Tech
10 Most Expensive Wristwatches in the World
Wristwatches are not just timekeepers; they are symbols of luxury, precision, and craftsmanship. Over the years, certain timepieces have become symbols of opulence, fetching astronomical prices at auctions and private sales.
Here’s a look at ten of the most expensive wristwatches ever made.
10. Richard Mille RM 56-02 Sapphire
Price: $2 million (₦3,179,993,424)
Known for its futuristic designs and use of unconventional materials, Richard Mille created the RM 56-02 Sapphire with a case entirely made from sapphire crystal.
This transparent watch is not only visually stunning but also technically advanced, featuring a tourbillon and a cable-suspended movement.
9. Hublot Big Bang Diamond
Price: $5 million (₦7,949,983,562)
The Hublot Big Bang Diamond is a showstopper, with 1,282 diamonds totalling over 100 carats, including six emerald-cut stones weighing more than 3 carats each.
It took a team of 17 people 14 months to complete this watch, making it one of the most lavishly decorated watches ever made.
Read Also:
Top 10 types of phones, their best uses
Top 10 types of laptops and their best uses
8. Vacheron Constantin 57260
Price: $8 million (₦12,719,973,699)
The Vacheron Constantin 57260 is the most complicated watch ever made, with 57 complications, 2,800 components, and a total of 242 jewels.
Commissioned by a private client, this timepiece took eight years to complete and is a true marvel of watchmaking.
7. Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 in Stainless Steel
Price: $11 million (₦17,489,963,836)
The Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 is the first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch ever produced. What makes this particular model so valuable is its stainless steel case, which is rare for Patek Philippe’s high-end watches, most of which are made from gold or platinum.
6. Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona
Price: $17.8 million (₦28,301,941,481)
This Rolex Daytona, once owned by legendary actor Paul Newman, is one of the most iconic watches in the world. The watch was a gift from Newman’s wife, Joanne Woodward, and features the inscription “Drive Carefully Me” on the back.
It set a record for the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction in 2017.
5. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch
Price: $18 million (₦28,619,940,824)
The Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch is a masterpiece of horology and jewelry. With 260 carats of emerald-cut diamonds forming the bracelet, and a skeletonized movement visible from the front, this watch is a bold statement of wealth and style.
4. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication
Price: $24 million (₦38,159,921,098)
Commissioned by American banker Henry Graves Jr., this Patek Philippe masterpiece took five years to design and build. It features 24 complications, including a perpetual calendar, sunrise and sunset times, and a celestial chart based on the night sky over Graves’ New York home.
It held the record for the most expensive watch ever sold for decades.
3.Chopard 201-Carat Watch
Price: $25 million (₦39,749,917,811)
This dazzling timepiece from Chopard is adorned with 874 diamonds, totaling 201 carats. The watch’s centerpiece is a trio of heart-shaped diamonds in pink, blue, and white.
When the spring-loaded mechanism is pressed, the watch opens like a flower to reveal the dial.
2. Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010
Price: $31 million (₦49,289,898,085)
The Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 holds the record for the most expensive wristwatch ever sold. Auctioned at Only Watch 2019, this unique piece features 20 complications, including a perpetual calendar, minute repeater, and dual time zones.
The watch’s case is reversible, and it is the only Grandmaster Chime ever made in stainless steel.
1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination
Price: $55 million (₦87,449,819,184)
While technically more of a bracelet watch, the Graff Diamonds Hallucination deserves mention due to its mind-boggling price.
Encrusted with 110 carats of rare, multi-coloured diamonds set into a platinum bracelet, this timepiece is the epitome of luxury and extravagance.
These Most Expensive Wristwatches represent the pinnacle of luxury, craftsmanship, and exclusivity in the world of horology.
While these Most Expensive Wristwatches serve the basic function of telling time, their true value lies in their artistry, rarity, and the status they confer on their owners.