Rare Watches: Explore the World's Most Exquisite Timepieces

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With three ranges to choose from, you are guaranteed to find a watch case to suit your collection size. This watch already broke a world record as the most expensive watch ever after going on sale at Antiquorum’s Geneva auction in April 2002, where it went for 6.6 million Swiss francs. It was then hardly seen again until it arrived at Christie’s Hong Kong auction house in 2021, further adding to its enigmatic and unattainable air.

Legend has it that this watch was initially commissioned for the iconic French queen and fan of life’s finest things, Marie Antoinette, by one of her lovers. Crafting this exceptional piece took around 40 years, and she was executed before the work was complete—only adding to the romance and enigma of this historic timepiece. Complication Watches: Complication watches have additional functions or complications beyond telling time. Antique complication watches can feature complications such as a perpetual calendar, moon phase display, dual time zone, alarm, or minute repeater that chimes the time. This Rolex is one of the rarest timepieces we’ve seen; only 12 of this chronograph were originally made. Wristwatches: Wristwatches gained popularity in the early 20th century and are designed to be worn on the wrist. Antique wristwatches can have different case shapes, including round, rectangular, or tonneau (barrel-shaped). They can feature various materials such as gold, silver, platinum, or stainless steel. Antique wristwatches can also have different movement types, including manual wind, automatic, or early quartz movements.This watch became extremely historically important when the Last Emperor of Vietnam requested the rarest and most precious Rolex ever made. The timepiece now shares its name with Bao Dai. So if you want to know the most expensive watch in the world with its price, keep reading. We used inflation-adjusted prices to create our list of the world’s most high-end watches ever sold, so you know how much these watches would be worth if they went on the market today. [ 1]

Furthermore, every dent, scratch, and mark on older timepieces comes with its own unique story. Some models are even the stuff of legends, having been owned by actors, politicians, or famous athletes. Of course, such vintage watches aren't exactly a bargain. Take Paul Newman's personal Daytona, for example – it is the most expensive wristwatch of all time. Vintage watches are more popular than ever amongst watch enthusiasts all over the world, as you can find high-quality, pre-owned timepieces at affordable prices. Whether you're looking to add to your ever-growing watch collection or are purchasing your first ever investment piece, our collection of vintage watches at Swiss Watch Company is a great place to find the most sought-after designs on the market. There is yet another benefit to purchasing a vintage watch: Rather than being limited to current models, there is a much larger selection of timepieces to choose from. You may even find a watch you like better among the earlier versions than one from that manufacturer's current catalog.Today, it no longer holds the status of the world’s priciest watch, but it remains a highly coveted timepiece. The only platinum reference 1415 HU in the world, this Patek Philippe masterpiece offers serious high-end drama with its monochrome aesthetic. The world-time mechanism is considered Patek Philippe’s first production world timer.