The definitive reference
The Luxury Watch Buying Guide
Everything a serious collector needs: live market data across 90 brands, authentication knowledge, complication explainers, and decision-grade comparisons. Updated continuously from 4 vetted retailers.
Brands worth knowing
From the Holy Trinity (Patek, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin) to the independent vanguard (F.P. Journe, Greubel Forsey, MB&F).
Patek Philippe
Holy Trinity · est. 1839
Audemars Piguet
Holy Trinity · est. 1875
Vacheron Constantin
Holy Trinity · est. 1755
A. Lange & Söhne
Haute Horology · est. 1845
Richard Mille
Ultra Modern · est. 2001
F.P. Journe
Independent · est. 1999
Greubel Forsey
Independent · est. 2004
MB&F
Independent · est. 2005
Urwerk
Independent · est. 1997
Jacob & Co.
Ultra Modern · est. 1986
Hublot
Modern Luxury · est. 1980
Breguet
Haute Horology · est. 1775
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Haute Horology · est. 1833
Rolex
Icon · est. 1905
Cartier
Haute Joaillerie · est. 1847
H. Moser & Cie
Independent · est. 1828
Roger Dubuis
Haute Horology · est. 1995
Bovet
Independent · est. 1822
Parmigiani Fleurier
Haute Horology · est. 1996
Blancpain
Haute Horology · est. 1735
Complications explained
The mechanical functions that separate luxury watches from quartz timepieces.
Case materials
From traditional platinum and gold to high-tech ceramic and sapphire crystal.
Platinum
Luxury index 95/100
18k Rose Gold
Luxury index 85/100
18k White Gold
Luxury index 85/100
18k Yellow Gold
Luxury index 80/100
Tantalum
Luxury index 80/100
Sapphire Crystal
Luxury index 98/100
Carbon TPT
Luxury index 75/100
Quartz TPT
Luxury index 75/100
Grade 5 Titanium
Luxury index 60/100
High-Tech Ceramic
Luxury index 55/100
Stainless Steel
Luxury index 40/100
Magic Gold
Luxury index 70/100
Everose Gold
Luxury index 85/100
Meteorite
Luxury index 90/100
By price tier
Browse the market by what you're prepared to spend.
Iconic references
The pieces that define ultra-luxury watchmaking.
Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime
Ref. 6300A · ceiling ¥4,836,000,000
Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication
Ref. — · ceiling ¥3,744,000,000
Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon
Ref. 6002G · ceiling ¥265,200,000
Patek Philippe Nautilus
Ref. 5711/1A · ceiling ¥62,400,000
Patek Philippe Nautilus Tiffany Blue
Ref. 5711/1A-018 · ceiling ¥1,014,000,000
Patek Philippe Aquanaut Luce
Ref. 5269/200R · ceiling ¥39,000,000
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo
Ref. 16202 · ceiling ¥28,080,000
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore
Ref. 26470 · ceiling ¥14,040,000
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept
Ref. 26630 · ceiling ¥124,800,000
Richard Mille RM 56-02 Sapphire
Ref. RM 56-02 · ceiling ¥343,200,000
Richard Mille RM 27-04 Nadal
Ref. RM 27-04 · ceiling ¥202,800,000
Richard Mille RM 11-03
Ref. RM 11-03 · ceiling ¥54,600,000
Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari
Ref. RM UP-01 · ceiling ¥296,400,000
Vacheron Constantin Reference 57260
Ref. 57260 · ceiling ¥1,248,000,000
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon
Ref. 6000V · ceiling ¥46,800,000
A. Lange & Söhne Grand Complication
Ref. 912 · ceiling ¥390,000,000
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon
Ref. 740 · ceiling ¥54,600,000
A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater
Ref. 147 · ceiling ¥78,000,000
F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance
Ref. RES · ceiling ¥43,680,000
F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain
Ref. TN · ceiling ¥54,600,000
Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1
Ref. HM1 · ceiling ¥171,600,000
Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30°
Ref. DT30 · ceiling ¥109,200,000
MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual
Ref. LMP · ceiling ¥31,200,000
Jacob & Co. Astronomia Sky
Ref. AS · ceiling ¥234,000,000
Decision-grade comparisons
Patek Nautilus vs Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
Which steel sports watch should you buy: Patek Nautilus 5711 or AP Royal Oak Jumbo 16202?
Rolex Daytona vs A. Lange Datograph
Modern chronograph: Rolex Daytona 116500LN or Lange Datograph Up/Down?
Richard Mille RM 11-03 vs AP Royal Oak Offshore
Modern statement sports watch: Richard Mille RM 11-03 or AP Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph?
Rolex GMT-Master II vs Patek Aquanaut
$50k–$100k travel/sports watch: Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi (white gold) or Patek Aquanaut 5168G?
Omega Speedmaster Pro vs Rolex Daytona
Iconic chronograph: Speedmaster Moonwatch or Rolex Daytona?
Tourbillon vs Perpetual Calendar: which complication?
If you have $100k for one complication, do you choose tourbillon or perpetual calendar?
Platinum vs 18k White Gold cases
Worth paying 30%+ more for platinum over white gold?
Manual-wind vs Automatic luxury watches
Should a serious collector prefer manual-wind or automatic movements?
A. Lange & Söhne vs Patek Philippe: German vs Swiss haute horology
Connoisseur's choice: Patek 5170 vs Lange Datograph?
Richard Mille: which RM should be your first?
Entry, mid-tier or grail among Richard Mille?
Blue-chip watch investment: Patek Nautilus vs vintage Daytona
$200k investment in one watch: modern Patek or vintage Rolex?
Auction vs retail: where should you buy?
Should you buy your next $50k+ watch at auction or from an authorised dealer?
Authentication Academy
Learn to identify movements, hallmarks, dial variants and casebacks — across 4 randomized quizzes.
Investment & resale
Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index ranks watches as the #1 hard-luxury asset class, outperforming wine, art and classic cars over 10+ year holding periods.