There’s a reason why the world’s most expensive watches are also known as “Jewels of Time”. With prices ranging from five to six figures, these precious works of wearable art have something in common: they’re all painstakingly created by hand.
Whether it be from mining their own diamonds or through innovative micromechanics, the timepieces are true marvels of human invention.
We’ve compiled a list of seven expensive watches that have shattered records in terms of both sales and value. Check out these mind-blowing luxury watches.
1) Tourbillon With Instantaneous Jumping Seconds – Breguet No 2100
At Sotheby’s Geneva “Important Watches” auction on May 11, 2010, a rare masterpiece by Abraham-Louis Breguet was sold for a whopping price of almost 5 million dollars. The Tourbillon With Instantaneous Jumping Seconds is one of only three watches in the world outfitted with this revolutionary device. It’s able to neutralize gravity’s effect on accuracy.
In addition to its exclusive complication, the 17.5-carat gold case is engraved with a single green emerald, which symbolizes faith in love and hope that springs eternal.
2) The Aeternitas Mega 4 – Parmigiani Fleurier
This rare marvel of micro-engineering took seven years to create at a cost of approximately five million dollars. It comes with a staggering array of 1,483 parts. What does it do? It tells time, of course.
The Aeternitas Mega 4 by Parmigiani Fleurier has four dials that display the time in different parts of the world simultaneously. Limited to 25 pieces, this luxurious watch costs an arm and a leg – well, only one leg because its owner can remove the timepiece from his wrist and hold it aloft.
3) The Sky Moon Tourbillon – Greubel Forsey Art Piece 1
Another Tourbillon masterpiece, this watch by quirky British artist Willard Wigan was sold at a Christie’s auction for a record-breaking price of $16 million. The tiny sculpture stands just 2.5cm tall and features a Tourbillion assembly so tiny it can only be seen through a microscope.
Starring opposite the timekeeping device is a gold moon that rotates on its axis, which represents Greubel Forsey’s relationship with art. It was quite an expensive piece. But according to Stephen Forsey, the company’s co-founder and master watchmaker, it was also “one of the most complicated pieces we’ve ever made.”
4) The Tourbillon Daedalus – Romain Jerome
This unique work of art is a collaborative effort between luxury watchmaker Romain Jerome and sculptor Damien Steck.
The titanium timepiece is decorated with a winged motif and embellished with meteor fragments and pieces of two space shuttles: Challenger and Columbia.
Only 50 pieces were made. However, this horological wonder was sold out before it even hit the shelves at a price of $500,000 per unit. This is definitely an investment watch.
5) The Double Tourbillon 30° Technique – Greubel Forsey
This is yet another miraculous release by watchmakers Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey. This timepiece is worth $855,000. Combining balance wheels with a rotating cage, the Double Tourbillon 30° Technique features an innovative 360-degree view of the timekeeping device’s assembly.
6) The Pinnacle Black Label – Parmigiani Fleurier
Parmigiani Fleurier is responsible for the world’s most expensive wristwatch that retails at $1 million. The exquisitely handcrafted timepiece features a one-minute tourbillon, an enamel dial with three baguette-cut diamonds, and a case made from platinum. It’s undoubtedly one of the most extravagant, expensive watches ever made.
7) Deep Space – De Bethune
This astronomical marvel was released in 2012 for a sale price of $1 million. It features a double retrograde perpetual calendar indicating day, date, month, and year. The watch’s unique dial also indicates sidereal time, sun time, moon time, and the phase of the moon. When speaking of expensive watches, this one is always part of the conversation.
8) The Hybris Mechanica à Grande Sonnerie – Jaquet Droz
This incredible device is worth over one million dollars. Its 24-carat gold dial features a mechanical hand that moves to indicate the minutes, while two gongs chime out the hour. On top of that, it also features a perpetual calendar and a running equation of time.
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9) The Quadruple Tourbillon – Greubel Forsey
This watch is worth $1.5 million because it’s the only one in the world with four tourbillions housed within a single watch case. Crafted from platinum, the luxury timepiece features a 45-degree cut-out of the tourbillion cage so that its admirers can have a peek at its sophisticated inner workings.
10) The Grandmaster Chime – Patek Philippe
This particular watch debuted in 2012 for a staggering price of $5 million. In terms of design, it’s also notable for its pioneering chiming mechanism that enables it to play the entire Big Ben melody. Also, its case is made from white gold with a double curved sapphire crystal that has been anti-reflective coated on both sides.
11) The Sky Moon Tourbillon – Greubel Forsey
Another Tourbillon masterpiece, this watch by British firm Greubel Forsey has a price tag of over $5 million. It was released in 2011 and features an astoundingly large tourbillion cage that’s 13.5cm tall. It is the largest ever made for a wristwatch.
The timepiece also boasts a 24-second tourbillon with its axis inclined at 50° – the steepest inclination ever created for a wristwatch tourbillon. The Deep Space by De Bethune will cost you $1 million dollars.
It has a double retrograde perpetual calendar indicating day, date, month, and year with a one-minute tourbillon and an enamel dial with three baguette-cut diamonds and a case made from platinum.
Buying a New Watch: A Guide to the Most Expensive Watches
If you’re a watch aficionado, this list is definitely for you. We’re sure that this compilation of the most expensive watches in the world made your jaw drop. Whether you’re in the market for luxury watches or just curious about how much some of these watches cost, we know you’re not disappointed!
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