{"query": "86", "brand": null, "total": 10, "limit": 10, "matches": [{"slug": "longines-86", "brand": "Longines", "ref": "86", "model": "Lindbergh Hour Angle", "case_material": "Silver", "provenance": "extracted_from_auction_comps", "url": "https://mostexpensivewatches.net/reference/longines-86", "description": "The Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle reference 989.5215, often identified by its 86-millimeter case diameter, was produced in a limited series of 10 pieces around 1987 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight. This specific reference is valued for its massive .925 sterling silver case and its use of the caliber L989.2, a high-frequency automatic movement featuring twin barrels. The dial follows the original 1931 design with a rotating silver center disc and black Roman numerals for calculating longitude. Due to the extremely low production volume, these watches rarely appear on the secondary market, typically commanding prices between $25,000 and $40,000 depending on provenance and condition. A notable auction result occurred at Christie’s in 2017, where a well-preserved example sold for approximately $32,500. This reference remains the largest modern reproduction of the navigation instrument Longines developed with Lindbergh.", "score": 197}, {"slug": "audemars-piguet-16869", "brand": "Audemars Piguet", "ref": "16869", "model": "Grosse Pièce", "case_material": "18k Yellow Gold", "provenance": "extracted_from_auction_comps", "url": "https://mostexpensivewatches.net/reference/audemars-piguet-16869", "description": "The Audemars Piguet reference 16869, often referred to as the Grosse Pièce, was produced in the early 1990s as a limited series of approximately 50 units. Collectors value this reference for its oversized 40mm 18k yellow gold case, which was unusually large for the era, and its use of the caliber 2120/2802. This ultra-thin automatic movement features a perpetual calendar with a leap year indicator and a moon phase. The dial typically features a white porcelain-like finish with recessed sub-dials and stick markers. Due to its limited production run and historical significance as a precursor to the modern oversized luxury watch trend, the reference 16869 occupies a niche position in the brand's heritage. On the secondary market, these timepieces generally command prices in the mid-to-high five-figure range, with exceptional examples occasionally reaching the low-six-figures at international auctions.", "score": 82}, {"slug": "audemars-piguet-25863ti", "brand": "Audemars Piguet", "ref": "25863TI", "model": "Royal Oak Offshore T3", "case_material": "Titanium", "provenance": "extracted_from_auction_comps", "url": "https://mostexpensivewatches.net/reference/audemars-piguet-25863ti", "description": "The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore T3, reference 25863TI, was released in 2003 as a limited edition of 1,000 pieces to coincide with the film Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. This reference is distinguished by its oversized 48mm titanium case, which was the largest Offshore produced at the time of its debut. It features protective crown guards and a Méga Tapisserie dial housing the caliber 2226/2840 modular chronograph movement. Collectors value the T3 for its role in establishing the trend for oversized luxury sports watches and its association with Arnold Schwarzenegger. On the secondary market, prices typically range from $30,000 to $45,000 depending on the presence of the original presentation box and papers. Of the 1,000 units produced, 500 were configured with a silver dial and 500 with a black dial, both featuring Arabic numerals and a tachymeter scale.", "score": 82}, {"slug": "audemars-piguet-25865bc", "brand": "Audemars Piguet", "ref": "25865BC", "model": "Royal Oak Grand Complication", "case_material": "18k White Gold", "provenance": "extracted_from_auction_comps", "url": "https://mostexpensivewatches.net/reference/audemars-piguet-25865bc", "description": "The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Grand Complication reference 25865BC was produced primarily during the late 1990s and 2000s. This 44mm 18k white gold timepiece houses the caliber 2885, a self-winding movement composed of 648 parts. It integrates three traditional high complications: a minute repeater, a perpetual calendar, and a split-seconds chronograph. Collectors prioritize this reference for its technical density and the hand-finished nature of its movement, which includes a solid gold oscillating weight and a chime sequence struck on two gongs. The dial typically features a silvered \"Grande Tapisserie\" pattern with white gold applied hour markers. On the secondary market, this reference generally commands prices in the mid-to-high six-figure range, often between $450,000 and $700,000 depending on provenance. A notable production detail is that each unit required over 600 hours of assembly by a single master watchmaker at the brand’s Grandes Complications workshop.", "score": 82}, {"slug": "audemars-piguet-25865st", "brand": "Audemars Piguet", "ref": "25865ST", "model": "Royal Oak Grande Complication", "case_material": "Stainless Steel", "provenance": "extracted_from_auction_comps", "url": "https://mostexpensivewatches.net/reference/audemars-piguet-25865st", "description": "The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Grande Complication reference 25865ST was introduced in the late 1990s and remained in limited production through the 2010s. This reference is defined by the caliber 2885, a hand-finished movement comprising 648 parts that integrates a minute repeater, perpetual calendar, and split-seconds chronograph. Collectors prioritize the 25865ST for its 44mm stainless steel case, a rare material choice for a high-complication timepiece typically reserved for precious metals. The dial features a traditional white tapisserie pattern with four sub-dials and a moon phase indicator. Due to the complexity of the movement, production was limited to very few units per year. On the secondary market, this reference typically commands prices in the mid-to-high six-figure range, often between $450,000 and $700,000 depending on provenance. A notable 2021 auction result saw a well-preserved example achieve over $600,000, reflecting its status as a pinnacle of the Royal Oak line.", "score": 82}, {"slug": "breguet-586", "brand": "Breguet", "ref": "586", "model": "Triple Calendar Chronograph", "case_material": "Stainless Steel", "provenance": "extracted_from_auction_comps", "url": "https://mostexpensivewatches.net/reference/breguet-586", "description": "The Breguet Triple Calendar Chronograph reference 586 is a vintage manual-wind timepiece produced during the mid-20th century, primarily in the 1950s and 1960s. Collectors prioritize this reference for its Valjoux 72C movement, a column-wheel caliber integrated with a full calendar complication. The 35mm stainless steel case features the brand's signature coin-edge fluting on the mid-case and downturned lugs. The dial typically displays a date scale on the outer periphery indicated by a central pointer hand, with day and month apertures positioned below twelve o'clock. Due to the limited production numbers of steel Breguet chronographs from this era, examples are rare. On the secondary market, these watches generally command prices in the $40,000 to $70,000 range depending on condition and provenance. A notable example appeared at a 2016 Christie’s auction, where a well-preserved steel 586 realized approximately $62,500.", "score": 82}, {"slug": "iwc-1868", "brand": "IWC", "ref": "1868", "model": "Il Destriero Scafusia", "case_material": "18k White Gold", "provenance": "extracted_from_auction_comps", "url": "https://mostexpensivewatches.net/reference/iwc-1868", "description": "The IWC Il Destriero Scafusia reference 1868 was produced between 1993 and 1999 to commemorate the brand’s 125th anniversary. Limited to 125 pieces in each metal, the white gold variant is valued for housing the manual-wind caliber 18680, which integrates 22 complications. These include a flying tourbillon, a perpetual calendar with a four-digit year display, a split-seconds chronograph, and a minute repeater. The 42mm case features a hunter-style caseback that opens to reveal the movement, which is hand-engraved and skeletonized. Collectors prioritize this reference as the most complex wristwatch produced by IWC during the mechanical revival era. On the secondary market, this reference typically trades in the low-to-mid six-figure range, often between $120,000 and $180,000 depending on provenance. A notable production detail is that the movement was based on a heavily modified Valjoux 7750 architecture, re-engineered by Richard Habring and Kurt Klaus.", "score": 82}, {"slug": "jlc-polaris-geographic-wt-steel", "brand": "Jaeger-LeCoultre", "ref": "Q9068670", "model": "Polaris Geographic WT", "case_material": "Stainless Steel", "url": "https://mostexpensivewatches.net/reference/jlc-polaris-geographic-wt-steel", "description": "The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Geographic WT reference Q9068670 was introduced in 2018 as a limited edition of 250 pieces and is no longer in production. Collectors target this reference for its combination of a world time complication with a geographic second time zone display, powered by the automatic caliber 936A/1. The 42mm stainless steel case features a specific smoky blue gradient dial with a grain-textured finish, distinguishing it from standard Polaris models. The functional layout includes a city disk for 24 time zones, a power reserve indicator, and a date sub-dial. On the secondary market, this reference typically trades between $12,000 and $16,000 depending on condition and the presence of original packaging. While the Polaris line is a core collection, this specific boutique-only edition is noted for its low production volume compared to the non-limited Polaris Chronograph or Date variants.", "score": 82}, {"slug": "jaeger-lecoultre-186", "brand": "Jaeger-LeCoultre", "ref": "186", "model": "Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Perpetual", "case_material": "18k Pink Gold", "provenance": "extracted_from_auction_comps", "url": "https://mostexpensivewatches.net/reference/jaeger-lecoultre-186", "description": "The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Perpetual reference 186.2.35.S (Q1652420) was introduced around 2010 and remained in production for approximately five years. Collectors target this reference for the Calibre 987, an automatic movement that integrates a silicon escapement with a flying tourbillon and a perpetual calendar. The 42mm case is constructed from 18k pink gold, featuring a silvered grained dial with applied hour markers and a dedicated year aperture. This model represents a specific era where the manufacture focused on combining high complications with modern materials like silicon to improve chronometric stability. On the secondary market, this reference typically trades in the $45,000 to $65,000 range depending on the presence of original documentation. A notable production detail is the limited nature of these high-complication pieces, which were produced in significantly lower volumes than the standard Master Control series.", "score": 82}, {"slug": "omega-2998-61", "brand": "Omega", "ref": "2998-61", "model": "Speedmaster", "case_material": "Stainless Steel", "provenance": "extracted_from_auction_comps", "url": "https://mostexpensivewatches.net/reference/omega-2998-61", "description": "The Omega Speedmaster reference 2998-61 was produced for approximately one year between 1961 and 1962. It represents the penultimate iteration of the 2998 series, characterized by its 39mm straight-lug stainless steel case without crown guards and the manual-wind Calibre 321 movement. Collectors prioritize this reference for its transitional features, specifically the introduction of the \"dagger\" or \"alpha\" subdial hands alongside the central alpha chronograph hands and the \"Dot Over Ninety\" (DON) tachymeter bezel. As one of the final pre-Professional models, its rarity is driven by its short production window. Current secondary market valuations typically range from $25,000 to $50,000 depending on component originality and bezel condition. A notable production detail for the 2998-61 is the shift toward the spear-shaped large chronograph seconds hand, which replaced the straight needle hand found on earlier sub-references.", "score": 82}]}