Round-UpA Quick Glance At The Top 10 Most Expensive Watches In 2024
From full pave designs to heavy-duty chronographs, here's a list of expensive watches that easily qualify as objets d'art
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The top most expensive watches are usually record breakers in terms of devising complications or ornamentation. They have the most amazing though tedious behind-the-scenes stories, from sources of inspiration to the process of gaining impressive technical achievements. These highest selling watches combine high fashion with exquisite watchmaking, and are coveted usually for being symbols of status, flashy opulence or understated elegance and unparalleled craftsmanship.
Here are the Best Top 10 Expensive Watches in 2024
- Arnold & Son Grand Complications Double Tourbillon Red Gold
- Bovet Amadeo Fleurier
- Bulgari Octo Roma Carillon Tourbillon
- Girard-Perregaux Quasar Light Tourbillon With Three Bridges
- H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Tourbillon
- IWC Portugieser Grande Complication
- Jacob & Co. Astronomia Solar Zodiac
- Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Golden Brown
- Omega De Ville Tourbillon
- Urwerk UR-112 Aggregat Back To Black
Arnold & Son Grand Complications Double Tourbillon Red Gold
Apart from their lunar offerings through collections such as Nebula, Luna Magna and Perpetual Moon, Arnold & Son are noted for highly complicated and expensive watches such as the Grandes Complications. The featured version is a Double Tourbillon Grandes Complications with 18-karat red gold case measuring 43.5mm, cradling four sub-dials: two vertically stacked white lacquered counters at 12 o’clock and six o’clock showcasing two separate time zones, and two identical tourbillons at nine and three o’clock. To manage this kind of horological sorcery requires an equally competent movement, which in the case of this Arnold & Son version is the in-house manufactured A&S8513, a manual-winding movement made from nickel silver held together by 42 jewels, and embellished with hand-chamfered bridges, Côtes de Genève patterns, circular satin-finished wheels, mirror-polished heads, and more. It beats at 21,600vph and promises upto 90 hours power reserve. The watch comes attached to a hand-stitched brown or black alligator leather strap.
Arnold & Son Grand Complications Double Tourbillon Red Gold In A Nutshell
- Case: 18-karat rose gold, 43.5mm, with sapphire crystal; water-resistant to 30m
- Functions and display: Hours, minutes, seconds, dual time, tourbillon
- Movement: Manual-winding calibre A&S8513; 90-hour power reserve
- Strap: Hand-stitched brown or black alligator leather
Expensive Watches Special: Bovet Amadeo Fleurier
Thanks to the patented Amadeo convertible system, a number of Bovet timepieces such as the Bovet Amadeo Fleurier, can shapeshift into a wristwatch, pendant, table clock, pocket watch. One of the most expensive watches in the Bovet roster, this watch runs on the exquisite manual-winding movement 14BM02AI with seven-day power reserve. A noteworthy element is the positioning of the tourbillon cage that is visible from both sides. The decorative vintage elements on the dial interspersed with blue and purple jewels gives off both old money and nouveau rich rich. The breathtaking mastery of the blue crafted guilloche dial, genuine black leather strap and a rose gold ‘pocket watch’ chain are other design attractions.
Bovet Amadeo Fleurier In A Nutshell
- Case: 18-karat rose gold, 45mm, with sapphire crystal; water-resistant to 30m
- Functions and display: Can shapeshift into table clock, pocket watch, pendant and wristwatch. Hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve indicator, tourbillon
- Movement: Manual-winding calibre 14BM02AI; seven-day power reserve
- Strap: Black leather with rose gold deployment clasp
Bulgari Octo Roma Carillon Tourbillon
The Bulgari Octo Roma Carillon Tourbillon timepiece in titanium commands an exorbitant price tag for its unique minute repeater complication and stellar melodic sequence. Despite its no-frills, less-popular avatar, this watch is one of the most expensive watches from the Bulgari maison. This Carillon complication features three hammers that sound the note C for the hours, the mid-re-C notes for the quarters, and the last mid note for the minutes. The grid-like construction of the dial features three openings that correspond to the three chimes, to allow sound to exit from the case’s chamber with the desired amount of gusto. This design also translates into less usage of metal. Limited to 30 pieces, the three-hammer carillon is further complemented by a tourbillon regulator at six o’clock. The watch is powered by the manual-winding in-house calibre BVL428, which is 8.35mm thick and comprises 432 components. It is equipped with two barrels, which takes care of the functioning of the sound mechanism and can store a power reserve of up to 75 hours.
Bulgari Octo Roma Carillon Tourbillon In A Nutshell
- Case: Titanium, octagon-shaped, 44mm, grid constructed dial, with sapphire crystal; water-resistant to 30m
- Functions and display: Carillon complication, power reserve indicator, small seconds, tourbillon regulator
- Movement: Manual-winding calibre BVL 428; 75-hour power reserve
- Strap: Black leather
Girard-Perregaux Quasar Light Tourbillon With Three Bridges
It was Paris, the ‘City of Lights’ and high fashion that enamoured Girard-Perregaux to create their legendary design of triple aerial neo-bridges. Many editions were produced on this horological marvel and qualified enough to be termed as expensive watches, but the one iteration that has stuck out is the frosty, all-transparent sapphire crystal version called Quasar, an intergalactic phenomenon that is a type of ‘black hole’ that dispels electromagnetic radiation. The name reflects the aura of the watch, pulling the spectator’s gaze towards it like the powerful Quasar black hole would do. The 18-piece limited-run watch comes alive under light with diamond-like brilliance. Its 46mm case, made entirely from sapphire crystal, cradles an openworked dial that reveals the robust in-house manufactured GP09400 movement, which offers upto 60 hours’ power reserve when fully wound. The Girard-Perregaux Quasar Light Tourbillon thus creates a lasting impression with its completely see-through body of taut curves and matt surfaces, including the rubber watch strap, luminous dial markers and, especially the three bridges cut out from clear sapphire crystal.
Girard-Perregaux Quasar Light Tourbillon With Three Bridges In A Nutshell
- Case: Transparent sapphire crystal, 46mm, triple aerial neo-bridges; water-resistant to 30m
- Functions and display: Small seconds, tourbillon, luminous dial markers
- Movement: Manual-winding calibre GP09400-1128; 60-hour power reserve
- Strap: Grey rubber with white gold triple folding buckle
It was Paris, the ‘City of Lights’ and high fashion that enamoured watchmaker Girard-Perregaux to create their legendary triple aerial neo-bridges, and the one iteration that has stuck out is the frosty, all-transparent sapphire crystal version called Girard-Perregaux Quasar Light Tourbillon, a type of ‘black hole’ that dispels electromagnetic radiation
H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Tourbillon
One of the most popular and expensive watches by H. Moser & Cie.—the Streamliner—is inspired by ultra-luxe automotive and locomotive designs from the 1920s. The watch is a lesson in contemporary minimalism as it beguiles with its refined persona. This 18-karat red-gold H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Tourbillon Rainbow features an alluring Vantablack dial. The true eye-catcher, however, is the gem-setting on the bezel on the cushion-shaped case, which enhances the appeal of the timepiece and also showcases the brand’s prowess when it comes to executing these artistic techniques. A total of 60 baguette-cut colourful sapphires, amounting to 290 carats, displaying a spectrum of vivid hues that envelope the dial like a rainbow. A slightly domed sapphire crystal protects the dial. Controlling the timekeeping is a screw-in crown positioned at three o’clock on the case side, topped with an engraved logo ‘M’.
H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Tourbillon In A Nutshell
- Case: 18-karat rose gold, cushion-shaped, 40mm, rainbow-hued bezel studded with 60 baguette-cut colourful sapphires, domed sapphire crystal
- Functions and display: Small seconds, tourbillon, luminous dial markers
- Movement: Manual-winding calibre HMC 804; 72-hour power reserve
- Strap: Rose gold with butterfly clasp
Top Expensive Watches: IWC Portugieser Grande Complication
In 2015, IWC decided to revamp their legendary Portugieser collection with a new Portugieser Grande Complication on its 75th anniversary. The new version runs on the calibre 79091, comprising 659 mechanical parts! Apart from ensuring upto 44 hours’ power reserve, the automatic self-winding movement enables over 20 functions such as a chronograph, a perpetual calendar, a moon phase, stopwatch, small hacking seconds and minute repeater, which took 50,000 hours of manual work to construct. The IWC Portugieser Grande Complication offers the luxury of providing a moon phase complication that needs syncing just once every 122 years, while the perpetual calendar is functional upto the year 2499, requiring manual intervention just for the years 2100, 2200 and 2300, calculated to be leap years, but are not indeed. This 45mm IWC Portugieser Grande Complication aims for cleaner yet informative dial design, and so took off the original globe motif but introduced a hairline thin railway outer minute track for enhanced timekeeping. An engraved caseback alludes to a rotating compass. Available as a 250-piece limited-run edition, this 18-karat red gold variant comes attached to a brown leather strap and folding clasp with red gold thread side stitching. Each variant only comes in 250 pieces.
IWC Portugieser Grande Complication In A Nutshell
- Case: 18-karat rose gold, cushion-shaped, 45mm, domed sapphire crystal
- Functions and display: Chronograph, day-date, moon phase complication needs syncing just once every 122 years, perpetual calendar upto year 2499, small hacking seconds, month, year
- Movement: Automatic calibre 79091
- Strap: Brown leather with red gold thread side stitching and rose gold folding clasp
Jacob & Co. Astronomia Solar Zodiac
With their dials carrying 3D miniatures of monuments to celestial bodies oozing with gemstones, it’s safe to say the Astronomia line has the most expensive watches issued by American jeweller and watchmaker, Jacob & Co. In the 18-karat rose gold version of the Astronomia Solar Baguette, as the name suggests, the dial recreates the solar system as we know it. The in-house JCAM19 plays the main character, flexing its four vertical arms, and spinning clockwise via the central axis. Three satellite arms carry ‘planets’—round multi-cut semiprecious gemstones with 10-minute rotation speed, while latched on to the fourth arm is the main timekeeping display, which showcases the 12 animals of the zodiac as hour markers, linking time with astrology, celestial bodies, constellations, and the impact of the moon on people and tides. This construction overlaps another pronged structure with two arms: one end has a 60-second double-axis flying tourbillon and the other, a magnesium ‘Earth’. All six elements spin around ‘the sun’—the brand’s signature 288-faceted-Jacob-cut diamond, which weighs the same as the tourbillon, globe, and zodiac to balance out the movement. This linear installation is set on a main plate, which rotates anti-clockwise. The plate is fully paved with baguette-cut white diamonds that extend to the four lugs.
Jacob & Co. Astronomia Solar Zodiac In A Nutshell
- Case: 18-karat rose gold, 43mm, domed sapphire crystal
- Functions and display: Three satellite arms carry ‘planets’—round multi-cut semiprecious gemstones with 10-minute rotation speed, fourth arm showcases the 12 animals of the zodiac as hour markers, 60-second double-axis flying tourbillon, signature 288-faceted-Jacob-cut diamond
- Movement: Manual-winding calibre JCAM19
- Strap: Blue leather with rose gold folding clasp
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Three satellite arms carry ‘planets’—round gemstones with 10-minute rotation speed, while latched on to the fourth arm is the hour and minute sub-dial, which showcases the 12 animals of the zodiac as hour markers, linking time with astrology, celestial bodies, constellations, and the impact of the moon on people and tides
Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Golden Brown
The Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Golden Brown surpasses its predecessors in opulence, and despite its minimalist appeal, it qualifies as one of the most expensive watches for 2024. Previously released in two all-steel versions in limited editions of 12 each, the brand unveiled a heightened level of luxury by issuing an 5N red gold specimen as a 24-piece limited edition timepiece. Its robust cushion-shaped case draws inspiration from the clean lines and gorgeous curves of sleek luxury cars. The iconic drop-shaped hour markers and Assegai-shaped hands, both made from red gold, have also been made larger for enhanced illumination of the Super-LumiNova. This case features a mix of satin-brushed and mirror-polished components. Its cushion-shaped bezel offers a nice contrast with the circular satin-brushed finish and polished sides. The middle section of the case is barrel-shaped, combining vertical satin brushing on the top, horizontal satin brushing on the profile, and polished sides. Its attached 5N red-gold bracelet consists of three-link rows with vertical satin brushing and the central links are bevelled with polished edges. Inside the streamlined and low-profile case revs the high-performance LF619.01 tourbillon calibre with a double balance spring.
Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Golden Brown In A Nutshell
- Case: 5-N red gold, 44mm, cushion-shaped bezel, with sapphire crystal; upto 100m water resistance
- Functions and display: Small seconds, tourbillon
- Movement: Manual-winding calibre LF619.01; 90-hour power reserve
- Strap: 5-N red gold three-link integrated straps with folding clasp
Omega De Ville Tourbillon
What makes the Omega De Ville Tourbillon one of the most expensive watches in the Omega family is its highly advanced, accurate, and anti-magnetic tourbillon complication. Equipped with one of the most exquisite in-house movements ever created by the brand, this Co-Axial Master Chronometer timepiece is inbuilt with the extremely reliable calibre 2650 that offers a significant three-day power reserve. The transparent caseback allows you to admire the two mainspring barrels visually connected by an arc-shaped bridge that acts as the sector for the power reserve indicator—clearly visible on the bottom half. The movement’s plates and bridges are made from Omega’s proprietary Sedna gold, and is built using a combination of traditional and modern finishes. Moreover, the watch is certified as a Master Chronometer, given that the calibre can withstand magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss, aside from meeting other high standards of accuracy.
Omega De Ville Tourbillon In A Nutshell
- Case: Sedna™ Gold, 43mm, with sapphire crystal
- Functions and display: Anti-magnetic central tourbillon complication, power reserve indicator, openworked caseback
- Movement: Manual-winding calibre 2640; three-day power reserve, can withstand magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss
- Strap: Black leather
Urwerk UR-112 Aggregat Back To Black
Urwerk in 2023 expanded their Special Projects laboratory—that launched the previous editions of UR-112 Aggregat—with the new Back to Black version featuring a structure in steel and titanium, with black DLC treatment. Like the first-issue version, the UR-112 Aggregat Back to Black is heavily inspired by the vintage car, Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic SC, and is one of the most expensive watches in the Urwerk range. It is reflected in the central spine of the watch dividing the hunter-like bonnet on the top of the watch. While the original used PVD-coated titanium, the Aggregat Back to Black in steel and titanium features a stronger DLC treatment. The complex architecture of the timepiece might be putting off, but on closer inspection, reading time from the alien-like timepiece is simple. Two sapphire crystal satellite prisms offer the jumping digital hours and trailing minutes. The 42mm spaceship-like case structure houses a cover, or a hinged bonnet, which flips open to reveal the power reserve indicator and digital seconds display. Inside the UR-112 Aggregat Back to Black runs the in-house UR-13.01 automatic movement, with a power reserve of 48 hours. The long central titanium shaft of the surprisingly lightweight movement (weighing just 25.2g) houses a large barrel that facilitates the twin indicators of time.
Urwerk UR-112 Aggregat Back To Black In A Nutshell
- Case: Steel, Titanium & Black DLC grill case, 42mm, Tonneau-shaped
- Functions and display: Anti-magnetic central tourbillon complication, power reserve indicator, openworked caseback
- Movement: Automatic calibre UR-13.01; 48-hour power reserve, can withstand magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss
- Strap: Black leather
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Amadeo convertible system?
The convertible system allows you to not only wear the timepiece as a wristwatch, with any side of the reversible case facing up, but also to convert the case into a table clock, as well as a pocket watch. After seven years of developing and perfecting this Amadéo system, it was finally patented in 2010.
- What is the carillon complication?
The Carillon complication features three hammers that sound the note C for the hours, the mid-re-C notes for the quarters, and the last mid note for the minutes. The grid-like construction of the dial features three openings that correspond to the three chimes, to allow sound to exit from the case’s chamber with the desired amount of gusto. This design also translates into less usage of metal.
- What is Quasar phenomenon and how is it replicated in the special Girard-Perregaux edition?
The Girard-Perregaux Quasar Light Tourbillon is the frosty, all-transparent sapphire crystal version named after an intergalactic phenomenon, which is a type of ‘black hole’ that dispels electromagnetic radiation. The name reflects the aura of the watch, pulling the spectator’s gaze towards it like the powerful Quasar black hole would do. The 18-piece limited-run watch features a 46mm case, made entirely from sapphire crystal, cradles an openworked dial that reveals the robust in-house manufactured GP09400 movement, with completely see-through body of taut curves and matt surfaces.
Shop The Story
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Arnold & Son Grandes Complications
1DTAR.L01A.
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Bovet Fleurier
AIFSQ029
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BVLGARI Octo
103283
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Girard-Perregaux Bridges
99295-43-001-BA6A
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H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner
6804-0401
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IWC Portugieser
IW377602
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Jacob & Co. Astronomia
AS910.40.BD.BD.A
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Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport
LCF044.02.R5.B1RC1.2
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Omega De Ville
529.53.43.22.01.001
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Urwerk UR-Special Projects
UR-112 BACK TO BLACK
