Luxury watches are exquisite works of art, symbols of prestige, and testaments to human ingenuity. These timepieces represent the pinnacle of horology, often fetching jaw-dropping prices. While some feature mechanical mastery with dozens of complications, others are adorned with diamonds worth millions. If you’ve ever wondered what makes a watch worth millions, here’s a look at the ten most expensive in the world. This list, based on Forbes's ranking of the most expensive watches, highlights timepieces that justify their staggering price tags with exceptional artistry and exclusivity. 1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination – $55 million (Rs 478 Crore) The Hallucination by Graff Diamonds holds the title of the world's most expensive watch. Designed by Laurence Graff, the chairman of Graff Diamonds, this incredible piece pushes the boundaries of luxury watchmaking. Crafted from platinum, the Hallucination features 110 carats of multi-colored diamonds in various cuts, all set into an intricate bracelet. This one-of-a-kind creation was unveiled at Baselworld in 2014, instantly making headlines for its jaw-dropping design and staggering price tag of $55 million (Rs 478 crore). 2. Graff Diamonds The Fascination – $50 Million (Rs 435 Crore) Ranking second among the world’s most expensive watches, The Fascination by Graff Diamonds is valued at $50 million (Rs 435 crore). Known for its expertise in diamonds, the British luxury brand designed this timepiece with 152.96 carats of white diamonds and a 38.13-carat pear-shaped diamond at its center. The standout feature is its versatility—the pear-shaped diamond can be detached and worn as a ring. 3. Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 – $31 Million (Rs 269 Crore) The Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 holds the record as the most expensive Patek watch ever sold, fetching a staggering $31 million (Rs 269 crore). Introduced in 2014 to celebrate the brand’s 175th anniversary, this timepiece stands out with its dual-dial design, both featuring blue opaline backgrounds, gold-applied numerals, and 18K solid gold dial plates. Made from white gold and paired with a navy blue alligator leather strap, the Grandmaster Chime is packed with intricate mechanics. It features five chiming modes, an acoustic alarm, and a date repeater, all powered by a manual movement. 4. Breguet Grande Complication Marie Antoinette – $30 Million (Rs 261 Crore) The Breguet Grande Complication Marie Antoinette is one of the most expensive watches in the world, valued at around $30 million (Rs 261 crore). Made of gold and designed by legendary watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet, this timepiece took an incredible 40 years to complete. It was originally commissioned—reportedly by one of her admirers—for Queen Marie Antoinette, but she never saw it finished, as she was executed before its completion in 1827. Often called “a poem in clockwork,” the watch was ahead of its time, featuring an automatic movement, a perpetual calendar, a thermometer, and other advanced complications. Despite being stolen in the late 1900s, it was later recovered and is now displayed at the L A Mayer Museum in Jerusalem. 5. Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette – $26 Million (Rs 226 Crore) The Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette, made from white gold, is one of the most expensive watches in the world, with a price tag of $26 million (Rs 226 crore). Released in 2012, this manually wound timepiece was crafted as a special gift for Queen Elizabeth II to mark her 60-year reign. What sets it apart is its intricate design, featuring 577 diamonds embedded into the structure, making it as much a piece of jewellery as it is a watch. It also houses the miniature Calibre 101 movement, known as one of the smallest in the world. With a sapphire glass-covered dial and Jaeger-LeCoultre’s signature craftsmanship, this watch is a rare blend of luxury and precision engineering. 6. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication – $26 Million (Rs 226 Crore) The Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication is a gold pocket watch crafted in 1933 for American banker Henry Graves. Taking seven years to complete, it represents a time when watchmaking was purely dependent on craftsmanship. Known as one of the most complicated pocket watches ever made, it features a calendar, a minute repeater with Westminster Chimes, sunrise and sunset indicators, and a celestial chart replicating the night sky above Graves' New York residence. Manufactured in 1932, this manual movement timepiece sold for an astounding $26 million (Rs 226 crore). 7. Chopard 201-Carat Watch – $25 Million (Rs 217 Crore) The Chopard 201-Carat watch is a true statement piece, valued at a staggering $25 million (Rs 217 crores). Crafted from white and yellow gold, this 2000 release by Swiss watchmaker Karl Scheufele III is covered with 874 diamonds, adding up to a total of 201 carats in various colors. One of its standout features is a spring-loaded mechanism that, when pressed, causes three heart-shaped diamonds—a 15-carat pink, 12-carat blue, and 11-carat white—to open like petals, revealing the pavé-set watch face. Inside, three pear-shaped yellow diamonds, totaling 8.45 carats, complete the design. 8. Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6239 – $18.7 Million (Rs 162 Crore) The Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6239, made of stainless steel, was originally commissioned in 1968 by Paul Newman’s wife, Joanne Woodward. She had the caseback engraved with the words, “Drive Carefully Me,” a nod to his passion for racing. This manual-winding watch became one of the most famous timepieces in the world, largely due to Newman’s association with it. When it went up for auction in 2017, the watch was sold in just 12 minutes through a phone bid, fetching a staggering $18.7 million (Rs 162 crore). 9. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch – $18 Million (Rs 156 Crore) The Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch is exactly what its name suggests—a timepiece built for the ultra-rich. Made from 18-karat white gold, it features a bracelet and dial that scream luxury. The real highlight, though, is the 189 carats of Akosha diamonds, which are cut in a way that makes them appear 30 per cent larger than standard emerald-cut diamonds. The skeleton dial gives a clear view of the intricate manual tourbillon movement, made up of 167 components and 18 jewels. A rose-cut jewel on the crown adds the final touch. Released in 2015, this manually wound watch is priced at a staggering $18 million (Rs 156 crore). 10. Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Ref. 1518 – $12 Million (Rs 100 Crore) The Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Ref. 1518 is one of the rarest and most valuable watches ever made, selling for around $12 million (Rs 100 crore). Produced in 1943, it is part of an exclusive four-piece series, making it an extremely sought-after collector’s item. Unlike most Patek Philippe watches, which typically come in yellow or rose gold, this one features a high-grade stainless steel case. While steel might seem less luxurious than gold, its rarity in high-end watchmaking makes it even more desirable. Top 10 most expensive watches in the world Rank Watch Name Price 1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination Rs 478 Crore 2. Graff Diamonds The Fascination Rs 435 Crore 3. Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 Rs 269 Crore 4. Breguet Grande Complication Marie Antoinette Rs 261 Crore 5. Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette Rs 226 Crore 6. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication Rs 226 Crore 7. Chopard 201-Carat Watch Rs 217 Crore 8. Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6239 Rs 162 Crore 9. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch Rs 156 Crore 10. Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Ref. 1518 Rs 100 Crore Based on the Forbes' list.
