Watch and see: these are the are the most expensive watches to have been sold at auction!

Oh, the excitement of an auction: the thrill of competition, and the reward of winning that coveted lot.

For those who love to indulge, these wristwatches are the ultimate treat—worth tens of millions of dollars. See some of the world's most expensive watches sold at auction. Hint: the list is dominated by luxury watchmaker, Patek Philippe. 

Read more: 5 Things Every Watch Collector Should Know This 2021

1. Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, 2019

The Patek Philippine Grandmaster Chime is the brand's most complicated wristwatch ever made. Development, production, and assembly totalled 100,000 hours before it was finally completed. In 2019, a 175th-anniversary watch amassed bids up to $31.2 million at a Christie's auction. 

2. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication, 2014

Even before the record-breaking sale of the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime in 2019, the brand had already held the record for the most expensive watch sold at an auction. This gorgeous Henry Graves Supercomplication was said to have been commissioned by American banker, Henry Graves Jr. This sold at Sotheby's event in Switzerland for a little less than $24 million. It boasts of a variety of features including timekeeping, calendar, celestial charts, alarms, and chiming functions. 

3. Paul Newman's Rolex Ref. 6239 Cosmograph Daytona, 2017

In 2017, Paul Newman's Rolex Ref. 6239 Cosmograph Daytona sold for a record-breaking $17.7 million. It originally sold for $15.5 million but included a 12.5 per cent buyer's premium, which added to the total. The bid was by a buyer over the telephone at a Phillips auction. The lot was sold after only 12 minutes. 

See also: Why Women Should Invest In Timeless Timepieces

 

4. Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, 2016

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Phillips

This chic stainless steel Patek Philippine Ref. 1518 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph is among the rarest models in the world. In fact, not even the brand's own museum in Geneva has one on display; this is because only four have ever been made in this exact style. This beautiful piece was sold at a Phillips auction in November of 2016 for a cool $11 million

 

5. Patek Philippe Ref. 2523, 2019

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Christie's

Bright, distinctive colours mark the face of Patek Philippe's Ref. 2523, one of the rarest models in the brand's line-up. It was first created in the early 1950s, which was also considered to have been the "golden age" of Patek Philippe. It sold at a Christie's auction in Hong Kong for almost $9 million. It is signed by Patek Philippe and by prestigious Italian retailer, Gobbi. 

6. Patek Philippe Grand Complications, 2015

This Patek Philippe Grand Complications watch features three of the most coveted features in any wristwatch. These include a tourbillon, a minute repeater, and a perpetual calendar that features phases of the moon. Due to its master craftsmanship and exciting complications, Phillips was able to auction this chronograph at a bid of over $7 million

Read more: Barack Obama, Donald Trump, John F Kennedy, And More: 6 US Presidents And Their Most Important Watches

7. Online Auction: Rolex Cosmograph Daytona JPS, 2020

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Sotheby's

Amid the changing times, auction houses have taken to online platforms. With this, it's important to mention the most expensive watch sold via online auction. This took place in 2020 when Sotheby's sold an 18k Rolex Cosmograph Daytona JPS wristwatch for around $1.5 million

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