There’s no denying that a watch is as classic an accessory as there is, and it’s arguably one piece of fine jewelry that every man should own. That said, these luxury watches approach – or exceed – the price of a house in some areas, so this list certainly isn’t for the faint of heart.
If you’ve got the cash, and you aspire to add a bit of style by forking over some serious dough, look no further; these are some of the most expensive watches in the world.
While we could easily detail 9 watches with a $1-million plus price tag, let’s take a different approach and start in the “maybe one day” range and build to the “cancel our dinner with Jay-Z and Beyonce” range.
Most Expensive Watches in The World
Bvlgari Diagono Chronograph ($17,000)
Photo: YouTube
Bvlgari is, without a doubt, one of the most expensive watch brands on the planet. In fact, they have half a dozen time pieces that could easily have made this list. Instead of shooting for the moon, we’ll start off with this reasonably priced Diagono Chronograph that sets you back a mere $17,000.
The Diagono features a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal face, with a rubberized black bezel, stainless steel links and a durable black rubber strap. The watch is waterproof to 200-meters, but honestly, I’m sure we can agree that there are far better things to do with a $17,000 watch than to take it swimming.
Piaget Altiplano ($21,000)
Photo: Piaget
Piaget has been making some of the world’s best watches since the 1800s (1874 to be exact). This timeless classic features a minimalist design and a caliber 1200p, which is believed to be the thinnest automatic movement in the world. This slim design leads to an aesthetically pleasing and minimally intrusive watch that is less bling than it is sheer class.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubber Clad ($37,000)
Photo: Passions
While rubber might seem out of place on luxury watches of this caliber, the durable and comfortable material is beginning to find its way into the designs of more and more of the world’s high-end luxury watches. This Audemars is no exception. The watch features not only a rubber strap, but a rubber face that displays an inlay that is equal parts Salvador Dali as James Bond.
All of this is wrapped in 18k rose gold and offers an unparalleled level of accuracy with a three-dial system that tells seconds, minutes and hours due to its pricy automatic mechanism within. The Audemar is all about form and function, and for just under $40,000, it delivers both in spades.
MB&F HM3 Frog ($100,000)
Photo: Uncrate
This playful piece of industrial design features a face like no other with two giant protruding spheres and a semi-circle that allows you to watch as your timepiece winds itself with movement created by doing, well, just about anything. The aptly-named timepiece uses two sapphire spheres to display the hours and minutes, and a date feature that uses the entire outside of the watch in order to display the calendar date.
Breguet La Tradition Fusee Tourbillon ($158,000)
Photo: Peter Chong
Breguet was the original mastermind behind the tourbillon, which is a mechanical edition that counters the effects of gravity by mounting interior components inside a rotating cage and using a balance wheel. This nifty feature keeps the watch from getting stuck in certain positions. While invented in 1794, the feature is still used in Breguet’s watches to this day. The addition of a chain and fuse transmission system keeps your watch running smoothly, and adds some of the finest interior mechanics of any luxury watch on the market.
Maitres Du Temps Chapter One ($395,000)
Photo: veronephoto
This elegant timepiece is a collaboration between three of the greatest living watchmakers. The nearly $400,000 watch is the work of Christophe Claret, Peter Speake-Marin and Rober Dubuis and is widely hailed as one of the most impressive timepieces of the last decade. This master rendition of the Chapter One is available with slight variations, such as the addition of a round case, but no matter which version you decide on, it’s truly one of the most magnificent accessories you could ever hope to wear.
A. Lange & Sohne Tourbograph “Pour Le Merite” ($500,000)
Photo: Peter Chong
The A. Lange & Sohne looks as if it’s a classic straight out of the pages of “Around the World in 80 Days;” a watch that deserves its own display that world’s fair. A. Lange & Sohne is quickly becoming one of the best-known expensive watch brands due to an emphasis on quality mechanics and timeless design. This timepiece is no exception. It features a A. Lange tourbillon with a a fuse and chain transmission, much like the Breuget mentioned above.
The Tourbograph gets its name from a built-in chronograph capable of measuring time in one-sixteenth of a second increment and is a multiple award winner at the Watchmaking Grand Prix.
Greubel Forsey Invention Piece 2 Quadruple Tourbillon ($750,000)
Photo: Watch Anish
If one tourbillon is good, four has to be better, right? Watches that feature one tourbillon are already thought of as amongst the best in mechanical design, but the Forsey features four synchronous tourbillons that offers accuracy and smooth mechanical movement like no other. In addition, the design is out of this world and looks like Picasso meets one of the steampunk desert dwellers during Burning Man.
Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime ($2.6-million)
Photo: Business Insider
There are a lot of watches worthy of the top spot, but no list of outrageously-priced luxury watches would be complete without a Philippe. Patek Philippe is a storied Swiss watchmaker who developed the Grandmaster Chime over a reported 100,000 man hours to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the first Philippe timepiece. If you’ve got deep pockets, this solid gold timepiece looks like it belongs in Buckingham Palace, and with only 7 ever created, you might just have to be royalty to get your hands on one of the most expensive watches in the world.
