We review the 10 most expensive and exclusive men’s watches in the world, sold in the most important auction houses. Spoiler alert: none falls below 2 million euros…
The world of watch auctions always surprises us with the craziest and most spectacular results, and last year was no exception. Among the most important auction houses, Christie’s, Phillips, and Sotheby’s sold a total of $718 million with the best watches in the world.
We’ve compiled the top ten most impressive results of the year, and as we’ll see. Patek Philippe and Rolex continue to lead the world’s most expensive men’s watches. Although this year they are accompanied by some very special pieces from more independent watchmakers.
Either because of their rarity, their exclusivity, because they are unique pieces, or because they are in huge demand, these are the most expensive watches in the world in the last year.
THE MOST EXPENSIVE MEN’S WATCHES IN THE WORLD
10. Patek Philippe 1518 Pink-on-Pink
PRICE: $3,321,294
One of the most legendary references in Patek Philippe’s history, and the brand’s first Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, the ref. 1518. A watch that always reaches half a million at auctions, and if it is a more special configuration or with better conservation, it usually reaches much higher, as in this case.
Here we see it in its most unusual configuration, known as Pink-on-Pink for incorporating a pink dial in a Rose Gold case.
This makes it a rarity among rarities, as only 14 pieces of this style have appeared publicly to this day. This Patek Philippe was sold by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong last spring.
9. Patek Philippe 2499 Second Series
PRICE: $3,443,851
Also sold by Sotheby’s at the same auction, the ref. 2499 is just the historical successor to 1518. Also incorporates the combination of a Chronograph with a Perpetual Calendar, and is considered by many the most important and beautiful watch in history.
2499 always tends to lead, together with 1518, the records of auction results, year after year, reaffirming the importance and great appreciation that great collectors give it.
The particularity of this watch, in particular, is the configuration with luminescent indices and hands, a unique detail in the second series of the reference. Just 349 pieces were made in the history of all 2,499, and only five are known to have luminescence.
8. FP Journe Grand Sonnerie Unique Piece
PRICE: $3,511,258
A custom watch expressly for the legendary Jean Todt, former president of the FIA, and former director of Scuderia Ferrari at its best with Michael Schumacher. Jean Todt had it built to commemorate his 7th F1 World Championship with Ferrari.
In addition to being a unique piece for a legendary person in the motor world, the FP Journe Gran Sonería is one of the most exclusive and complex men’s watches manufactured by the firm. It was sold by Christie’s auction house in Geneva.
7. Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon
PRICE: $3,572,536
One of the most complicated Patek Philippe ever, the first generation of the Sky Moon Tourbillon, the ref. 5002. As its name indicates, it has the particularity of showing the entire sky, the position of the stars and the moon, and incorporates a Tourbillon inside.
It was the brand’s first double-sided Patek, with so many complications (a total of 12) that it needed to be displayed front and back. He was sold by Christie’s Hong Kong in May.
6. Patek Philippe Nautilus Tiffany & Co
PRICE: $3,940,207
And we break the 3 Million level! Probably the most famous watch of all 2022, a watch that drove the entire watch industry crazy, for better and for worse, the ultra-coveted Nautilus 5711 Tiffany Blue. If we put together the most sought-after watch in the world, with one of the most hyped-up brands in the world, the bombshell is to be expected, especially with that characteristic blue dial.
This Patek Philippe 5711/1A-018 was launched in a limited edition of 170 pieces to celebrate the 170th anniversary of the collaboration between Tiffany & Co and Patek Philippe. If we take into account that this watch barely sold for $61,278 I think this is the biggest and craziest revaluation of a watch in recent times. It was sold by Christie’s Geneva in November.
5. Patek Philippe 1518 Pink-on-Pink
PRICE: $4,086,050
Another copy from 1518, and again in its rarest version, Pink-on-Pink. Here we see it in stunning condition, maintaining all of its original unrestored 1940s beauty.
To know the rarity and exclusivity of this piece, we have to know that only 281 watches were made in history and only 58 in Rose Gold. This Patek Philippe 1518 was sold by Phillips Geneva in May.
4. Rolex Daytona Paul Newman Yellow Gold
PRICE: $4,237,163
An unprecedented combination of factors makes this Rolex the most expensive of all in 2022. Any Daytona Paul Newman is highly sought after around the world, but if it is also a 6263 with a lemon yellow dial, we know that we are facing a real rarity in the world. Rolex world.
Only three pieces with a lemon dial are known worldwide, and if we combine that exclusivity with the famous Paul Newman design and the legend that surrounds it, the result is a watch worth more than $367,671. It was sold by Christie’s Geneva in November.
3. Richard Mille Sapphire RM56-01
PRICE: $4,534,609
Also part of the Jean Todt collection, this Richard Mille is the second of his watches in this top 10… Imagine the incredible collection that the former director of Ferrari and the FIA had.
Richard Mille is one of the most expensive and exclusive brands in the world, sweeping wherever it goes, be it on the wrist of athletes and celebrities, or at the watchmaking level. And precisely, this model is one of the most expensive of the entire brand, since it is built entirely in Sapphire and incorporates an ultra-complicated Tourbillon caliber. It was sold by Christie’s Geneva in November.
2. George Daniels Spring Case Tourbillon
PRICE: $5,067,732
We rise to the 4 million level with a very curious piece, made by the British artisan watchmaker George Daniels. Any watch made by Daniels is an absolute rarity, but this is a Unique Piece made just for George Daniels himself. This was his daily use watch.
A very curious watch as it has a double face and a spring system that rotates the entire watch with the push of a small button. During his lifetime, Daniels handcrafted only 27 watches, not counting prototypes, so any watch of his is something very special. But even more, if it is a piece designed for the watchmaker himself in his day-to-day. It was sold by Phillips Geneva in November.
1. Patek Philippe 2499 Gobi Milano
PRICE: $8,789,788
Finally, we come to the icing on the cake, the most expensive watch in the world sold in all of the last year 2022. And of course, it’s a Patek Philippe ref. 2499, which as we said before, is considered the most important and attractive watch in history. Few men’s watches are capable of consistently exceeding €1 million auction after auction, but if there is one that always surprises us it is 2499. In this case, reaching the impressive figure of more than 7 Million.
But not just any 2499 reaches that high, the particularity of this particular piece can be seen in the sphere, next to the moon phase. The double signature of the dealer Gobbi Milano is what makes it a unique watch, since only this copy of the second series, in Rose Gold, is known with this double Italian signature. In addition, only 9 Rose Gold watches are known from the second series, so it was already a very, very exclusive piece, but that signature on the dial is what has given it the privileged number 1 position on this list. In fact, it broke the record for the most expensive Patek Philippe 2499 sold in history.
It was sold by Sotheby’s Hong Kong along with watches number 9 and 10 on this list, from one of the most important collections in the world, last April.
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