Ranking
The 25 Most Expensive Watches Ever Sold at Auction — Live Record
Computed directly from 1,156 documented auction results in the MostExpensiveWatches comp corpus — every entry links to a sourced lot record, and the list recompiles automatically as the auction desk verifies new sales.
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1
Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime 6300A-010
$31,000,000 · 2019 · Christie's Geneva (Only Watch)
Steel-cased Grandmaster Chime made exclusively for the Only Watch 2019 charity sale. Patek's most complicated wristwatch (20 complications, double-faced reversible case) in a metal Patek never produces for retail. Sold for charity.
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2
Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication
$24,000,000 · 2014 · Sotheby's Geneva
Made 1933 for American banker Henry Graves Jr. 24 complications including a chart of the night sky over New York. Held the world auction record for any watch from 1999-2014, and again 2014-2019.
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3
Rolex Daytona 'Paul Newman' 6239
$17,752,500 · 2017 · Phillips New York
Paul Newman's personal Daytona, gifted by his wife Joanne Woodward in the late 1960s. Caseback inscribed 'DRIVE CAREFULLY ME'. The watch that defined the exotic-dial Daytona category.
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4
Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph 1518
$17,631,075 · 2025 · Phillips Geneva
This is the first of only four known examples of the reference 1518 in stainless steel and is believed to be the first one ever produced. It set a world record as the most expensive vintage Patek Philippe wristwatch ever sold at public auction.
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5
Patek Philippe Grande Sonnerie Only Watch 6301A-001
$17,300,000 · 2024 · Christie's Geneva
A unique steel version of the Grande Sonnerie with a hand-guilloché blue enamel dial, sold to benefit research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
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6
F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance “Souscription No. 007”
$13,922,000 · 2026 · Phillips New York
Verified result from The New York Watch Auction: XIV (Phillips New York), concluded 2026-06-14. Reported by the MostExpensiveWatches auction desk with primary sources on file.
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7
Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph 1518
$11,136,642 · 2016 · Phillips Geneva
Perpetual calendar chronograph in stainless steel. Only 4 known examples (the rest in gold). Held auction record for a wristwatch from 2016 until Patek 6300A in 2019.
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8
F.P. Journe FFC Prototype
$10,755,000 · 2025 · Phillips New York
A unique prototype from the personal collection of Francis Ford Coppola, featuring an articulated automaton hand that indicates the hours with its fingers.
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9
Patek Philippe "South America" World Time 2523
$10,247,000 · 2026 · Phillips Geneva
An extraordinarily rare dual-crown world time wristwatch featuring a polychrome cloisonné enamel dial depicting the map of South America. It is one of only two known examples with this specific dial configuration.
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10
Patek Philippe World Time Cloisonné Enamel Dial 2523
$8,968,750 · 2019 · Phillips Geneva
Two-crown world time with hand-painted cloisonné enamel North America map dial. From a series of fewer than 10 examples with map dials.
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11
Patek Philippe World Time 'North America' 2523
$8,530,000 · 2023 · Christie's Hong Kong
An exceptionally rare world time reference featuring a cloisonné enamel dial depicting the map of North America, one of only three known.
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12
Patek Philippe World Time 'Eurasia' 2523J
$8,380,000 · 2024 · Christie's Hong Kong
A legendary reference featuring a cloisonné enamel dial with a map of Eurasia, representing the 'golden age' of Patek Philippe world time watches.
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13
F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain à Remontoire d'Egalité 15/93
$8,357,441 · 2024 · Phillips Geneva
The second wristwatch ever made by François-Paul Journe and the first ever sold to a client; it set a world record for any F.P. Journe and any independent watchmaker at auction.
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14
Patek Philippe Split-Seconds Chronograph Perpetual Calendar 5004T
$8,293,700 · 2013 · Phillips Geneva (Only Watch)
Unique titanium-cased 5004 made for Only Watch 2013. Patek extremely rarely uses titanium.
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15
Vacheron Constantin Reference 57260
$8,000,000 · 2015 · Vacheron Constantin (commission)
Bespoke 8-year commission completed for the brand's 260th anniversary. 57 complications including double retrograde split-seconds chronograph + Hebrew perpetual calendar. Still holds the record for the most complicated mechanical watch ever made.
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16
Patek Philippe "Eurasia" World Time 2523
$7,819,051 · 2021 · Phillips Geneva
Nicknamed the "Silk Road," this previously unknown example features a cloisonné enamel dial depicting the Eurasian landmass. It established a record for any yellow gold wristwatch at the time of its sale.
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17
Audemars Piguet Grosse Pièce 16869
$7,736,000 · 2025 · Sotheby's New York
The most complicated Audemars Piguet pocket watch in private hands, featuring 19 complications including a celestial sky chart, tourbillon, and grande sonnerie.
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18
Patek Philippe Grand Complication Only Watch 5016A-010
$7,259,348 · 2015 · Phillips Geneva
A unique grand complication in steel created for Only Watch 2015, featuring a minute repeater, tourbillon, and perpetual calendar with a blue enamel dial.
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19
Breguet Sympathique Clock and Wristwatch Sympathique No. 1
$6,617,010 · 2025 · Phillips Geneva
A unique horological ensemble created by F.P. Journe and THA in 1991; the master clock automatically winds and sets the accompanying tourbillon wristwatch.
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20
Patek Philippe Nautilus 'Tiffany Blue' 5711/1A-018
$6,503,500 · 2021 · Phillips New York
Made in 170 examples for Tiffany & Co's 5th Avenue boutique, celebrating Patek-Tiffany's 170-year partnership. Lot 1 sold for charity at Phillips on the same day the model was released — 124x retail.
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21
Patek Philippe Triple Complication Only Watch 5208T-010
$6,226,311 · 2017 · Christie's Geneva
A unique titanium version of the Ref. 5208, featuring a minute repeater, monopusher chronograph, and instantaneous perpetual calendar.
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22
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona "The Unicorn" 6265
$5,936,906 · 2018 · Phillips Geneva
The only known vintage white gold manual-winding Daytona ever produced, donated by collector John Goldberger to benefit the Children Action charity.
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23
Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon 6002G-001
$5,815,300 · 2023 · Christie's Hong Kong (Online)
Set a world record for the most expensive watch sold in an online-only auction; features 12 complications and a hand-engraved case.
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24
Patek Philippe Quantieme Perpetuel 96 QP
$5,800,000 · 2023 · Phillips Hong Kong
The first perpetual calendar wristwatch ever produced by Patek Philippe, originally owned by Aisin-Gioro Puyi, the last Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. This piece is one of only eight known examples of the reference 96 with a perpetual calendar complication.
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25
Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph 1527
$5,708,885 · 2010 · Christie's Geneva
A unique and historically important tonneau-shaped perpetual calendar chronograph that served as a precursor to the legendary Ref. 2499.