If you’re like most people, you probably have a few watches in your home. One for casual events like meeting friends for lunch or running errands, and another timepiece for professional settings, such as the workplace. And you’re probably pretty happy with the watches you have, but occasionally, you daydream. Maybe you’ve always wanted a goldtone Rolex with a diamond bezel, or perhaps you’re an outdoors person who would love a high-end Tag Heuer chronograph for your next adventure. No matter who you are or what timepieces you prefer, you’re sure to see something that grabs your eye in this list of the 20 most expensive watches in 2018. Most of these watches have a seven-figure price tag, but there are few that are actually in the eight-figure range, such as the stunning Graff Diamonds Hallucination that’s going for a whopping 55-million dollars. Take a few minutes to daydream with us, as we browse through some truly incredible timepieces.
20. Louis Moinet Magistralis – $860,000
At first glance, you may be wondering why this timepiece has a price tag that’s just short of a million dollars. What makes this watch so unique is that it contains a piece of a real Lunar meteorite, which by itself usually costs about $1,000 a gram. To be specific, this timepiece contains an authentic Dhofar 459 lunar meteorite, an actual piece of the moon that landed on Earth. The watch is also made with 18-karat gold and features a chronograph and a minute repeater. Made with a black dial, this watch also contains four old rosegold-colored, recessed subdials for a sleek look.
19. Hublot Black Caviar Big Bang – $1 Million
Featuring 501 baguette-cut black diamonds complemented by 18-karat white gold, the Hublot Caviar Black Big Bang has a mesmerizing design, yet it still remains simplistic. A smooth, black rubber strap leads toward the polished, black ceramic case and bezel. Inside the case, a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment rests next to a Hublot logo. This watch uses self-winding movement, which means there’s no need to replace batteries. The timepiece charges up by the movement of your arm while you’re walking, and once it’s fully charged, the Big Bang can work for up to 42 hours before running out of power.
18. Chopard Super Ice Cube – $1.1 Million
Staying true to its name, this timepiece truly resembles an ice cube. If you’re looking for an attention-grabbing watch with a “bling-bling” design, this would be the one to get. The 18-karat white gold band is completely covered in baguette-shaped diamonds on the top and the sides. Guess what the dial is covered in? If you guessed baguette-shaped diamonds, you’re correct. There’s no subdials or anything to distract you; apart from the hour and minute hands and a small Chopard logo, the dial is nothing but diamonds. In total, this women’s watch contains 60 carats of diamonds, and it uses Swiss movement for accurate timekeeping.
17. Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon Reference 6002 – $1.3 Million
This incredible timepiece is made with 12 complications, including a minute repeater, perpetual calendar, and a tourbillon mechanism. On the back of the watch, the sky chart showcases the evening sky no matter which region you’re in, and the moon-phase display lets you know whether there’s a full or crescent moon at night. Another thing that makes this watch so special is that simply having the money to purchase it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to get it. Everyone who wants this timepiece has to submit an application showing that you have a track record with the company, as well as an appreciation for the craftsmanship of fine watches.
16. Vacheron Constantin Tour de I’Ile – $1.5 Million
Created in 2005 by Vacheron Constantin, the Tour de l’Ile was the world’s most complicated wristwatch at the time of its release. This timepiece was created to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the brand, and it features a double-sided design with tourbillon movement. Featuring a minute repeater, perceptual calendar, and dual time zones, this watch is well deserving of its 1.5 million cost.
15. Greubel Forsey Art Piece 1- $1.5 Million
Stephen Forsey and Robert Greubel teamed up to produce the Art Piece 1, made with a Wigan micro-sculpture and a Greubel Forsey 30-degree double-tourbillon—both of which are visible through the magnifier in the crown. The Art Piece 1 is a stunning work of art, and as you glance at the nano-sculpture through the crown, you’ll see a variety of designs, including a Coke bottle, mask, ship, and a hummingbird. The designs were created by Willard Wigan, a British artist who was presented a knighthood in 2007 by Prince Charles. In order to craft these microscopic sculptures, Wigan worked in-between his heartbeats to avoid shaking, which would cause damage to the sculptures.
14. Richard Mille RM 56-02 Sapphire – $2 Million
This beautiful timepiece was created from earlier designs, although, this particular model is much more complicated and stylish than previous designs, which may be why it commands a two-million dollar price tag. The highly detailed case, as well as the complex movement, are both made of pure sapphire, and the complex movement is suspended in the air by cables for a true one-of-a-kind appearance.
13. Rolex Antimagnetique Ref. 4113 from 1942 – $2.4 Million
Rolex is a name that everyone knows, even if they’re not into watches, and most people know that these timepieces are pricey. But what makes this one cost almost two-and-a-half million dollars? This watch is valued so much because of its extreme rarity. Made in 1942, this Rolex watch is one of only twelve ever made. Featuring an oversized design, this split-seconds chronograph has a 44-millimeter steel case and two subdials for a classic design.
12. Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie – $2.5 Million
Glance at the left-side of the dial and you can see the 1,406 parts inside this timepiece working perfectly together. This watch offers a petite sonnerie, in addition to a grande sonnerie, minute repeater, and silent modes. Another interesting fact about this Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece is that it plays one of the longest melodies that has ever been recreated by a grande sonnerie watch. This timepiece uses a Westminster chime that plays the chime of the Big Ben clock.
11. Grand Complication by Lange & Söhne – $2.5 Million
Created in 2013, this is the most valuable watch offered by the brand. It takes about 12 months to create this watch, and it’s so valuable because of its multiple complications. This timepiece has a big gold case that contains a perpetual calendar, a grande and petite sonnerie with minute repeater, and a chronograph with a split-seconds mechanism. All in all, this watch’s movement uses 876 parts, which is a big reason for its high price.
10. Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4 – $2.7 Million
This timepiece pushes the limits of watchmaking with a record-breaking 36 complications and a total of 1,483 components. Even with all over a thousand pieces and three dozen complications, this Franck Muller timepiece is highly durable and uses a calendar that’s on a 1000-year cycle renewable to infinity.
9. Rolex Daytona Ref. 6263 Oyster Albino – $4 Million
This classic-style watch is the most expensive timepiece that Rolex sells, and it gets its name from the white subdials. Made with a stainless-steel case and blue bezel, this watch features three subdials. In addition to its unique design, this watch is so expensive due to the fact that only four were made.
8. Breguet Antique Number 2667 – $4.5 Million
This traditional pocket watch features an 18-karat yellow gold case for a lustrous shine. Made with two oscillating bodies, this rare timepiece uses Arabic suspended numerals on the left subdial and Arabic suspended numerals on the right subdial.
7. Louis Moinet Meteoris – $4.6 Million
Not only is this an extremely rare timepiece, as only four were ever created, it also features moon rock. Made with a black band leading to an intricate dial that’s lets you glance at the inner working of the watch, this timepiece is an incredible sight to see.
6. Hublot Big Bang – $5 Million
Unlike the Caviar Black design, this Big Bang timepiece attempts, and succeeds, at making a bold appearance. With 1,280 diamonds, each at least three carats, this elegant watch has a truly stunning appearance and offers an incredible shine. Each stone on this timepiece was cut by the same jeweler to ensure that they all feature the same cut signature.
5. Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 in Stainless Steel – $11 Million
This timepiece was recently sold at an auction for $11 million, and it’s the first watch in a rare four-piece series. Most Patek Philippe timepieces feature a rose gold or yellow gold case, but this watch has a stainless-steel case, which is what makes it so rare.
4. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch – $18 Million
The name of this watch gives you an idea of what to expect. The skeleton face lets you see the intricate movement, and the bezel and band are adorned with 260 carats of emerald-cut diamonds, giving this timepiece a captivating shine and a complex design.
3. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication – $24 Million
Made for Henry Graves Jr., this is the most expensive timepiece created by Patek Phillipe. This watch features a minute repeater with Westminster chimes, a celestial chart, and sunset and sunrise times, as well as 24 complications. The celestial chart on this watch was modeled after the night sky outside Graves’ New York residence.
2. Graff Diamonds The Fascination – $40 Million
Spoiler alert: In addition to offering the world’s most expensive watch, Graff also offers the world’s second most expensive watch. A short glance at this timepiece gives you an idea of why it’s so pricey. This watch contains a whopping 152.96 carats of white diamonds, as well as a pear-shaped, 38.13-carat diamond in the center, which can be removed and worn as a ring.
1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination – $55 Million
Valued at a cool 55 million dollars, this one-of-a-kind timepiece has more than 110 carats of colored diamonds set on a platinum bracelet. The different shaped and colored diamonds flow together in a masterful way, creating a breathtaking visual display. Part of what makes this watch so valuable is that it uses natural fancy colored diamonds, which are much more valuable and rare than white diamonds. The watch’s small dial lets the diamonds really stand out, and the clasp becomes hidden when the watch is closed. To open the watch, you must apply pressure to a certain diamond. What really makes this women’s watch so impressive is the invisible platinum setting, which gives the diamonds the appearance of being effortlessly held together. The designer, along with gemologists and craftsmen spend thousands of hours creating this incredible timepiece.
