The Record Ledger · updated July 2026 · 12 documented results

The 10 Most Expensive Sapphire Crystal Watches Ever Sold

The most expensive Sapphire Crystal watch ever documented by MostExpensiveWatches is the Richard Mille Tourbillon Sapphire ref. RM 53-02, which realized $4,548,000 at Sotheby's Hong Kong in 2023 — the top of 12 documented results totaling $13,322,022.

The record
$4,548,000
Sotheby's Hong Kong · 2023
Documented results
12
$13,322,022 total · median $471,000
Seven figures+
4
results at or above $1M
  1. 1

    Richard Mille Tourbillon Sapphire

    $4,548,000 · 2023 · Sotheby's Hong Kong

    One of only eight pieces produced, this model features a triple-curved case crafted entirely from blue sapphire crystal and a movement suspended by braided cables.

  2. 2

    Richard Mille Tourbillon Sapphire

    $3,014,500 · 2024 · Christie's New York

    A record-breaking transparent sapphire crystal tourbillon with a movement suspended by titanium cables, one of only 10 examples produced.

  3. 3

    Richard Mille Sapphire Tourbillon

    $2,207,500 · 2024 · Phillips Hong Kong

    Full sapphire-crystal case (~1000 hours of machining per case). 10 made. Movement cabled-suspended.

  4. 4

    Richard Mille Felipe Massa Sapphire

    $1,207,500 · 2017 · Christie's New York

    A landmark prototype of the first sapphire-cased Richard Mille, featuring one of the brand's most complicated movements.

  5. 5

    Zenith Defy Double Tourbillon Felipe Pantone Only Watch 2021

    $483,534 · 2021 · Christie's Geneva

    A unique sapphire-cased double tourbillon created in collaboration with artist Felipe Pantone for the Only Watch 2021 charity auction, featuring rainbow PVD-coated bridges.

  6. 6

    Zenith Defy 21 Double Tourbillon Felipe Pantone

    $480,000 · 2021 · Phillips Geneva

    A unique collaborative piece for Only Watch 2021, featuring a full sapphire case and rainbow-colored movement components.

  7. 7

    Hublot MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Only Watch

    $462,000 · 2024 · Christie's Geneva

    A unique collaboration with artist Takashi Murakami for Only Watch 2024, featuring Hublot's first central flying tourbillon in a flower-shaped sapphire case.

  8. 8

    Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon Only Watch

    $348,800 · 2021 · Christie's Geneva

    A unique piece created for the Only Watch 2021 charity auction, featuring a transparent and orange sapphire case and an automatic manufacture tourbillon movement.

  9. 9

    Hublot MP-05 LaFerrari Sapphire

    $260,000 · 2020 · Christie's Hong Kong

    A rare limited edition masterpiece inspired by the LaFerrari supercar, featuring a record-breaking 50-day power reserve and a full sapphire case.

  10. 10

    Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire Usain Bolt

    $242,400 · 2017 · Phillips Geneva

    A unique piece for Only Watch 2017, featuring a full sapphire case and a silhouette of Usain Bolt in his signature pose.

How the record was set

Every documented result that beat all before it.

YearNew record Watch
2017 $242,400 Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire Usain Bolt · Phillips Geneva
2017 $1,207,500 Richard Mille Felipe Massa Sapphire · Christie's New York
2023 $4,548,000 Richard Mille Tourbillon Sapphire · Sotheby's Hong Kong

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 Sapphire Crystal watch ever documented by MostExpensiveWatches is the Richard Mille Tourbillon Sapphire ref. RM 53-02, which realized $4,548,000 at Sotheby's Hong Kong in 2023 — the top of 12 documented results totaling $13,322,022.” — MostExpensiveWatches, July 2026. https://mostexpensivewatches.net/most-expensive/material/sapphire

Machine-readable: /data/records.json · See also the Grail Index and the daily Price Index.