Top 5 Record-Breaking Timepieces That Define Luxury

5. Chopard 201-Carat Watch

4. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication

3. Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette

2. Breguet Grande Complication Marie Antoinette

1. Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010

05 || Chopard 201-Carat Watch

Images Credit: Chopard

Key Highlights

• Total Carat Weight: Features an astounding 201 carats of diamonds, making it one of the most diamond-intensive watches ever created.

• Heart-Shaped Diamonds: Showcases three prominent heart-shaped diamonds—a 15-carat pink diamond, a 12-carat blue diamond, and an 11-carat white diamond—arranged in a stunning floral motif.

• Diamond Array: Adorned with 874 high-grade diamonds in various colors and sizes, contributing to its mesmerizing sparkle.

Auction Price and Ownership Details:

The Chopard 201-Carat Watch was sold in 2000 for a staggering $25 million, positioning it among the most expensive timepieces ever sold.However, specific details about the buyer or current owner have not been publicly disclosed, maintaining the anonymity often preferred in high-profile acquisitions.

Treebox Rating

8.0

04 || Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication

Images Credit: Patek Philippe

Key Highlights

• 24 Complications: Features functions such as a perpetual calendar, minute repeater with Westminster chimes, sunrise and sunset times, and a celestial chart.

• Gold Case: Crafted in 18k yellow gold, adding to its opulence.

• Custom Commission: Commissioned by banker Henry Graves Jr. in 1925, completed in 1932.

• Manual Winding: Requires manual winding, typical of watches from its era.

• Unique Design: Specifically tailored to Graves' specifications, making it one-of-a-kind.

• Historical Significance: Was the most complicated watch in the world for over 50 years.

• Artisanal Craftsmanship: Showcases the pinnacle of watchmaking skills of its time.

Latest Auction Price: Sold for $24 million USD at Sotheby's Geneva in 2014, setting a record for the most expensive watch ever sold at auction at that time.

Owner: The buyer's identity has not been publicly disclosed.

Treebox Rating

8.3

03 || Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette

Images Credit: Jaeger-LeCoultre

Key highlights

• Calibre 101 Movement: Houses one of the smallest mechanical movements ever made, weighing only about one gram.

• Diamond-Set Bracelet: Features a fully diamond-set bracelet, showcasing high jewelry craftsmanship.

• Hidden Dial: The time is discreetly displayed on a small dial, blending seamlessly with the bracelet design.

• White Gold Construction: Crafted in 18k white gold, enhancing its luxurious appeal.

• Customizable Design: Each piece can be tailored to the client's preferences, ensuring uniqueness.

• Manual Winding: Despite its minuscule size, it requires manual winding, reflecting traditional watchmaking.

• High Jewelry Piece: Combines horology with haute joaillerie, making it both a watch and a piece of jewelry.

Latest Auction Price: Specific auction records for this model are scarce due to its exclusivity and bespoke nature.

Owner: Notably, Queen Elizabeth II wore a Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 101 timepiece during her coronation in 1953.

Treebox Rating

8.9

02 || Breguet Grande Complication Marie Antoinette

Images Credit: Breguet

Key Highlights

• Historical Reproduction: A modern replica of the original No. 160, commissioned for Queen Marie-Antoinette in the late 18th century.

• Perpetual Calendar: Displays the date, day, and month, accounting for leap years.

• Minute Repeater: Chimes the hours, quarters, and minutes on demand.

• Thermometer: Includes a bimetallic thermometer, showcasing the watch's multifunctionality.

• Power Reserve Indicator: Shows the remaining energy in the mainspring.

• Equation of Time: Indicates the difference between mean solar time and apparent solar time.

• Tourbillon: Features a rotating cage to counteract the effects of gravity on the escapement mechanism.

Latest Auction Price: The original No. 160 was stolen in 1983 and recovered in 2007; it has not been auctioned since its recovery. The No. 1160 reproduction has not been publicly auctioned, and its value is undisclosed.

Owner: The original No. 160 resides in the L.A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem. The No. 1160 reproduction is part of Breguet's private collection.

Treebox Rating

9.2

01 ||Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010

Images Credit: Patek

Treebox Rating

9.7

Key highlights

• Double-Faced Design: Features two dials—one on the front and one on the back—allowing for multiple complications to be displayed.

• 20 Complications: Includes a grande and petite sonnerie, minute repeater, instantaneous perpetual calendar, and a second time zone.

• Unique Steel Case: Crafted in stainless steel, a rarity for Patek Philippe, enhancing its exclusivity.

• Hand-Engraved Details: Showcases intricate hand engravings, reflecting Patek Philippe's commitment to craftsmanship.

• Black and White Dials: The front dial is black ebony, while the reverse is white opaline, both with gold applied numerals.

• Alligator Leather Strap: Comes with a hand-stitched alligator leather strap, adding to its luxurious appeal.

• Only Watch 2019: This unique piece was created specifically for the Only Watch 2019 charity auction.

Latest Auction Price: Sold for CHF 31 million (approximately $31 million USD) at the Only Watch 2019 auction, setting a record for the most expensive wristwatch ever sold.

Owner: The buyer's identity remains undisclosed, as is common in high-profile auctions.

Treebox Rating

9.2