The Record Ledger · updated July 2026 · 68 documented results
The 10 Most Expensive Watches Sold at Auction in 2017
The most expensive watch sold at auction in 2017 ever documented by MostExpensiveWatches is the Rolex Daytona 'Paul Newman' ref. 6239, which realized $17,752,500 at Phillips New York in 2017 — the top of 68 documented results totaling $46,004,224.
-
1
Rolex Daytona 'Paul Newman'
$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.
-
2
Patek Philippe Triple Complication Only Watch
$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.
-
3
Rolex Triple-Calendar Moonphase 'Bao Dai'
$5,066,000 · 2017 · Phillips Geneva
Owned by Emperor Bao Dai of Vietnam. Only known 6062 with black dial + diamond markers. One of three diamond-set 6062s known to exist.
-
4
Rolex Daytona 'The Legend'
$3,726,000 · 2017 · Phillips Geneva
One of only three known yellow gold 6263 Daytonas with a 'Paul Newman' lemon dial and screw-down pushers. This lot set a world record for the reference at the time of sale due to its extreme rarity and exceptional condition.
-
5
Philippe Dufour Duality
$1,800,000 · 2017 · Phillips New York
The first wristwatch to feature a dual escapement with a differential system. Only nine examples were ever produced, as the complexity of regulating two balances proved too time-consuming even for Dufour.
-
6
Omega Tourbillon 30 I
$1,428,500 · 2017 · Phillips Geneva
A historically significant prototype from 1947, this is the only known example of the first tourbillon wristwatch movement ever created by Omega for observatory trials.
-
7
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.
-
8
F.P. Journe Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante Only Watch 2017
$1,150,000 · 2017 · Christie's Geneva
The first-ever split-seconds chronograph by F.P. Journe, featuring a unique movement and blue chrome dial for the Only Watch charity sale.
-
9
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona "Lemon Dial" Paul Newman
$871,500 · 2017 · Christie's New York
A highly attractive gold Paul Newman Daytona with a distinctive 'Lemon' grené dial and white graphics in the sub-dials.
-
10
Audemars Piguet Perpetual Calendar with Leap Year Indication
$675,000 · 2017 · Phillips New York
The first serially produced perpetual calendar wristwatch to feature a leap year indicator, with only nine examples ever manufactured.
How the record was set
Every documented result that beat all before it.
| Year | New record | Watch |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $1,150,000 | F.P. Journe Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante Only Watch 2017 · Christie's Geneva |
| 2017 | $1,207,500 | Richard Mille Felipe Massa Sapphire · Christie's New York |
| 2017 | $1,428,500 | Omega Tourbillon 30 I · Phillips Geneva |
| 2017 | $1,800,000 | Philippe Dufour Duality · Phillips New York |
| 2017 | $3,726,000 | Rolex Daytona 'The Legend' · Phillips Geneva |
| 2017 | $5,066,000 | Rolex Triple-Calendar Moonphase 'Bao Dai' · Phillips Geneva |
| 2017 | $6,226,311 | Patek Philippe Triple Complication Only Watch · Christie's Geneva |
| 2017 | $17,752,500 | Rolex Daytona 'Paul Newman' · 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 2017 ever documented by MostExpensiveWatches is the Rolex Daytona 'Paul Newman' ref. 6239, which realized $17,752,500 at Phillips New York in 2017 — the top of 68 documented results totaling $46,004,224.” — MostExpensiveWatches, July 2026. https://mostexpensivewatches.net/most-expensive/sold-in/2017
Machine-readable: /data/records.json · See also the Grail Index and the daily Price Index.