Top 10 Most Expensive Watches of All Time

Sold For: $6.5 million (2021)
If you’re asked to name a luxury watch brand, Patek is likely to be the first one that springs to mind. And for good reason. We kick our list off with a stunning piece from this Swiss company. In 2021, renowned New York auction house Phillips sold this watch for $6.5 million, with revenue going to the Nature Conservancy. So, what makes this one so special? Well, it has a striking blue dial. And, it also bears the logo of another esteemed luxury brand: Tiffany & Co. This is actually a bit of an underdog story, as the bidding began at $20,000, which was described by one source as “laughable.” Trust us when we say that you’ll see Patek on this list again.

Sold for: $7.3 million (2015)
And when we say “again,” we mean “right now!” The benefits of this watch are right in its name. Though even with stainless steel, we’d want to do everything in our power to keep it safe. At Only Watch 2015 at Phillip’s in Geneva, it took in $7.3 million, with proceeds going to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research. One of its key features is its tourbillon, a component that keeps parts of the watch moving in order to help give the most accurate readings possible. While some dispute how much of a difference this actually makes, there’s no denying that it has a major factor in the overall price of top watches.

Sold for: $7.7 million (2022)
By this point, you should be used to hearing the name “Patek” in this video. But when they’re making such impressive watches, how can they not dominate? The most recent addition to this list, this watch is gold in both design and function. The most expensive in the venerated "2499" series, this pink gold watch was made in 1957 and sold at Sotheby's in Hong Kong. It was part of the "Nevadian Collector" sale and took in $7.7 million. Something that especially sets it apart is the “Gobbi Milano,” signature on the dial, referring to a renowned jewelry and watch retailer in Milan, Italy.

Sold for: $7.7 million (2021)
At lucky number 7, we have a watch that also sold for….$7.7 million! And you guessed it, it’s another Patek. With a name like “Two-Crown,” you’d expect a watch fit for royalty. And that’s exactly what you get here. Going into the Geneva Watch Auction, this piece, manufactured in 1953, was estimated to take in somewhere in the vicinity of $3 million. That’s undoubtedly an impressive sum. But the final number blew it out of the water. While there’s much to talk about with this watch, the standout feature has to be its famed “Eurasia Dial,” with a stunning map of the continental area. Any chance we can give it a third crown?

Sold for: $9 million (2019)
Want to be dressed to the nines, tens, and beyond? This Patek, which sold for a cool $9 million in 2019, would certainly do the trick. Also manufactured in 1953, it combines the immense name value of Patek with that of Italian brand Gobbi. Sold by Christie’s in Hong Kong at the 2019 Masterpiece auction, this is a watch that’s more than worthy of being called a “masterpiece.” Besides the name value, this has a blue enamel dial that screams both “luxury” and “serenity.” Pardon our French, but the "Heures Universelles" is a très belle watch.

Sold for: $9.6 million (2021)
This watch was owned by a descendant of Muhammad Ali. And we’re not talking about the boxer. The Muhammad Ali Dynasty was the ruling family of Egypt and Sudan for more than a century. Prince Tewfik Adil “T.A.” Toussoun, who passed away in 2021, had this Patek since 1951. And when it was recovered, it reportedly looked good as new. Manufactured in 1948, it was expected to take up to $2.2 million. But it more than quadrupled that highest estimate at auction at Sotheby’s in New York, bringing in a whopping $9.6 million. Besides being owned by a member of a royal dynasty, this watch is also one of the very few chronographs, or watches with a stopwatch feature, from Patek.

Sold for: $11.1 million (2016)
And just that like that, we have another stainless steel 1518, one of only four ever made. Expectations for this piece, the only one of the four that hadn't yet been up for auction, were high. And it more than met them. In fact, it set a new record for a wristwatch at an auction when it was sold at the 2016 Geneva Watch Auction. But while that’s since been broken, $11.1 million is certainly nothing to sneeze at. Manufactured in 1943, these watches were said to have been made for the King of Iraq. And we can say that they’re absolutely fit for a king, queen, or other ruler. While the unknown recipient may or may not have been royalty, they undoubtedly look divine.

Sold for: $17.8 million (2017)
Stop the presses, we have a different watch manufacturer! Of course, if it’s not Patek, who else could it be besides Rolex? This watch, manufactured in 1968, was owned by none other than renowned actor Paul Newman, who received it from his wife, Joanne Woodward. And given that it took in an A-list-worthy $17.8 million at Phillips in New York, it’s clear the late Oscar winner’s name still has plenty of cachet. It’s also a piece with serious flair. The distinct dial, noted for its art deco style, is a relatively rare design. Newman actually gave the watch to daughter Nell's then-boyfriend James Cox, in 1984. An incredible actor, race car driver, philanthropist, and a generous gift-giver? Paul Newman was truly a legend.

Sold for: $24 million (2014)
You might associate pocket watches with frantic rabbits in cartoons. But they can have plenty of real-world value. However, none so far have beat this one, manufactured in 1933. And it certainly lives up to its name. In watch terms, a “complication” refers to any attribute past basic time display. So, how many does the “Supercomplication” have? Try 24. We’re not going to list them all, but they include a chronograph, a perpetual calendar, and an alarm. And, appropriately, it took in $24 million at Sotheby’s in New York. We should probably also mention its 18-karat gold design. Its namesake, Henry Graves Jr., allegedly had it commissioned to one-up the pocket watch owned by auto titan James Ward Packard. Now, that’s what we call “deliciously petty.”

Sold for: $31 million (2019)
Is it any wonder that the top watch on this list is a Patek? The most expensive watch to-date by a substantial margin, this Grandmaster Chime is, well, absolutely grand. Bringing in a colossal $31 million at Only Watch 2019, it was made to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the iconic brand. And while it might not be a "Supercomplication" in name, it's certainly one in practice. It has 20 complications, more than any other wristwatch. Its stainless-steel design and undeniable pizzazz further help explain how it pulled in such an astonishing sum. Will another watch break this record? We're not sure. But we're guessing it'll be a Patek.