patek Philippe Ten-Day Presse-Papier, $2.734 million. This historically important 1928 silver and gold desk timepiece, rediscovered after being believed lost, sold in December 2025 as the most technically advanced execution of its series.
Phillips Watches record year. Achieved $370 million across all channels in 2025, including $290.4 million in global auction sales (highest annual total ever), with 99% sell-through rate by lot and 100% by value across 1,802 lots.
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What drives these prices?
These watches fetch millions due to:
Craftsmanship. Hand-assembled movements and gem-setting require years of expertise and mastery of traditional techniques passed through generations.
Rarity. Limited production, unique commissions, and singular creations like the Grandmaster Chime or stainless steel Ref. 1518 create extreme scarcity.
Provenance. Ownership by figures like Paul Newman, Francis Ford Coppola, or Queen Marie Antoinette adds historical significance and cultural value.
Materials. Exceptional diamonds, precious metals, and innovative materials like sapphire crystal cases elevate both cost and desirability.
Complications. Technical achievements like perpetual calendars, minute repeaters, tourbillons, and celestial charts demonstrate horological mastery.
The investment outlook for 2026.
Luxury watches continue proving their investment potential. The 2025 auction season demonstrated remarkable resilience with Phillips’ $370 million achievement, while specific categories showed exceptional strength. Vintage steel sports models, particularly Rolex Daytonas and Royal Oaks, maintain premium pricing despite broader luxury market softening. Independent watchmakers including Philippe Dufour, Rexhep Rexhepi, and Greubel Forsey achieved strong results throughout 2025.
Condition, provenance, and rare dial variants drive sustained premiums. Watches from original owners’ families consistently outperform estimates, as demonstrated by the Paul Newman Daytona Lemon Dial. Richard Mille’s sapphire pieces show how modern materials captivate ultra-high-net-worth collectors seeking technical audacity.
Looking ahead to 2026, insiders anticipate several potentially record-breaking lots including a unique A. Lange & Söhne piece crafted for a German industrialist, a platinum Nautilus rumored for Phillips, and additional sapphire masterpieces from Richard Mille and Hublot. Private sales and boutique auctions continue booming, enabling discreet transactions for ultra-rare watches.
At the top of horology, value is written in craftsmanship, rarity and provenance. The 2025 season, crowned by Phillips Watches’ $370 million year and the record $17.6 million Patek Ref. 1518, proved how enduring that appeal remains.
