If you’re a fan of luxury watches, you probably know that some of them can cost a fortune. But do you know which watch brands are the most expensive in the world? And what makes them so special and pricey? In this article, we’ll take a look at 10 of the most expensive watch brands in the world, and what sets them apart from the rest.
Roger Dubuis
Approximate Price Range: Up to $300,000
Roger Dubuis is a relatively young watch brand, founded in 1995 by Roger Dubuis and Carlos Dias. The brand is known for its bold and avant-garde designs, as well as its high-end movements and complications. Roger Dubuis is also one of the few watch brands that has the Geneva Seal, a mark of excellence and quality that is awarded to watches that meet strict criteria of craftsmanship and origin. Some of the most expensive Roger Dubuis watches include the Excalibur Quatuor, which has four balance wheels and a skeletonized dial, and the Excalibur Spider Pirelli Double Flying Tourbillon, which has a rubber strap made from Pirelli tires and a double tourbillon.
Louis Moinet
Approximate Price Range: $10,000 to $300,000+
Louis Moinet is a niche watch brand, founded in 2004 by Jean-Marie Schaller, who revived the name and legacy of Louis Moinet, a 19th-century watchmaker and inventor. The brand is known for its unique and creative designs, as well as its use of rare and exotic materials. Louis Moinet is also known for its claim to have created the first chronograph in history, in 1816. Some of the most expensive Louis Moinet watches include the Meteoris, which has four watches that each contain a piece of a meteorite, and the Mecanograph Qatar, which has a dial made from fragments of a meteorite that fell in Qatar.
Breguet
Approximate Price Range: Up to $330,000
Breguet is one of the oldest and most respected watch brands in the world, founded in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet, who is widely regarded as the father of modern watchmaking. Breguet is famous for its invention of the tourbillon, a device that counteracts the effects of gravity on the accuracy of a mechanical watch. Breguet is also known for its classic and refined style, as well as its historical connections to royalty and celebrities. Some of the most expensive Breguet watches include the Classique Grande Complication Tourbillon Messidor, which has a skeletonized movement and a hand-engraved gold dial, and the Marie-Antoinette Grande Complication, which is a replica of a legendary watch that was commissioned by the French queen but never delivered.
Piaget
Approximate Price Range: Up to $600,000 or more
Piaget is a Swiss watchmaker that specializes in ultra-thin movements and exquisite jewelry watches. The brand was founded in 1874 by Georges Piaget and has since become one of the most prestigious names in the industry. Piaget is known for its innovative and elegant designs, as well as its use of precious stones and metals. Some of the most expensive Piaget watches include the Emperador Coussin XL 700P, which features a hybrid mechanical-quartz movement and a diamond-set case, and the Altiplano Ultimate Concept, which is the thinnest mechanical watch in the world at just 2mm thick.
Vacheron Constantin
Approximate Price Range: Up to $1.7 million
Vacheron Constantin is another venerable Swiss watchmaker, founded in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron. It is the oldest continuously operating watch brand in the world and has a reputation for excellence and craftsmanship. Vacheron Constantin is known for its complex and sophisticated complications, as well as its artistic and cultural influences. Some of the most expensive Vacheron Constantin watches include the Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600, which has 23 complications and a celestial chart on the back, and the Reference 57260, which is the most complicated watch ever made, with 57 complications and over 2,800 components.
Jacob & Co.
Approximate Price Range: Up to $18 million
Jacob & Co. is a luxury jewelry and watch brand, founded in 1986 by Jacob Arabo, who started as a diamond dealer and jeweler in New York. The brand is known for its extravagant and flashy designs, as well as its celebrity clientele and collaborations. Jacob & Co. is also known for its astronomical and musical complications, as well as its use of diamonds and gemstones. Some of the most expensive Jacob & Co. watches include the Billionaire Watch, which has 260 carats of emerald-cut diamonds and a skeletonized tourbillon movement, and the Astronomia Casino, which has a miniature roulette wheel and a spinning globe.
Chopard
Approximate Price Range: Up to $25 million
Chopard is a Swiss jewelry and watches brand, founded in 1860 by Louis-Ulysse Chopard. The brand is known for its feminine and elegant designs, as well as its ethical and sustainable practices. Chopard is also known for its involvement in the Cannes Film Festival, where it awards the Palme d’Or trophy and creates a collection of high jewelry every year. Some of the most expensive Chopard watches include the 201-Carat Watch, which has 201 carats of colored diamonds and a hidden watch face, and the L.U.C All-in-One, which has 14 complications and a hand-engraved case.
Patek Philippe
Approximate Price Range: Up to $31 million
Patek Philippe is arguably the most prestigious and sought-after watch brand in the world, founded in 1839 by Antoine Norbert de Patek and Adrien Philippe. The brand is renowned for its innovation and quality, as well as its rarity and exclusivity. Patek Philippe is known for its perpetual calendars, chronographs, minute repeaters, and world timers, among other complications. Some of the most expensive Patek Philippe watches include the Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010, which is the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction, with 20 complications and a reversible case, and the Henry Graves Supercomplication, which is the most expensive pocketwatch ever sold at auction, with 24 complications and a personalized astronomical display.
Graff
Approximate Price Range: Up to $40 million
Graff is a British jewelry and watches brand, founded in 1960 by Laurence Graff, who is known as the “King of Diamonds”. The brand is known for its exceptional and rare diamonds, as well as its sophisticated and glamorous designs. Graff is also known for its record-breaking purchases and sales of some of the most famous diamonds in the world, such as the Lesedi La Rona and the Wittelsbach-Graff. Some of the most expensive Graff watches include the Hallucination, which is the most expensive watch in the world, with 110 carats of multicolored diamonds, and the Fascination, which has 152 carats of white diamonds and a detachable ring.
Breguet
Approximate Price Range: Up to $30 million
Breguet is the most expensive watch brand in the world, thanks to its masterpiece, the Grande Complication Marie Antoinette. This watch was commissioned in 1783 by an admirer of the French queen and was completed in 1827, 34 years after her death. The watch is a marvel of engineering and craftsmanship, with 823 parts and 40 complications, including a perpetual calendar, a thermometer, a chronograph, and a minute repeater. The watch is also made of gold, platinum, and sapphire, and has a self-winding mechanism. The watch is estimated to be worth $30 million and is currently on display at the L.A. Mayer Museum in Jerusalem.
