The Record Ledger · updated July 2026 · 58 documented results
The 10 Most Expensive Watches Sold at Auction in 2020
The most expensive watch sold at auction in 2020 ever documented by MostExpensiveWatches is the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona "Big Red" ref. 6263, which realized $5,475,000 at Phillips New York in 2020 — the top of 58 documented results totaling $29,893,198.
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1
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona "Big Red"
$5,475,000 · 2020 · Phillips New York
Paul Newman's personal 'Big Red' Daytona, gifted by his wife and worn by the actor for over two decades.
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2
Patek Philippe "Pink on Pink" Perpetual Calendar Chronograph
$3,565,224 · 2020 · Phillips Geneva
Formerly part of the personal collection of industry legend Jean-Claude Biver, this "pink on pink" example is unique for its blued steel hour and minute hands, a custom request from the original owner.
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3
Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph
$2,740,000 · 2020 · Phillips Geneva
A second-series example of the iconic reference 2499, distinguished by its round chronograph pushers and tachymeter scale. This piece was consigned from the personal collection of Jean-Claude Biver.
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4
Heuer Monaco
$2,208,000 · 2020 · Phillips New York
One of the original watches worn by Steve McQueen during the filming of 'Le Mans'. It was gifted by McQueen to his personal mechanic, Haig Alltounian, and remains one of the most culturally significant Heuer chronographs in existence.
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5
Heuer Monaco "Steve McQueen"
$2,208,000 · 2020 · Phillips New York
One of six Heuer Monacos worn by Steve McQueen during the filming of the 1971 movie 'Le Mans', gifted by the actor to his personal mechanic Haig Alltounian.
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6
Patek Philippe Chronograph "Spider Lugs"
$2,050,000 · 2020 · Phillips Geneva
One of only three known examples of the reference 1579 cased in platinum. This piece features unique blue enamel graphics and the reference's signature faceted "spider" lugs.
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7
Rolex Daytona "JPS Paul Newman"
$1,545,723 · 2020 · Sotheby's London
This 18k yellow gold pump-pusher Daytona with a black Paul Newman dial set a record for the most expensive watch ever sold in an online-only auction at the time.
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8
Philippe Dufour Simplicity
$1,512,000 · 2020 · Phillips Hong Kong
A 34mm execution of the Simplicity, widely considered the finest hand-finished time-only watch in the world. This example features the movement number 57 and the signature guilloché dial.
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9
F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain "Souscription"
$1,480,000 · 2020 · Phillips Geneva
Part of the original 20-piece subscription series that launched the brand, previously owned by Parisian jeweler Lorenz Baümer.
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10
F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance "Souscription"
$1,100,000 · 2020 · Phillips Geneva
A first-series subscription Resonance with a unique two-tone case, formerly in the collection of jeweler Lorenz Baümer.
How the record was set
Every documented result that beat all before it.
| Year | New record | Watch |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $1,480,000 | F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain "Souscription" · Phillips Geneva |
| 2020 | $1,512,000 | Philippe Dufour Simplicity · Phillips Hong Kong |
| 2020 | $1,545,723 | Rolex Daytona "JPS Paul Newman" · Sotheby's London |
| 2020 | $2,050,000 | Patek Philippe Chronograph "Spider Lugs" · Phillips Geneva |
| 2020 | $2,208,000 | Heuer Monaco · Phillips New York |
| 2020 | $2,740,000 | Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph · Phillips Geneva |
| 2020 | $3,565,224 | Patek Philippe "Pink on Pink" Perpetual Calendar Chronograph · Phillips Geneva |
| 2020 | $5,475,000 | Rolex Cosmograph Daytona "Big Red" · Phillips New York |
The full Record Ledger Most expensive for sale right now Play HAMMER 🔨
Cite this record
Every figure above is a documented hammer price with a primary source on its lot page. Cite as “MostExpensiveWatches Record Ledger”, e.g.:
“The most expensive watch sold at auction in 2020 ever documented by MostExpensiveWatches is the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona "Big Red" ref. 6263, which realized $5,475,000 at Phillips New York in 2020 — the top of 58 documented results totaling $29,893,198.” — MostExpensiveWatches, July 2026. https://mostexpensivewatches.net/most-expensive/sold-in/2020
Machine-readable: /data/records.json · See also the Grail Index and the daily Price Index.