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. Althought the steel version was aucitioned 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.
Table of contents
- Diamond bombs with a watch underneath are not counted
- The most expensive watch in the world to wear on your wrist
- 01 – the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 (2019) is the most expensive watch in the world
- 02 – Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Paul Newman Ref. 6239 (1968)
- 03 – Patek Philippe Ref. 6301A-010 (2024)
- 04 – Patek Philippe Ref. 1518A (1943)
- 05 – Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 (1948)
- 06 – Patek Philippe Ref. 2523 Gobbi Milan “Heures Universelles” (1953)
- 07 – Patek Philippe Ref. 2523J North America (1955)
- 08 – Patek Philippe Ref. 2523J Eurasia (1953)
- 09 – Patek Philippe Ref. 2523J Eurasia “Silk Road” (1953)
- 10 – Patek Philippe Ref. 5016A-010 (2015)
- 11 – Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A-018 Tiffany & Co. (2021)
- 12 – Patek Philippe Ref. 5208T-010 (2017)
- 13 – Rolex Daytona Ref. 6265 The Unicorn (1970)
- 14 – Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref. 6002G-001 (2015)
- 15 – Patek Philippe Ref. 1527 (1943)
- 16 – Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300G-010 (2021, ex Sylvester Stallone)
- Prices and (re)sources for the most expensive watch in the world
- The most expensive quartz watch in the world
Christie’s Hong Kong auctioned another Patek Philippe Ref. 2523J on the 26th of May 2024, entering this list on 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, 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 the reference 2523 holds four positions in this list, it might appear here even more when other owners decide to sell their piece 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 exists (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 much 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 renowned watch brand Chopard. It costs 25 million and consist 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 the Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication by Patek Philippe. It was sold by Sotheby’s in Geneva on the 11th 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 migth 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 traceble. And so is the sale. Which creates a list which is based on aution results.
This is giving us the following list of most expensive watches in the world, with a lot of models from Patek Philippe and two models from Rolex. So far. The list is ordered by the amount in US dollars, mostly including aution fee’s, buyers premium, etc., and based on the exchange rate on 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 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 autioned for Only Watch that reaches incredible price levels. Auction date was the 9th 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 wrist watch since 2016. The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Paul Newman Ref. 6239 was sold on the 26th of October 2017 by Phillips Auctioneers in New York and could carry the title for 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 13th 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 9th 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 this 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 23rd 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, it 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 autioned in Hong Kong by Christie’s on the 28th 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 – 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 autioned 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. it’s 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, auctioned on the 26th of May 2024.
Sold for: CHF 7’048’000
Which was: $ 7,682,000
10 – Patek Philippe Ref. 5016A-010 (2015)
A unique piece donated by Patek to Only Watch 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 7th 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
11 – 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 11th of December 2021 with proceeds benefitting The Nature Conservancy.
Sold for: $ 6,503,500
12 – Patek Philippe Ref. 5208T-010 (2017)
The Patek Philippe Ref. 5208T-010 is a minute repeater with monopusher chronograph, perpetual calendar and moon phase for Only Watch 2017, was auctioned by Christie’s on the 11th 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
13 – Rolex Daytona Ref. 6265 The Unicorn (1970)
This 37-millimeter Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6265 was auctioned by Phillips Geneva on the 12th of May 2018. It’s a white gold version with black dial and bark finished bracelet, and so far it is the only one looking like this – that’s why it is called the The Unicorn. Produced in 1970, delivered on special request to a German dealer in 1971, and discovered by 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
14 – 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
15 – 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 10th of May 2010.
Sold for: CHF 6’259’000
Which was: $ 5,655,140 | approx. € 4.394.719 | £ 3,772.074
16 – 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, and movement number 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, travel case and a personal note from Sly. Up to you if that ads some value. It was sold by Sotheby’s New York on the 5th of June 2024. This photo above is not 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 specialist 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 photo’s 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 in 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 wether you pay in British pounds, Swiss francs, euros or American dollars. A pretty serious price for a quartz.
However, those are regular prices, but there have been two auctions for charity that have lead 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 18th 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 dial that is standard however with a pink “1”. This pink F.P. Journe Élégante 48 mm Titalyt was auctioned at the 2nd 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
Maybe you are also interested in the oldest watch in the world, or a list and explanation of the oldest watch brands in the world.