When it comes to haute horology (the art of luxury watchmaking) these watches are the most expensive watches ever made!
From exquisite diamond studded masterpieces designed by dedicated artisans to intricately designed tourbillions the admiration of horology is as much a mind-set as it is a lifestyle.
Here we present the worlds most expensive watches ever created..
10. Louis Moinet Meteoris
$4.6 Million
The unique Louis Moinet creation, titled the Louis Moinet Meteoris is among one of the most interesting designs in the world. The four distinct tourbillion watches which depict the solar system all contain a small fragment from outer space, including pieces from a meteorite from Mars, the moon, an asteroid and an ancient meteorite better known as the Rosetta Stone.
9. Diamond Hublot Big Bang
$5 Million
Whilst Hublot may be a relatively new company in terms of haute horology the brand has risen quickly in the ranks of high end luxury watchmakers. The Diamond Big Bang
Encrusted with over 1,280 diamonds the Diamond Big Bang is the company claims the most "precious" timepiece it's ever created. Awash with diamonds the 18K white gold case consists of 302 baguette diamonds while the 18K white gold dial holds another 179 baguettes and the 18K bracelet is set with a further 782 baguette diamonds, plus an additional six emerald-cut diamonds, all greater than 3 carats each with the white gold crown's finished off with a 1.06 carat rose-cut diamond
Rapper Jay Z, is the current owner of the piece.
8. Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 in Stainless Steel
$11.13 Million
During the turmoil of World War II, a small but momentous event took place in Basel, Switzerland, which forever changed Swiss watch manufacturing. It was 1941 and at a watch fair known today as Baselworld Patek Philippe introduced what was a revolutionary wristwatch – the 1518.
The 1518 was the world’s first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch ever to be produced with 281 examples of the 1518 encased in yellow gold created, 55 versions in rose gold, and in the rarest and most elite stainless steel version, only four examples are known.
7. Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Watch
$17.7 Million
The Rolex Daytona Ref. 6239, also known as the "Paul Newman" because it was owned by legendary is the most sought-after Daytona model. Distinguishable from other Daytona models for the “square lollipop” ends on the subdial markers and for its Art Deco font the watch has contrasting colored seconds scale along the periphery of the dial, and a Daytona signature over the lower subdial rather than under the upper signature, as on most other Daytonas.
Sold at auction in 2017 the watch was officially called the Rolex Oyster Cosmograph Daytona, it was produced in six different series between 1963 and the late 1970s, but was discontinued because of poor sales. The watch was a gift to Newman, from his wife Joanne Woodward and was wore everyday by the actor between the years of 1969 and 1984 but remained in surprisingly good condition.
6. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch
$18 Million
Unveiled to the world in 2015 at that year’s Baselworld, the Billionaire timepiece is a one-of-a-kind watch. The New York Jewelers enlisted Italian entrepreneur Flavio Briatore and his Billionaire Lifestyle SARL company to help design the watch.
Set with 260 carats of emerald-cut diamonds, the bold cut enhances the brilliance of the diamonds, which are set in an inverted pyramid style. In the centre, a skeletonised dial offers a transparent view of the hand-wound movement and tourbillon The entire 18-karat white gold case and bracelet of the watch is diamond-set with stones that weigh as much as three carats each.
The flamboyant boxer Floyd Mayweather is the current owner of this timepiece
5. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication
$24 Million
The Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication is one of the most complicated mechanical pocket watches ever designed. Created for banker Henry Graves, Jr. in 1932, the 18-karat gold watch has 24 complications, 920 individual parts, with 430 screws, 110 wheels, 120 removable parts, and 70 jewels, all of them handcrafted.
The timepiece which sold in 2014 is a gold, double dialled and double open-faced, it took three years to design, and another five years to manufacture.
4. Chopard 201-Carat Watch
$25 Million
The Chopard 201 Carat is appropriately named because it has 201 carats of a variety of diamonds and other gems.
Made in 2000 the watch features 874 individuals stones, at the center of the gleaming white gold and yellow gold hardware is an internally flawless heart-shaped pink diamond that weighs 15.37 carats, a 12.79-carat heart-shaped blue diamond, and a flawless heart-shaped D-color diamond weighing 11.36 carats. Each of those stones is set in a bracelet that also contains clusters of 260 pear-shaped D-color flawless diamonds and 91 round D-color flawless diamonds weighing 10.29 carats total, which are arranged into flower shapes that feature a round 8.81-carat yellow diamond in the center. Additionally, 26 pear-shaped yellow diamonds that together weigh 17.07 carats are scattered throughout the bracelet.
3. Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaliierie 101 Manchette
$26 Million
This stunning piece of Haute Joaillerie Horlogerie brings together high art and technology to enable such beauty to also work as a wonderful timepiece. The watch movement is in perfect synthesis with the piece’s design; the movement does not dictate the aesthetics, as is the case with so many timepieces, they complement each other to produce a stunning piece of high jewellery.
The Manchette features 576 diamonds and white gold tiles arranged in an interesting pavé arrangement that gives it not just timeless beauty but also gives it the level of visual appeal associated with a work of art. The diamond encrusted tiles themselves differ, some contain sixteen diamonds in a classic four-by-four pattern, while others have a white gold diagonal cross with three diamonds in each triangular section. The diamonds are broken up occasionally by polished white gold, slightly domed tiles, which adds to the incredible allure of the piece.
2. Graff Diamonds The Fascination
$40 Million
The Graff Diamonds Fascination perfectly epitomises the brands diamond expertise. A true work of art, ‘The Fascination’ incorporates 152.96 carats of the very finest white diamonds.
Ingeniously designed the watch has a detachable 38.13 carat D Flawless pear shape diamond cut that can be placed inside a bracelet or ring.
1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination
$55 Million
Encrusted with multi-coloured and rare diamonds, the Graff Diamond Hallucination contains 110 carats worth of diamonds.
Unveiled in 2014 at BaselWorld the watch was the conception of Laurence Graff, chairman of Graff Diamonds, “The Graff Hallucination is a sculptural masterpiece, a celebration of the miracle of coloured diamonds for many years I have thought about creating a truly remarkable watch that illustrates our all-consuming passion for diamonds. The Hallucination has made my diamond dream a reality."
The diamonds set within the platinum a bracelet are some of the rarest diamond colors with Fancy Vivid Yellow, Fancy Intense Pink, Fancy Intense Blue, Fancy Light Pink, Fancy Light Grey Blue, Fancy Intense Blue, Fancy Green and Fancy Orange. In addition, many different cuts are used, such as heart shape, pear shape, marquise, emerald, radiant, and round.
