The Record Ledger · updated July 2026 · 354 documented results
The 10 Most Expensive Stainless Steel Watches Ever Sold
The most expensive Stainless Steel watch ever documented by MostExpensiveWatches is the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime ref. 6300A-010, which realized $31,000,000 at Christie's Geneva (Only Watch) in 2019 — the top of 354 documented results totaling $223,449,619.
-
1
Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime
$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.
-
2
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.
-
3
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.
-
4
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.
-
5
Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph
$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.
-
6
Patek Philippe Grand Complication Only Watch
$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.
-
7
Patek Philippe Nautilus 'Tiffany Blue'
$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.
-
8
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.
-
9
Rolex Daytona 'Big Red' (John Mayer's)
$5,400,000 · 2024 · Phillips New York
Featured in John Mayer's 'Talking Watches' episode. Black dial 6263 'Big Red' Daytona — one of the most photographed vintage Daytonas in the modern era.
-
10
Patek Philippe Single-Button Chronograph
$4,987,000 · 2015 · Phillips Geneva
A rare 35mm stainless steel single-button chronograph from 1927 with a sector dial, setting a significant record for the reference.
How the record was set
Every documented result that beat all before it.
| Year | New record | Watch |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $1,210,000 | Patek Philippe Chronograph "Tasti Tondi" · Phillips Geneva |
| 2015 | $1,418,000 | Rolex Cosmograph Daytona "Albino" · Phillips Geneva |
| 2015 | $3,291,000 | Patek Philippe Split-Seconds Chronograph · Phillips Geneva |
| 2015 | $4,987,000 | Patek Philippe Single-Button Chronograph · Phillips Geneva |
| 2015 | $7,259,348 | Patek Philippe Grand Complication Only Watch · Phillips Geneva |
| 2016 | $11,136,642 | Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph · Phillips Geneva |
| 2017 | $17,752,500 | Rolex Daytona 'Paul Newman' · Phillips New York |
| 2019 | $31,000,000 | Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime · Christie's Geneva (Only Watch) |
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 Stainless Steel watch ever documented by MostExpensiveWatches is the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime ref. 6300A-010, which realized $31,000,000 at Christie's Geneva (Only Watch) in 2019 — the top of 354 documented results totaling $223,449,619.” — MostExpensiveWatches, July 2026. https://mostexpensivewatches.net/most-expensive/material/steel
Machine-readable: /data/records.json · See also the Grail Index and the daily Price Index.