The most expensive watch in the world (now with an F.P. Journe on the list)

Phillips Auctions in Geneva hammers an F.P. Journe at 7.3 million Swiss francs, almost 8.4 million US dollars on the 8^th of November 2024. The remarkable brand was already on this list as the most expensive quartz watch ever but now enters it with a tourbillon. The first watch ever sold by the brand. Which makes it unique and explains the price. A bit.

Sotheby’s New York auctioned the special Patek Philippe from Sylvester Stallone on the 5th of June 2024, selling it for $ 5,400,000. It is a Grandmaster Chime Reference 6300G-010 that was made for Stallone, and he kept it unworn for about 3 years.

Given the fact that a steel version of this model is the most expensive wristwatch in the world, so far, 5.4 million for a white gold version seems a pretty good price. Although the steel version was auctioned for charity, which always ensures a better yield. Sly’s now former watch ends up at number 16 on this list of most expensive watches in the world.

Christie’s Hong Kong auctioned another Patek Philippe Ref. 2523J on the 26th of May 2024, entering this list in the number 8 position. And on the 10th of May 2024 Christie’s auctioned the Patek Philippe Ref. 6301A-010 Grande and Petite Sonnerie, Minute Repeater for the Only Watch 2024 edition. It hit about 17.3 million US dollars, in just about one year (28th of May 2023) after Christie’s Hong Kong auctioned a Patek Philippe for 8,546,282 US dollars. This reference 2523J now is the number 7 on this list of most expensive watches ever, the 6301A-010 becomes the new Number 3.

And because reference 2523 holds four positions in this list, it might appear here even more when other owners decide to sell their pieces at these prices. It’s a rare piece, as only 26 examples were ever made, either in yellow or pink gold and there is one example in white gold. And only three 2523’s exist (as far as the experts know) with a Eurasia dial.

Diamond bombs with a watch underneath are not counted

The number one on this list is… not a watch from Graff Diamonds from 2014 that looks like candy. On most lists on the internet, the Graff Hallucination is the most expensive watch in the world, costing 55 million dollars. It is 110 carats of colored diamonds set into a bracelet of platinum. What if they put twice as many shiny things on it? Would it be 110 million then? It should be on a list of Things With A Ridiculous Amount Of Diamonds. Not on this list.   

Another one from Graff has the same recipe. A bucket of diamonds and there is a watch somewhere underneath. It’s the 2015 Graff Fascination with 152.96 carats of white diamonds and a center, 38.13-carat, pear-shaped diamond that can detach into a ring. Yours for 40 million. Doesn’t count.

We found an expensive watch from the renowned watch brand Chopard. It costs 25 million and consists of a 15-carat pink diamond, a 12-carat blue diamond, and an 11-carat white diamond as well as a further 163 carats of white and yellow diamonds. It’s called the Chopard 201-Carat Watch, if you can recognize the watch somewhere in the middle. We say: not for this list.

There is also a pocket watch called the Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication by Patek Philippe. It was sold by Sotheby’s in Geneva on the 11_^th of November 2014 for almost 24 million dollars, Yes, it is a watch. But a pocket watch. We are looking for something else…

The most expensive watch in the world to wear on your wrist

You already understand that we are looking for real watches, that you can wear on your wrist. Not an explosion of diamonds with a watch somewhere underneath. In our opinion, the most expensive watch in the world should be a “normal” watch. But where do we draw the line? There is an 18-million Jacob & Co. watch called Billionaire with 260 carats of emerald-cut diamonds that actually looks like a watch. Sort of. No.

Then there is a diamond Hublot Classic Fusion Haute Joaillerie for 5 million. It features 1280 diamonds with at least three carats each, and it really looks like a watch. Still, no. Besides, 5 million wouldn’t be in the top 10 nowadays. There are more examples of diamond bombs, but we don’t count them. What we count is real-world watches – although the price might not be real world – that have been sold. Now, there might have been transactions between private persons or companies we do not know of, but this list only contains watches that are traceable. And so is the sale. Which creates a list that is based on auction results.

This gives us the following list of the most expensive watches in the world, with a lot of models from Patek Philippe and Rolex. So far. The list is ordered by the amount in US dollars, mostly including auction fees, buyer’s premium, etc., and based on the exchange rate at the moment of sale. Are all the watches worth the money? Probably not. A lot of auctions are for charity (Only Watch for example) so some auction results are set because of the good heart of the buyer rather than the value of the watch.

01 – the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 (2019) is the most expensive watch in the world

The number 1 of the most expensive watches in the world is this Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010. This one-off was created by the brand to be auctioned at the Only Watch 2019 charity event and was hammered at 31 million Swiss Francs. Almost double the price of number 2. It’s not the first and probably not the last watch auctioned for Only Watch that reaches incredible price levels. The auction date was the 9^th of November 2019.

Sold for: CHF 31’000’000
Which was: approx. $ 31,190,000 | approx. € 28.204.054 | approx. £ 24,327,718

02 – Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Paul Newman Ref. 6239 (1968)

This Rolex that belonged to Paul Newman was the most expensive wristwatch since 2016. The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Paul Newman Ref. 6239 was sold on the 26^th of October 2017 by Phillips Auctioneers in New York and could carry the title of most expensive watch in the world for only 2 years.

Sold for: CHF 17’750’973
Which was: $ 17,752,500 | € 15.268.341 | £ 13,565,921

03 – Patek Philippe Ref. 6301A-010 (2024)

This Patek Philippe Ref. 6301A-010 Grande and Petite Sonnerie, Minute Repeater was auctioned on the 10th of May 2024 by Christie’s during the Only Watch 2024 edition. Of course, it is a unique piece with a couple of Patek’s most valuable complications.

Sold for: CHF 15’700’000
Which was: approx. $ 17,300,00 | € 16.000.000 | £ 13,800,000

04 – Patek Philippe Ref. 1518A (1943)

One out of four, the first one made. A Grande Complication with a perpetual calendar and chronograph, which was the first ever made at the time. Read the full story about the Patek Philippe Ref. 1518A here. It was sold on the 13^th of November 2016 by Phillips Auctioneers in Geneva.

Sold for: CHF 11’002’000
Which was: $ 11,128,250 | € 10.231.860 | £ 8,810,573

05 – Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 (1948)

This pink gold perpetual calendar chronograph with moon phase belonged to Prince Mohammed Tewfik A. Toussou of Egypt. He passed away in April 2021 and this watch was consigned to Sotheby’s by his heirs. It was actioned by Sotheby’s New York on the 9^th of December 2021. The 35-millimeter Patek with case number 657’249 still had the original box and papers (from 1953) and is 1 of 14 known pieces with these specs.

Sold for: $ 9,570,000

06 – Patek Philippe Ref. 2523 Gobbi Milan “Heures Universelles” (1953)

This Patek Philippe Ref. 2523 HU was auctioned by Christie’s Hong Kong on the 23^rd of November 2019 for almost 9 million US dollars – as it was sold for 70,175,000 HKD. This Heures Universelles (HU) from 1953 with case number 306’216 was delivered to Mr. Raimondo Gobbi in April 1957. He was a watch lover and retailer in Milan, Italy.

Sold for: $8,967,000

07 – Patek Philippe Ref. 2523J North America (1955)

Another reference 2523, is the Patek Philippe Ref. 2523J. It is an 18k gold two-crown world timer with 24-hour indication and cloisonné enamel dial depicting the North American continent. It was auctioned in Hong Kong by Christie’s on the 28^th of May 2023. This 35.6-millimeter in yellow gold with case number 306205 is one of three known versions with a yellow gold case and North America on the dial.

Sold for: $ 8,546,282

08 – Patek Philippe Ref. 2523J Eurasia (1953)

The fourth Patek Philippe Ref. 2523 that enters this list was auctioned on the 26th of May 2024 by Christie’s in Hong Kong. It is a 35.5-millimeter World Timer with cloisonné enamel depicting the Eurasian map with a case in 18K gold (case number 306’201). The movement inside bears the Patek Philippe number 720’304 and that is the Patek Philippe caliber 12 400 HU. The official reference number of the watch is ref. 2523J HU DE and the watch is one out of three ever made with a map of Europe. For the full picture of this model:

Movement number 720’301, with case number 306’193, was auctioned by Phillips Geneva, on May 8, 2021 (see below)
Movement number 720’303, with case number 306’197, is in the Patek Philippe Museum
Movement number 720’304, with case number 306’201, is the one we’re talking about here

Sold for: $ 8,424,452 (HK$ 65,475,000)
Which was: € 7,725,194 | approx. £ 6,644,000

09 – F.P. Journe Tourbillon à Remontoire d’Egalité Ref. 15/93 (1993)

A brand other than Patek Philippe or Rolex is on this list. It is the F.P. Journe Tourbillon à Remontoire d’Egalité with case number 15/93, dating from 1993. It is a special watch, not only because of its complications, but it is the first watch François-Paul Journe ever sold, and the second watch he ever made. As the first he ever made, a prototype, is still in his possession.

He made this 15/93 together with the 16/93 by the way. “15” means it was the 15^th timepiece created by him, we assume the prototype is “14” and the timepieces before that are clocks. And “93” reflects the year of production. So, this watch is historically very significant to the history of F.P. Journe. Who also holds the record for the most expensive quartz watch in the world.

It is 38 millimeters, has a platinum case, and a manual-winding movement. The new owner gets the original technical drawings, metal sheet from which the tourbillon cage is cut out, articles, and original invoice as well. The watch was auctioned on the 8^th of November 2024 by Phillips Auctions in Geneva.

Sold for: CHF 7’320’000
Which was approx.: $ 8,379,000 | € 7.795.000 | £ 6,476,000

10 – Patek Philippe Ref. 2523J Eurasia “Silk Road” (1953)

And another Patek Philippe Ref. 2523, now with Eurasia depicted on the cloisonné enamel dial. It was auctioned in Geneva by Phillips on the 8th of May 2021. This 36-millimeter world timer with case number 306’193 appears to be the earliest Ref. 2523J with a cloisonné enamel dial. Its movement number is 720’301, and this model is one out of three with a map of Europe. This one, one in the Patek Philippe Museum and one in a private collection that was auctioned on the 26th of May 2024.

Sold for: CHF 7’048’000
Which was: $ 7,682,000

11 – Patek Philippe Ref. 5016A-010 (2015)

A unique piece donated by Patek to Only Watch is to be auctioned for charity. Only Watch is a biennial auction to fight Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and watches from several brands around the world. This Patek Philippe 5016A-010 is a Minute Repeater Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar in stainless steel with a blue enamel dial. Read more about the model here. It was sold on the 7^th of November 2015 by Phillips Auctioneers in Geneva.

Sold for: CHF 7’300’000
Which was: $ 7,259,348 | € 6.757.908 | £ 4,822,686

12 – Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A-018 Tiffany & Co. (2021)

This Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711 in steel with Tiffany dial was made to celebrate 170 years of alliance between Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. So they made 170 pieces of it and this one was actioned for charity by Phillips New York on the 11^th of December 2021 with proceeds benefitting The Nature Conservancy.

Read our full article about the Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A-018 Tiffany & Co. The original price for this watch is $ 52,635…

Sold for: $ 6,503,500

13 – Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Rainbow Ref. 16599SAAEC (1994)

At the same auction where the F.P. Journe in this list was auctioned, this Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Rainbow with reference 16599SAAEC was hammered. Phillips Auctions in Geneva sold it for CHF 5’505’000 on the 8^th of November 2024. It is a 40-millimeter 18k white gold Daytona, case number W082941, covered with multi-colored gems on the dial and bezel.

What’s special about this example is that it is the first Rainbow Daytona. It dates from 1994 and Rolex officially released their Rainbow models in 2012. And as it is an older Daytona it has the Rolex caliber 4030 (movement number 174’853), which is a high-beating and heavily adjusted Zenith movement.

Sold for: CHF 5’505’000
Which was: approx. $ 6,285,000 | € 5.864.000 | £ 4,866,000

14 – Patek Philippe Ref. 5208T-010 (2017)

The Patek Philippe Ref. 5208T-010 is a minute repeater with mono-pusher chronograph, perpetual calendar, and moon phase for Only Watch 2017, which was auctioned by Christie’s on the 11^th of November 2017. Bidding started at CHF 900’000 ($ 932,000 / € 822.000 / £ 710,000). Read about the Patek Philippe Ref. 5208T-010 here.

Sold for: CHF 6’200’000
Which was: $ 6,224,500 | € 5.335.600 | £ 4,719,400

15 – Rolex Daytona Ref. 6265 The Unicorn (1970)

This 37-millimeter Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6265 was auctioned by Phillips Geneva on the 12^th of May 2018. It’s a white gold version with a black dial and bark-finished bracelet, and so far it is the only one looking like this – that’s why it is called the Unicorn. Produced in 1970, delivered on special request to a German dealer in 1971, and discovered by the watch website Hodinkee in a collection of American collector John Goldberger. It was sold to benefit Children Action.

Sold for: CHF 5,937,500
Which was: $ 5,936,906

16 – Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref. 6002G-001 (2015)

The Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref. 6002G-001 is an 18K white gold perpetual calendar with moon phase, minute repeater, and tourbillon with a blue cloisonné enamel dial. The case has a diameter of 44 millimeters and it was sold by Christie’s Hong Kong in March 2023.

Sold for: $ 5.800.000
Which was: € 5.200.000 | CHF 5’000’000

17 – Patek Philippe Ref. 1527 (1943)

The Patek Philippe Ref. 1527 is an 18K gold perpetual calendar chronograph with moon phase. The case has a diameter of 37.6 millimeters and houses Patek’s caliber 13”’, a nickel-finished lever movement stamped with the Geneva seal. It was sold by Christie’s Geneva on the 10^th of May 2010.

Sold for: CHF 6’259’000
Which was: $ 5,655,140 | approx. € 4.394.719 | £ 3,772.074

18 – Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300G-010 (2021, ex Sylvester Stallone)

Sylvester Stallone’s Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300G-010 is a white gold piece of art with a diameter of 47.7 millimeters and an endless list of complications. It is a double-face model, you can wear it on both sides, and it has 21 complications. Read our story about the gold version of it with reference 6300G-001 to get an overview of its functions. The case number of this Stallone version is 6’343’140, the movement number is 5’255’541, and the presentation box has an engraving of Sylvester Stallone’s name. It also comes with a Grandmaster Chime book stamped Sylvester Stallone, and a bag full of other stuff like an iPad with Patek Philippe leather case, cufflinks, a travel case, and a personal note from Sly. Up to you if that adds some value. It was sold by Sotheby’s New York on the 5^th of June 2024. The photo above is not of the actual Stallone model.

Sold for: $ 5.400.000
Which was: € 4.961.000 | £ 4,219,000 | CHF 4’815’000

Prices and (re)sources for the most expensive watch in the world

Prices: for all the exchange rate calculations (at mid-market rates) we used the historical currency tables from XE.

Most information about the watches is from the auctioneers of Phillips, Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Antiquorum, who regularly have auctions with the most desirable and searched (vintage) watches. Check their websites if you want to keep up with the latest auctions. Or if you want to read more about a specific watch. Their specialists really dig up everything about a piece, you will be amazed.

Almost all photos are either press photos from the manufacturer or from the auctioneers. Not all photos are the actual ones that have been sold. Some photos are horrible and found on the internet without an owner. Should you be the owner of a photo listed here and you want it to be removed, please let us know.

If you know of any watch auctioned that should be on this list, please let us know!

The most expensive quartz watch in the world

We almost forgot that there is another category of most expensive watches in the world. The most expensive quartz watch in the world. Now, you can buy a regular Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time Ref. 5269R, so without gems, for about 28 to 35k, depending whether you pay in British pounds, Swiss francs, euros, or American dollars. A pretty serious price for a quartz watch.

However, those are regular prices, but there have been two auctions for charity that have led to record-breaking prices for a quartz movement. The number 1 and number 2 are from the same brand, F.P. Journe. The number 3? We don’t have a clue.

01 – F.P. Journe Élégante 48 mm Titalyt MAMCO (2024)

The F.P. Journe Élégante 48 mm Titalyt MAMCO was auctioned by Phillips Watches on the 18^th of September 2024 to raise funds for the renovation of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Geneva (MAMCO). The dial of the watch is inspired by a 1994 artwork from Maurizio Nannucci called “Art” but the movement is even more special. It is the F.P. Journe caliber 1210, just read the article about this watch to find out what and how…

Sold for: CHF 470’000
Which was: approx. $ 554,000 | approx. € 495.000 | approx. £ 416,000

02 – F.P. Journe Élégante 48 mm Titalyt in pink (2024)

Another Élégante in 48 millimeters, with the same F.P. Journe caliber 1210, the same size, the same… almost everything. Except for the strap, now in pink, and the standard dial now has a pink “1”. This pink F.P. Journe Élégante 48 mm Titalyt was auctioned on the 2^nd of March 2024 at a Miami Fundraising Event that was co-hosted by Phillips Watches. The sale price was donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which is the largest private funder of breast cancer research in the world.

Sold for: $ 420,000
Which was: approx. € 384.000 | approx. CHF 369’000 | approx. £ 327,000

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