The Record Ledger · updated July 2026 · 737 documented results
The 10 Most Expensive Watches of the 2020s
The most expensive watch sold in the 2020s ever documented by MostExpensiveWatches is the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 1518, which realized $17,631,075 at Phillips Geneva in 2025 — the top of 737 documented results totaling $529,246,967.
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1
Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph
$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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2
Patek Philippe Grande Sonnerie Only Watch
$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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3
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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4
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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5
Patek Philippe "South America" World Time
$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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6
Patek Philippe World Time 'North America'
$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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7
Patek Philippe World Time 'Eurasia'
$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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8
F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain à Remontoire d'Egalité
$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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9
Patek Philippe "Eurasia" World Time
$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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10
Audemars Piguet Grosse Pièce
$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.
How the record was set
Every documented result that beat all before it.
| Year | New record | Watch |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2021 | $6,503,500 | Patek Philippe Nautilus 'Tiffany Blue' · Phillips New York |
| 2021 | $7,819,051 | Patek Philippe "Eurasia" World Time · Phillips Geneva |
| 2023 | $8,530,000 | Patek Philippe World Time 'North America' · Christie's Hong Kong |
| 2024 | $17,300,000 | Patek Philippe Grande Sonnerie Only Watch · Christie's Geneva |
| 2025 | $17,631,075 | Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph · Phillips Geneva |
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 in the 2020s ever documented by MostExpensiveWatches is the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 1518, which realized $17,631,075 at Phillips Geneva in 2025 — the top of 737 documented results totaling $529,246,967.” — MostExpensiveWatches, July 2026. https://mostexpensivewatches.net/most-expensive/decade/2020s
Machine-readable: /data/records.json · See also the Grail Index and the daily Price Index.