The Record Ledger · updated July 2026 · 62 documented results
The 10 Most Expensive Watches Sold at Auction in 2016
The most expensive watch sold at auction in 2016 ever documented by MostExpensiveWatches is the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 1518, which realized $11,136,642 at Phillips Geneva in 2016 — the top of 62 documented results totaling $22,197,397.
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1
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.
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2
Rolex Split-Seconds Chronograph
$2,466,793 · 2016 · Phillips Geneva
The only split-seconds chronograph ever produced by Rolex, one of only 12 examples made and never offered for public sale.
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3
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona "The Doctor"
$1,113,106 · 2016 · Phillips Geneva
A rare pulsometer-dial Daytona designed for medical professionals to measure heart rates, featuring a bright blue pulsations scale.
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4
Rolex Triple Calendar Moonphase "Padellone"
$1,020,000 · 2016 · Phillips Hong Kong
A pristine stainless steel example of the 'Padellone', setting a record for the most expensive Rolex sold at auction in Asia at the time.
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5
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona "Tiffany & Co."
$804,000 · 2016 · Phillips Geneva
The only known and correct example of a reference 6263 Paul Newman Panda retailed and signed by Tiffany & Co.
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6
Patek Philippe Oversize Chronograph
$700,000 · 2016 · Phillips Geneva
An oversized 36.5mm chronograph from 1942, preserved in immaculate condition and recently serviced by Patek Philippe.
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7
Patek Philippe Tasti Tondi Chronograph
$400,000 · 2016 · Phillips Geneva
The only vintage Patek Philippe chronograph with a water-resistant case and screw-down caseback. The 'Tasti Tondi' (round buttons) in steel is the most desirable configuration of this sporty reference.
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8
Patek Philippe Sector Dial Chronograph
$350,000 · 2016 · Phillips Geneva
A stunning example of the reference 130 featuring a two-tone sector dial. Steel 130s are rare, but those with original sector dials are among the most aesthetically prized vintage chronographs.
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9
Rolex GMT-Master
$350,000 · 2016 · Phillips Geneva
A rare yellow gold GMT-Master with its original bakelite bezel and a unique bronze-toned dial.
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10
Philippe Dufour Simplicity 37mm
$257,868 · 2016 · Phillips Hong Kong
One of the first Simplicity models to ever appear at public auction, setting an early benchmark for the reference.
How the record was set
Every documented result that beat all before it.
| Year | New record | Watch |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $350,000 | Patek Philippe Sector Dial Chronograph · Phillips Geneva |
| 2016 | $400,000 | Patek Philippe Tasti Tondi Chronograph · Phillips Geneva |
| 2016 | $700,000 | Patek Philippe Oversize Chronograph · Phillips Geneva |
| 2016 | $804,000 | Rolex Cosmograph Daytona "Tiffany & Co." · Phillips Geneva |
| 2016 | $1,020,000 | Rolex Triple Calendar Moonphase "Padellone" · Phillips Hong Kong |
| 2016 | $1,113,106 | Rolex Cosmograph Daytona "The Doctor" · Phillips Geneva |
| 2016 | $2,466,793 | Rolex Split-Seconds Chronograph · Phillips Geneva |
| 2016 | $11,136,642 | Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph · Phillips Geneva |
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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 2016 ever documented by MostExpensiveWatches is the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 1518, which realized $11,136,642 at Phillips Geneva in 2016 — the top of 62 documented results totaling $22,197,397.” — MostExpensiveWatches, July 2026. https://mostexpensivewatches.net/most-expensive/sold-in/2016
Machine-readable: /data/records.json · See also the Grail Index and the daily Price Index.