Luxury watches had been in existence long before they were time-telling machines. For those men who appreciate craftsmanship, innovation, and history, a luxury watch goes beyond just a timepiece and embodies status, taste, and legacy. They exhibit everything from handcrafted movement to jewels and demand attention not just for the WOW factor but also for the exorbitant price. In this article, we will examine the most expensive luxury watches for men ever made, down to hundreds of thousands if not millions.
These timepieces do more than just tell you the time. They consist of high-precision components that are rare or have limited availability, exclusivity, or collectibility, and a strong hallmark of horological history. Many watches in this list have been worn by world leaders, royalty, legends of Hollywood, and business moguls, each displaying the utmost level of style and prestige. So, let’s dive into the world of the most expensive men’s luxury watches in the world.
1. Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 – The Most Expensive Men’s Luxury Watch with 20 complications
Estimated Price: $31 million
Origin: Switzerland
Highlight: The most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction (2019)
The Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime is not a watch; it is an engineering masterpiece. The mechanical brain contains 20 complications, of which the perpetual calendar, minute repeater, audible alarm, second time zone, and moon phase representation are notable features. The craftsmanship of the Grandmaster Chime deserves to be revered as a symphony of horological brilliance. One side of the reversible case gives the time, while the opposite face incorporates day, date, month, year, and leap year with a moon phase display.
- 20 complications
- Mobile reversible case with two dials
- Manual winding & display
- Grand feu enamel dial
What makes this particular model even more spectacular is that it was the only example made in stainless steel and was auctioned at the Only Watch charity auction. There is extreme interest from collectors for the only watch produced in the typical wristwatch metal of steel, admired for its rare materials, innovation, and beautiful craftsmanship. It is a flagship watch for people serious about owning the most expensive luxury watches for men.
2. Graff Diamonds Hallucination
Estimated Price: $55 million.
Origin: United Kingdom.
Highlight: The most expensive watch ever made.
Worn by both men and women, Graff Hallucination is a vision of colour, sparkle, and excess luxury. Technically, it’s for women, but many high-net-worth men have had similar expensive pieces custom-made for their bespoke collections. Over 110-carat rare fancy-coloured diamonds, blue diamonds, green diamonds, pink diamonds, yellow diamonds, and orange diamonds.
- Over 110 carats of diamonds.
- Platinum bracelet.
- Manual quartz movement.
- One-of-a-kind showpiece.
Crafted by Laurence Graff and a dedicated team of expert gemologists, this 110-carat diamond marvel took thousands of hours to complete. More than a timepiece, it is a high-jewellery statement—perfect for collectors seeking the pinnacle of elegance in the most expensive luxury watches for men.
3. Breguet Grande Complication Marie-Antoinette
Estimated Price: $30 million
Origin: France
Highlight: Royal history and legendary backstory
Breguet Commissioned by a jeweller and admirer of Queen Marie-Antoinette in 1783, this pocket watch was meant to be a gift for the French queen. Unfortunately, it never made the intended destination. The timepiece was completed 44 years after her death and includes every horological complication known at the time.
- 823 individual pieces
- Gold case and sapphire (crystal)
- Perpetual calendar, minute repeater, power reserve indicator
- Thermometer, and chime features
The watch is currently housed at the L.A. Mayer Museum located in Jerusalem, and it is not for sale, but its projected worth puts it in the running for the most expensive luxury watches for men ever. It represents innovation, perseverance, and royal elegance.
4. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch
Estimated Price: $18 million
Origin: USA
Highlight: Covered in diamonds and style
The Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch is all about excess on the wrist! The timepiece comes to life with 260 carats of emerald-cut diamonds in an integrated bracelet. The skeleton face shows off the inner mechanics, including the elongated tourbillon designed for precision timing.
- 260 carats of emerald-cut diamonds
- Skeleton face
- Tourbillon movement
- Manual winding
- Limited edition run
Very sought after by celebrities and entrepreneurs, the Billionaire marries technical prowess with bold, unapologetic style and is the rightful owner of a list of the most expensive luxury watches for men.
5. Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona
Estimated Price: $17.8 million
Origin: Switzerland
Highlight: The most expensive Rolex sold
The Rolex Daytona owned by actor Paul Newman is a legend. It has a unique “exotic” dial with a stainless steel case, was given to him by his wife, and was engraved with “Drive Carefully, Me”; it shattered all records for Rolex auction results upon its sale.
- Exotic black-and white dial
- Manually wound Valjoux 72 movement
- Stainless steel case
- Celebrity provenance
More than a watch, this Daytona tells a story of passion, performance, and Hollywood stardom. For collectors, this piece is grail-level, and it is the quintessential example of the most expensive luxury watches for men.
6. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication
Estimated Price: $24 million
Origin: Switzerland
Highlight: A pocket watch from Patek Philippe with 24 complications
New York banker Henry Graves Jr. commissioned the watch in late 1925. The watch was designed and constructed over 8 years and became the world’s most complicated mechanical pocket watch for over 50 years.
- 24 complications
- Moon phases, celestial chart, sunrise/sunset times
- 18 kt gold case
- No batteries or digital components
It’s traditional horology at its most complex and acknowledged as a monument in the world of watches. A true example of what embodies the most expensive luxury watches for men.
7. Rolex Bao Dai – Royalty
Estimated Price: $5 million
Origin: Switzerland
Highlight: Owned by the last emperor of Vietnam
Rolex Bao Dai is one of the rarest Rolex watches ever conceived. The Rolex was commissioned by Emperor Bao Dai during the Geneva conference in 1954, and this specific Rolex possessed a metal case with a black dial and diamond indices; it was one of a kind.
- Metal Case: 18-kt gold
- Features: Triple calendar moon phase
- Dial: Black lacquer dial with diamonds
History: Uniquely significant historical provenance
The Rolex Bao Dai is essentially one of the crown jewels, along with the most expensive luxury watch for men, for anyone who loves rare or royal items.
8. Richard Mille RM 56-02 Sapphire
Estimated Price: $2 million
Origin: Switzerland
Highlight: The case is fully transparent sapphire crystal.
Richard Mille loves to defy expectations, and the RM 56-02 Sapphire is just that. The case is made entirely of sapphire crystal, and being that the baseplate and all bridges are transparent, it is one of the most highly unique watches ever conceived.
- Full sapphire case and components
- The tourbillon movement is suspended by a pulley system
- Aerospace-grade parts and engineering
- Limited to 10 pieces
It is a highly technical, ultra-futuristic watch and one of the most expensive luxury watches for men.
9. Louis Moinet Meteoris Collection
Estimated Price: $4.6 million (for all 4 watches)
Origin: Switzerland
Highlight: Different pieces actually include meteorite materials from outer space
This is no ordinary watch collection. The collection is made up of four tourbillon watches that include materials all from outer space: lunar rock, Martian meteorite, and asteroids. It was designed by famed watchmaker Louis Moinet.
- Fragments from Martian and lunar meteorites
- Tourbillon movement
- Astronomical complication
- Only one set in existence
These cosmic creations are not merely representations of time but also express the essence, nature, and time of the universe. They are the crème de la crème when it comes to the most expensive luxury watches for men.
10. Hublot Big Bang Diamond
Estimated Price: $5 million
Origin: Switzerland
Highlights: Over 1,200 diamonds with brilliance
Hublot combines luxury with avant-garde, exemplified through the highly expensive Big Bang Diamond edition, which includes 1,280 diamonds, totalling 140 carats. Hublot uses a single master jeweller to select each stone for superior clarity and precision.
- 18k white gold case
- In-house chronograph movement
- 1,280 diamonds (140 carats total)
- Bezel and bracelet set with gems
A signature piece for luxury lovers who want both innovation and indulgence, this watch is a shining star among the most expensive luxury watches for men.
Elevate your appreciation for fine watchmaking with guidance from InsiderXP.
