Time Is Money: 10 Of The World’s Most Expensive Watches
By Joe Wertz
Most Expensive Watches: The key to getting the best of the most expensive watches is that they should long outlive its wearer. The great watches are still handmade today by skilled craftsmen who tame metal into precision tools that rival the most complicated machinery in the world. Time may be precious, but is it priceless? With these lavish watches, you’d think so. Here are the 10 most expensive watches in the world, many of which represent more money than a single person can expect to earn in their entire lifetime. We’ve also compiled a list of modern luxury watches and you can also check out our daily coverage of mens expensive luxury watches.
10 – $734,000 – Breguet pocket watch 1907BA/12
Built by the centuries-old watchmaker credited with creating a device to foil gravity, Breguet’s pocket piece is an 18-karat yellow-gold case with a hand-engraved movement and a two-way rotating crown. [pic via]
9 – $800,000 – Blancpain 1735, Grande Complication
Between the crocodile leather strap of the Blancpain 1735 lies 740 watch parts and a year in the live of a dedicated watchmaker. The watch has a platinum case and elements displaying a perpetual calendar, lunar phase and a split-second chronograph. [pic via]
8 – $860,000 – Louis Moinet Magistralis
Inside the Louis Moinet Magistralis rests a piece of a 2,000-year-old lunar meteorite. Outside, the 18-karat gold watch has a movement that displays a minute repeater, perpetual calendar and a push-button chronograph. [pic via]
7 – $1 million – Hublot Black Caviar Bang
Made from an 18-karat white-gold case packed with 322 diamonds, the Hublot Black Caviar is the most unassuming timepiece on our list. Still, diamonds are packed onto every spare square of space, including 179 crammed onto the bezel and 30 encrusted on the clasp. [pic via]
6 – $1.1 million – The Chopard Super Ice Cube
This Chopard has 66 carats worth of diamond-encrusted glory. It’s gaudy, ugly, square-faced and worth more than a million — just like Ice Cube. [pic via]
5 – $1.3 million – Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon
Patek Philippe. Get used to that name, you’ll be seeing it again. This rare timepiece has two faces and a reputation as being the watchmaker’s most complicated model. It has a perpetual calendar, retrograde date and lists the lunar phase. A flip of the watch reveals a celestial view detailing the sidereal time and a skychart that traces the stars and phase and orbit of the moon. [pic via]
4 – $1.5 million – Vacheron Constantin Tour de l’Ile
There are 834 parts inside the Vacheron Constain’s Tour de l’lle, a watch considered “the most complicated watch ever made” by some. The watch lists two time zones, gives the sunset time, has a perpetual calendar and an astronomical indicator of the night sky. [pic via]
3 – $4 million – Patek Philippe’s Platinum World Time
A $4 million auction bid made Patek Philippe’s Platinum World Time the most expensive watch in 2002. The self-winding watch displays each of the 24 time zones and is known for its readability, user friendliness and having separate and switchable night and day tones. [pic via]
2 – $11 million – Patek Phillipe’s Supercomplication
Patek Philippe’s supercomplicated creation is also super expensive. The famed watchmaker finished the timepiece in 1932, a four year-long commission to create a watch for Henry Graves Jr., who had waged watch-war with James Ward Packard. The yellow-gold watch has two faces and 24 complications and was bought at a Sotheby’s auction for a little over $11 million. [pic via]
1 – $25 million – 201-carat Chopard
The watch face is somewhere there in the middle, surrounded by 201 carats. This watch-bracelet comes with a trio of heart-shaped diamonds: A 15-carat pink diamond, 12-carat blue diamond and an 11-carat white diamond, all of which open when a spring-loaded mechanism. More than 600 yellow diamonds are sprinkled alongside 91 or so colorless diamonds. [pic via]
Thanks for reading, StyleCravers, Diggers, Stumblers and more. So what do you think? A little outrageous, huh? Do you feel that some of these fine watches justify their price? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to know your take on this!
20 of the top watches in the world…
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Friday, May 29, 2009 6:54PM
wow and I spent too much on my Tissot T-Touch watch. LOL
Saturday, May 30, 2009 12:28AM
Id say the more complicated the watch is the more it justifies its price. Just because its covered in diamonds and gold doesn't necessary mean its a timepiece. Ive seen dog collars covered in diamonds.
Saturday, May 30, 2009 12:28AM
Honestly, the number one watch is just over doing it. It's a jumble of colors and looks like it would hardly ever be worn. It's just a showpiece, not a timepiece.
Saturday, May 30, 2009 1:20AM
I only wear watches that come from a cereal box.
Saturday, May 30, 2009 1:25AM
#1 looks like a ridiculous puff ball! $25mil — i wouldn't want to pay twenty-five bucks! (Black Cavier watch thou is way cool!
Saturday, May 30, 2009 2:52AM
mine is drawn on with felt pen
Saturday, May 30, 2009 4:07PM
The pricing on the Patek Philippe Platinum World Time is way off. That model is available new for less than $50,000.
Thursday, June 4, 2009 2:33PM
I own several watches; A Rolex, BlancPain, a Waltham pocket biscuit and I would say that overall the Rolex gives me the best service.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009 3:59PM
I personally think it’s kind of sad that people will spend that much money on a watch when there are starving people all over the world, but to each his own.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:28AM
These are all rich people toys!!!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:29AM
sure u did
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 11:25PM
maybe you should stop subscibing to the internet then and send some money to the starving ppl.
Friday, June 19, 2009 12:09AM
i got a platinum &diamond rolex as a gift i love it but would never pay for it i found out the price $70,000
Monday, June 29, 2009 6:36AM
id say the Vacheron Constantin Tour de l’Ile is my favorite, its not way overstated like some of the diamond covered ones,
i agree with u bratscorcher, i wouldnt pay $25 for that puff ball either (come to think of it i might! good investement LOL) the problem is what do u do with these things? put em in a bombproof case and charge people $50 to c it? when u c people walking around with diamonds littered all over their watch id say it shows that they have lack of taste! my favorite watch is the rolex yaucht master II and i dont no the price!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 3:01AM
I own watch number 1.. how did u get the picture?? i never showed anyone that..
Friday, July 3, 2009 2:20AM
rich people need to get a life the best watch you can buy comes from walmart
Friday, July 17, 2009 8:35PM
blimey o riley , what a shame there is people who actually need to buy these.The world has gone mad. These peices ar a display of wealth and not for the watch lovers out there. Please note annyone considering buying one, dont bother, build a school or something useful.
Richard uk
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 4:03AM
Is anyone else having trouble believing the barely literate posts of people on this thread claiming they have watches worth more than a mid-range BMW? I suppose there's no intelligence requirement for Old Money, but it strains credulity.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 8:41PM
After spending all that money on a watch it would seem like they should get a wristband that don't look like it was took off a Timex
Thursday, July 23, 2009 10:43PM
who wears watches? i wear it for the rocks
. with that much money i'll buy time 
Thursday, July 30, 2009 4:30AM
disappointed – none of these are in my collection!
Sunday, August 2, 2009 6:24AM
what is the point of a watch which has diamond smeared all over it…with complete disregard to the watch itself….ridiculous
Thursday, August 6, 2009 4:09PM
i think give this money to poor people will be better than use like these watches
Thursday, August 6, 2009 1:16PM
[...] Luxury Watches: 10 of the World’s Most Expensive Watches [...]
Friday, August 14, 2009 6:22PM
its surprising that world's most expensive car is cheaper than 201-carat Chopard
Thursday, August 20, 2009 5:35AM
if i become a billionaire i would like own one of these watches from my self and one for my wife. though it is some thing which shows time i would pay for it because it is complicated and not be easily owned by many.
Poor people will be poor because they show less initiative to develop themselves. by helping them we are just pushing them back ward. it is like feeding a killer whale with dead fish, after some time it forgets hunting and if you don't feed it will die of hunger. better they struggle and learn to grow than you help them and keep them down.
Thursday, August 20, 2009 3:39PM
Some of them are just too ugly! diamonds do not make a nice watch! I thought my nixon watch was stupid expensive lol
Friday, August 21, 2009 9:24PM
i have a rolex too
Saturday, August 22, 2009 8:49AM
Well, I think It's to spend this big amount on the things which are more visible, like Houses, Cars and bike etc.
Thursday, August 27, 2009 10:30PM
I liked the Hublot watch, but certainly not to the point of paying for it. Getting it as a gift that's fine! I'll keep it for sometime before selling it and invest in something more fruitful in life than a mechanical box which at the end of the day rotate only 2 needles! lol
Tuesday, September 1, 2009 1:13AM
i think give this money to poor people will be better than use like these watches
Thursday, September 3, 2009 12:16PM
i dont think so? r u rich
Saturday, September 5, 2009 9:15PM
whahhhhh!!!! that guy busted his ass and wants to spend it on himself instead of giving it away to backward thinking lazy people. whaahhhhh
Sunday, September 6, 2009 12:58AM
it is a shame money spent on a stupid watch it drives me crazyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyaaahhhh
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 12:31AM
my watch is so fancy, its completely invisible!!!!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 4:45AM
i thinks that if any one buy such as these watches he is insane
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 7:02PM
Nice watches! but you cant eat it!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 5:50PM
It's always the "Patek Philippe" for me..!..i dont have one ..dont think i ever will !..people say they have seen angels..so i wonder anybody had seen a "Patek Phillipe" on their wrists..cos they are more suited there rather than on human wrists..just too beautiful…!
Thursday, September 17, 2009 5:00AM
these prices are fucking outrages and not affordable. good luck selling one.
Friday, September 18, 2009 8:04PM
you need to open your mind to life a bit more, rather than silly comments on how to give money to the poor !!
think of it this way. billionaire buys watch, diamonds need mining, watch needs making, watchmaker buys nice cr with his profits, people need to build nice car for the watchmaker etc etc etc ! this IS giving money to the poor. your thoughts of just giving cash or food does not work, it falls into the wrong hands and never gets through to the people who need it most.
economics shows, the rich buy the products that the poor get employed to make !!!! there is no ohter way, and these watches, while not to all our tastes are beautifull in their own right and will never lose value ! they are like buying a van gough or a picasso !
Sunday, September 20, 2009 1:47PM
hey ii think tis much of sepending money is too much i have rolex but i have not spen this much of monet in this i like watches much but not this much
Monday, September 21, 2009 7:55PM
that is so true
its so annoying too.
wow diamonds. i mean you might as well sell freeking dimond encrusted rings.
who the hell wants that 10 pound piece of shit on their wrist?
and honestly, watches shouldnt cost more than 90% of american homes.
That just says something about high fashion.
Friday, September 25, 2009 7:02PM
the watch at no 1 looks like someones thrown up, vulgar to say the least ill stick to my brietlings any day
Sunday, September 27, 2009 1:00PM
The true value of a $25 000 000 watch is unappreciated. Flocks of geese mark the changing seasons and the tipping point in human history begins now. Word of this final homage to time is now in the hands of our creator: setting in motion our final and deserved extermination.
Monday, September 28, 2009 9:48PM
If I bought a $20 watch @ walmart and stuck a folded $100 bill in its strap, will the watch be worth $120? Answers please from the manufactures on this web site.
Saturday, October 10, 2009 3:32PM
You couldn’t PAY ME to wear any of these! Anyone who pays more than $30 on a watch is a sucker!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 10:22PM
Wouldnt have been a problem for Michael Jackson to buy any of these watches!
O maybe one of the Sheikh's of the Saudi Royal Family. Or Bill Gates who is worth a stagerring $50 Billion US Dollars in assets. Or maybe if I controlled all the oil in the world!!! which I would'nt want to do! Although I would love to be a multi-multi billionaire or secondary or even better multi-millionaire!!
The Queen is too rich as it is and I hate Prince Charles the pervert! and his lonesome dog hunting life! Anyway take care and God Bless!! to all believers and none-believers. Instead of buying these price scale watches, I send a message to the rich and famous and all Billionaires, lend some money to the poor for it should be a better and richest life for them only. PEACE From England.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009 10:20AM
Its the uniqueness i.e one of a kind quality,which is the result of unmatched skill of both inherent and and aquired nature which make them to be appreciated.Well placing a price tag on it……….?I personally believe that one should not spend such huge amounts on watches even if he can afford it.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 9:35AM
Patek Phillipe is number 1 by any means…:)
Friday, October 23, 2009 3:56PM
wow sooo gud. But toooo much expensive. Da #1 hhuuhhh its seems lolz.
But da patek 4 million is awsum
Sunday, October 25, 2009 12:31AM
i don't want any of that
i'd rather have a simple swatch or anything, but that's just exaggerating 
well, it's good if you put that in a museum tho. haha
Sunday, October 25, 2009 9:48AM
$25 million – 201-carat Chopard is just a waste of money!! lol
Sunday, October 25, 2009 5:30PM
i am a watch collecter i own 3 cartiers, 1 patek and 2 rolexs…. the best one would b the cartier tank the #1 watch is a waste of moneyyy id rather look into buying a singel jet craft then blowing my money over that……
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:31AM
these are nothing comared to my 'Umbro Watch' i had 4 years ago when i was 13
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:33AM
"if i become a billionaire i would like own one of these watches from my self and one for my wife. though it is some thing which shows time i would pay for it because it is complicated and not be easily owned by many."
tell me when u buy one so i can steal it from you
Thursday, November 5, 2009 9:26PM
So i could buy a real one, or fly to thailand for 6 weeks and buy a fake one and come home and buy a house..
Lucky im already off to thailand.. keep my eyes peeled..
Monday, November 9, 2009 5:27PM
andy is a bill
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 10:45AM
I would rather have a Casio G-shock any day at least i could actually tell someone what time it is and it probably better built for sure tougher those watches suck ass!!!! if i was a billion air i would still wear a G -shock way better
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 10:54AM
you are an absolute disgrace to all humanity people like you make me sick.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 6:30PM
This manufacturers produce "diamond hand collars" which can actually tell the time… a huge advantage over the competitors selling diamond dog collars
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 2:49AM
i agree my watch i got from wal-mart will last longer than any watch on this entire page.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 9:48AM
has pocket watch rww waltham 619703 that runs in excellent condition with 24k and ruby and 21 jewels movement or 24 not sure grandfather said only 11 or 13 were ever made and might be only one left wonder if this watch is worth being in top ten
Friday, December 4, 2009 11:14PM
The 4 million dollar watch comes with a crocodile band. Shoot….for 4 million dollars, you can buy the state of Florida and own all the crocodiles in it.
And why give the money to the “poor.” Just give the Chopard watch to the poor. Just think how cool some nearly dead-starving lady in Bangladesh will look wearing the Chopard watch.
Saturday, December 5, 2009 5:32PM
u don try, i own a very cute patek phillips, but its not as cool as my 1999
hoblot
Monday, December 7, 2009 11:21AM
Its pure Demand & Supply. Supply what the Fool demands and they would pay anything for it!
Monday, December 7, 2009 10:12PM
I have three rolex's
Thursday, December 10, 2009 9:05AM
$11 million – Patek Phillipe’s Supercomplication. I got 2 pcs. Anyone interested to buy for 50% discount?
Friday, December 11, 2009 11:24AM
what is wrong having an expansive watch? why do you have to feel guilty beeing rich, not my case,but guys-comunisme is DEAD!!!!
Friday, December 11, 2009 7:43PM
now i know what to get my girlfriend
Monday, December 14, 2009 3:45PM
CAN YOU WEAR THESE WATCHES IN THE TUB WHEN YOU FART AND WHIFF THE BUBBLES????
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 8:40AM
I just wonder why people buy these watches! Millions of people are dying from starvation. It’s time people, especially the dives, start doing something useful with their money.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 7:44AM
They r expencive ‘cous people make them look like that, but when someone can affort it, should better us that money 4 useful of mankind or themselves like pay 4 research on stoping cancer, etc. Life is more than an ego ballon
Thursday, December 17, 2009 7:03PM
There are plenty of suckers who will buy this stuff. I know an independent jewlery association person who has a rolex..but for everyday wear he choses timex..
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 12:30PM
When only a teenager in British India I saw my first Patek Philippe in 1949. It was my wish to one day own a watch made by them. Given a Piaget on my sixteenth birthday in the same year, I treasured it as the next best thing for very many years. In 2008 I bought my first Patek Philippe, a rose gold pocket watch made in 1897. This pocket watch, I have reason to believe, was originally owned by Prince Felix Youssoupov of Russia. It was given by him to his faithful servant Gregory Boujinsky, at the time they buried Youssoupov's jewels in the stairwell of his Moika Palace in St Petersburg: prior to Prince Felix leaving Russia at the time of the Bolshevik Revolution. Prince Felix Yousouppov escaped in 1919 to settle and then eventually die in France in 1967. He was never able to return to Russia to reclaim his wealth. His servant was tortured to reveal where the treasure was hidden and died without disclosing its location. Years later when some work was being carried out in the palace the hidden treasure was discovered and looted by the Communist Government.
Thursday, December 24, 2009 5:14AM
Nothing gets by you.
Friday, December 25, 2009 11:06PM
i own a couple of corum xl bubbles. love the watches and get lots of compliments. people that by super luxury watches are in the position to own and service them, if your not stop hating get your game up. a watch in the caliber of these high end ones are for the flashy and not so flashy! you have to deciede for yourdelf which is more you. my watches were expensive new but now you can by them for cheap, which i did but i love them anyway. when you have something that appeals to you, hot girlfriend, shelby mustang, ralph lauren shirt, or even a bottle of barack obama hennessy bottle, whatever it’s for you and your taste and what your eyes move over that appeal, and bring joy to you. so don’t take shot at thoses who have the money, taste and style to own grt watches.
Monday, January 4, 2010 3:21PM
i didnt like any of the watchs so much but will surely buy it coz its expensive
Wednesday, January 6, 2010 3:55PM
Blow it out your arse
Wednesday, January 6, 2010 3:58PM
I use 201-carat Chopards as toilet paper. I'm an excentric billionaire with hemoroids.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010 7:18PM
wow i thought i payed a lot for my rolex GMT but no!!
Friday, January 8, 2010 10:27PM
I wonder what the fetish is for watches that so many people have. I would rather buy a luxury car than 1 of these.
Friday, January 22, 2010 9:12AM
A watch is a watch. It tells time. With that said there will always be someone who needs the biggest, best, most expensive of anything to separate themselves from the pack. Success, insecurity, mal-expressed libido … call it what you will. It's a fact of life.
The only reason I even Googled this website was because I thought I had a good watch (Wenger) and wanted to see how it stacked up against "the best". Sorry I did. What an opulent and useless display of resources. I wonder how much the person was paid to make these.
Interesting how most of the posts here are from people with names like Sunil, Rabishi, Ghandi etc.
Sunil … your third world perspective is laughable. Have you ever had to work 12 hours a day in a sweatshop? Have you ever swept floors or cleaned a toilet. This country was founded and wouldn't exist without the principles of working hard and getting ahead but now it becomes increasingly harder to do because of countries like China, India, Thailand where folks have become so used to the idea of suffering and extreme poverty that they will resign themselves to the misery they have endured for centuries.
God help you if they should ever question the religious and cultural foundations they have put up with for so long. Furthermore, the moment I see Inia engage itself and young Indians sacrificing themselves for the betterment of something or someone else I will regard your culture in a different light … until then go fuck an elephant.
Friday, January 22, 2010 2:10PM
How come they did not include the AETERNITAS 4 OF FRANCK MULLER which they sold for $2.7m OUTSIDE AUCTION. Take note bought outside the auction. hmmm
Thursday, January 28, 2010 5:06AM
You're a retarded idiot and have zero chance of even owning a timex.
Thursday, January 28, 2010 3:27PM
better we help poor brothers in Haiti they need help, and they need time not a expensive watch.
Monday, February 1, 2010 8:26PM
i just like luxury
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 5:59AM
It is because of people like you Sunil that the world is so messed up.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 8:51PM
I own two Omegas and I love both of them. They are beautiful, keep perfect time, they feel good on my wrist and they are not too outrageous.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 5:20PM
Any one who spends more than $100.00 for a watch needs serious psychological help – unless it commemorates something like an engagement, graduation, or something like that.
The funny thing is that a $5.00 model from Walmart is probably better than any of these.
Friday, February 12, 2010 8:19PM
What a stupid generalization about poor people, besides if we don't help them we are robbed of a blessing. Jesus said that what you have done to the least of these you have done unto me. Please find a bible and open it and start reading. This life is only a vapor (.James 4). I have never seen a hearst pulling a U-haul trailor. Have you?
Saturday, February 13, 2010 4:49AM
there was a Patek World Timer that was auction for about $4 million, but not this one being shown
Monday, February 15, 2010 6:23AM
You are an idiot Chris. Sunil means poor people like homeless people. They are homeless by choice. If you are born into poverty, thats because your parents thought it would be fun to bring a child when they could barley support hemselves.
Saturday, March 13, 2010 1:45PM
The Designs Of Rado Watch Are Most Beautiful Than All Others In The World
Monday, March 15, 2010 8:21AM
i own a TAG HEUER and cant part with it and its simple but it cost $50,000 and wouldnt sell it at all,
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 3:15AM
Don't wear any of these in public….or u will get ur hand(s) chop off…
Saturday, March 20, 2010 12:51AM
time is money ….. and money is wasted in no time at all on a watch that will never be worn