Tazama Chapaa! These Are The Most Expensive Watches In The World

Piece by: Kwarula Otieno
Lifestyle

Do you have a loose Ksh200 million that you want to spend on anything? Well, don't waste it, we have listed down the most expensive watches in the world. Just like land and gold, these watches' value doesn't depreciate unless it is from River Road.

Patek Philippe – Model 1591

Price: $2,263,964 (Sold at Christie’s in 2007)

In 1996 the Patek Philippe Model 1591 was firstly offered at an auction and won the place of the most expensive stainless steel wristwatch model ever sold at an auction. Until this time the model was not known publicly. Although it was made in the 40s, Patek Philippe Model 1591 is said to have belonged to a maharajah who wore it when playing polo. Then it became a present to a maharajah’s wedding organizer. Some say that it is the only stainless steel model 1591 ever made.

Patek Philippe – Model 2499 First Series

Price: $2,280,000 (Sold at Christie’s in 2007 )

Patek Philippe Model 2499 First Series (1957) is a real limited edition, as there are only 5 other examples of this 18-karat rose-gold wristwatch, which has been in the public to date. The model is the most expensive watch ever sold at Christie’s.

Franck Muller – Aeternitas Mega 4

Price: $2.7 million

Containing 1,483 components this Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega4 has the most complications of any wristwatch model in the world – 36! Aeternitas Mega4 fits 3 time zones indicators, 999-year calendar and a flyback chronograph. The watch has chimes the Carillon Westminster melody on the hour with small strikes on the quarter hour. Not sure if this is a real complication, but…Despite of the high power inputs Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega hasa 3-day power reserve for the movement and 24-hour reserve for the chime. Don’t be naïve, cause the watch is available only in New York and Geneva.

Cartier – Phoenix-shaped watch

Price: $2,755,000

Cartier’s debut with the Phoenix-shaped watch model took place in April. 18 carat, rhodium-plated white gold wristwatch uses emeralds for the bird eyes and has one pear-shaped, portrait-cut diamond weighing 3.53 carats. The masterpiece from the Merveilles du Nil de Cartier collection covered with 3,010 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 80.13 carats is ready to fly from your hand!

Patek Philippe – Model 2523 Heures Universelles (1953)

Price: $2,899,373 (Sold at Antiquorum in 2006 )

Have you ever dreamt of a journey over North America? Patek Philippe Model 2523 Heures Universelles with it’s dial, representing the map of North America can help you. This 18-karat yellow-gold world time watch with the fitting polychrome and enamel dial deserves to be taken with you.

Piaget – Emperador Temple watch

Price: $3.5 million

The Piaget Emperador “Temple” is a 2-in-1. It has a hidden watch that can be seen by pushing down on certain parts. The first watch’s case is set with 481 brilliant-cut diamonds, 207 baguette-cut diamonds, and a cute bonus on the top of the case – an emerald-cut diamond. The second watch with a tourbillon and a 40-hour power reserve is provided with a Polynesian mother-of-pearl dial, fitting 162 brilliant-cut diamonds and 11 baguette-cut diamonds. But this is not the end! Don’t you remember the price? The bracelet is embellished too – 350 baguette-cut diamonds serve for this goal. If you want to get this piece I have to disappoint you – the model has already been sold. But if you are patient enough Piaget is ready to make double secret watches on commission.

Patek Philippe – Platinum World Time

Price: $4 million

Experts consider this platinum Patek Philippe world time wristwatch the only one of its kind ever made. In 2002 this watch became the most expensive watch, sold in action thanks to it’s action bid – $4 million. Patek Philippe’s Platinum World Time has a self winding mechanism, displaying all the 24 time zones and is famous for its easily switchable night and day tones, user friendliness and readability.

Patek Philippe – Sky Moon Tourbillon

Price: $5.6 million

The Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref. 5002 is the most complicated watch ever made by Patek Philippe and also the workshop’s first double-face wristwatch. On the front side: perpetual calendar with retrograde date hand and on the back side: sidereal time, sky chart, phase and orbit of the Moon. Sky Moon Tourbillon movement consists of 686 parts, some of which are microscopically small. On May 10, 2010, a Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon 18K gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases from 1943 sold at a Christie’s auction in Geneva for an astounding $5.6 million.

Chopard – 201- Carat watch

Price: $25 million

Can you imagine an amassment of diamonds on the wrist? Chopard horology house can! And it presents Chopard 201 Carat watch, fitting 3 heart-shaped diamonds. The blue one weighs 12 carats, pink – 15 carats, and the white – 11 carats. The Magnificent Three are placed in a bracelet which is encrusted with white pear-shaped diamonds representing a flower with a yellow diamond in the center of each. The total carat weight of the watch is 201 carats and the total number of diamonds is 874.

Jaeger-LeCoultre –  Joaillerie 101 Manchette

Price: Priceless (Unknown at this time)

Joaillerie 101 Manchette is the most expensive watch in the world. Manufactured by Jaeger-LeCoultre, it resembles a bracelet. But firstly it is a watch. Fitting the mechanical manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 101 movement the watch represents series of polish and diamond-set squares. Thus it becomes difficult to find the exalted Calibre 101 among the jewelry puzzle. The watch is available in two sets:

1) 576 diamonds and 18-carat white gold;

2) 400 diamonds and 11 onyx cabochons.

A silver-colored dial with a sapphire crystal and a winding crown on the case back makes the watch really impressive.