Royal Heirlooms And Hollywood Icons: Most Unique Watches Ever Sold At Auction

Auctions are a great way to acquire a piece of pop culture that would have been otherwise unattainable. When it comes to the rarefied world of high-end auctions, iconic items linked to legendary people have sold for eye-watering sums that reflect their rarity and stories. Be it Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday Mr President” dress that fetched $4.8 million, Napoleon’s hat that sold for $2.1 million, or Albert Einstein’s Nobel Prize medal that realised almost $1 million. That is why it is not surprising that when celebrity provenance intersects with watchmaking heritage, the results can be truly astonishing.

Watches have long been symbols of luxury, status and personal style. But for some, the value of watches that have gone under the gavel at auction houses extends far beyond simple timekeeping and craftsmanship. Combining the excellence of the mechanism with the legend of the icons who owned them, these unique watches sold at auction are nothing short of priceless collector’s items.

Patek Philippe Quantieme Lune Ref. 96

The Patek Philippe Quantieme Lune reference 96 achieved a record-shattering $6.6 million at auction in 2023, cementing its status as the most valuable Patek timepiece sold at auction during the year. This incredible result reflects the reference 96QL’s perfect storm of horological importance, noble provenance, and exceptional rarity. Hailing from 1937, the watch represented a landmark marriage of complications and thinness, fitting a moon phase, date, day and month into a svelte “Roulette” configuration.

Patek Philippe Ref. 96, worn by the last Emperor of China, sold for $6.6 million in 2023

Yet the example sold at auction was even more extraordinary—cased in rare platinum and bearing the crest of its original owner, Pu Yi, the last Emperor of China. Its re-emergence and sale provided the only opportunity to own a watch of such significance to both Patek Philippe’s history and Chinese imperial lineage.

“Breguet et Fils,” Paris No. 2667 Precision 4 Pocket Watch Made By Louis Breguet

Sold for a whopping $4.68 million, this exquisite pocket watch was made by Louis Breguet in 1814

The exquisite Breguet No. 2667 pocket watch dating to 1814 stands as one of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s most important surviving creations and a pinnacle of early 19th-century horology. At 63.7mm, its engine-turned gold case is a work of art engraved with Breguet’s distinguishing serial number. Inside, the separate dual train movement driven by two barrels was an engineering marvel for its time. Two sub-dials provide both local and meantime, while a central seconds hand offers greater precision. The pristine dial with Roman and Arabic numerals culminates in Breguet’s mastery. Being nothing short of a portal back to the horological genius of Breguet, the record $4.68 million price is not surprising.

F.P. Journe x Francis Ford Coppola FFC Blue

When innovative independent watchmaker F.P. Journe collaborated with legendary director Francis Ford Coppola, the result was a timepiece unlike any other—the FFC Blue. This special piece was crafted by Journe specifically for the 2021 Only Watch charity auction, with proceeds going to research for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Fetching an astonishing $4.5 million, the tantalum-cased FFC Blue achieved a record price for any F.P. Journe watch sold at auction.

Its dial design was conceptualised by Coppola himself, dominated by a large blue glove with the fingers indicating the hours in creative combinations. The glove’s pointing index finger doubled as a minute hand rotating around the periphery, completing the whimsical and novel time display. With design input from the director of classics like The Godfather, the FFC Blue exemplified cinema history, merging seamlessly with horological innovation.

The dial design of the F.P. Journe x Francis Ford Coppola FFC Blue was conceptualised by Coppola himself, dominated by a large blue glove with the fingers indicating the hours in creative combination

Patek Philippe Nautilus Tiffany Blue Ref. 5711-1A-018

The Patek Philippe Nautilus in coveted Tiffany blue dial is already a modern collectable icon, but the reference 5711-1A-018 double-signed Tiffany & Co. version sold at auction in May 2023 was even more exceptional. With a strict production limit of just 170 pieces, the Nautilus, crafted in collaboration with the renowned American jeweller Tiffany & Co., was one of the most exclusive takes on Patek’s popular sports luxury watch.

When it went under the hammer at Christie’s Rare Watches auction, the bidding for the piece was bound to be fervent. Surely, its final sale price of nearly $2.5 million put it among the top auction sales of 2023. Though short of the record $6.5 million paid for the same reference in 2021, this result solidified the enduring value and demand of what is arguably one of the most desirable modern Nautilus references ever produced in Patek Philippe’s esteemed history.

Jay Z and Leonardo DiCaprio spotted wearing the limited edition Patek Philippe Nautilus Tiffany Blue

Steve McQueen’s TAG Heuer Monaco

Steve McQueen was the epitome of a suave and debonair guy, mainly owing to his skills on the silver screen and in part due to his passion for things like cars, bikes, and watches. While many timepieces sported by him have achieved cult classic status, the TAG Heuer Monaco he wore in the 1971 racing epic Le Mans defined a new era of daring sports chronographs. When it appeared on McQueen’s wrist in the film, the Monaco was a radical new breed of watch—the world’s first water-resistant square-cased chronograph with automatic winding. Its bold looks and high performance made it the perfect match for McQueen’s on-screen racing persona.

Legendary Steve McQueen seen in TAG Heuer Monaco. Image courtesy - TAG Heuer

So, when that very watch surfaced at auction in 2020, bidding was feverish for a chance to own a timepiece permanently linked to both horological history and Hollywood royalty. At a final price of $2.2 million, McQueen’s Monaco broke records to become the highest-priced TAG Heuer ever sold, making it one of the most unique watches sold at auction.

Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010

Patek Philippe Ref. 6300A-010 Grandmaster Chime is the most expensive watch ever sold at an auction

The Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime is the most complicated wristwatch ever produced by the storied Geneva manufacturer and definitely one of the most unique watches sold at auction. The stainless steel reference 6300A-010 sold at Only Watch 2019 made history as the most expensive wristwatch ever auctioned, a record that has not been broken as of yet. Fetching an astonishing $31 million, the Grandmaster Chime represented the pinnacle of Patek Philippe’s watchmaking prowess. Bearing an astounding 20 complications, it debuted innovations like the patented acoustic alarm and date repeater alongside a grande sonnerie, perpetual calendar, moon phase and more. With two reversible dials in ebony and salmon, the Grandmaster Chime’s hobnail guilloché-patterned case is a work of art. As the only Grandmaster Chime crafted in stainless steel, it stands apart as utterly unique.

Eric Clapton’s Patek Philippe Ref. 2499/100

One of the greatest guitarists of all time, Eric Clapton in Patek Philippe. Image courtesy - Rolling Stone

Considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Eric Clapton is music royalty. But while his passion for music is common knowledge, his passion for watches and his incredible collection is something that deserves special mention. Among the most prized possessions in Eric Clapton’s renowned watch collection was his exceptionally rare Patek Philippe reference 2499/100. Considered one of the holy grails of vintage Patek Philippe collecting, the reference was produced from 1950 to 1985, and only 349 examples were made in total. Clapton’s watch was one of only two ever produced in platinum, with the other one placed in the company’s museum, making it astonishingly exclusive. With its perpetual calendar, chronograph, and moon phase complications, the ref. 2499 is another stalwart in the Patek Philippe catalogue. The legendary provenance of his platinum 2499 contributed to its record-shattering auction price of $3,635,808 – the highest price ever achieved for this reference model at auction.

Jackie Kennedy’s Cartier Tank

Few watches are as closely associated with refined elegance as Jackie Kennedy’s gold Cartier Tank. A gift from her brother-in-law Prince Stanislaw Radziwill commemorating JFK’s 50-mile hike challenge in 1963, this Cartier timepiece was engraved with the Florida hike date. Photographs often captured Jackie wearing her treasured Tank watch, making it an iconic accessory of her signature style.

Jackie Kennedy’s prized possession, Cartier Tank

When it came up for auction in 2017, bidding was intense for a watch so intimately linked to one of history’s most stylish First Ladies. Fetching an impressive $379,500, Jackie’s Cartier Tank stands as both a quintessential example of the model she loved and a meaningful memento of the Kennedy era. But what makes it one of the most unique watches sold at auction is not just who it belonged to but also who bought it. Changing hands from one iconic lady to another, Kim Kardashian West reportedly became the new owner of the classic timepiece after placing the winning bid at a Christie’s auction in 2017.

Elvis Presley’s Omega Constellation Calendar

Elvis Presley, affectionately dubbed as the King of Rock 'n' Roll in his beloved Omega Constellation Calendar

Among the most coveted celebrity-owned watches is Elvis Presley’s vintage Omega Constellation Calendar. Affectionately dubbed the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Elvis was gifted this exquisite Constellation by RCA Records around 1960 at the height of his fame. Housed in a stainless steel case with rose gold plating, its black dial was distinctive for the era with its crosshair design and date indicator. When Elvis’ Constellation went under the hammer in 2012, fierce bidding drove the final price to an astonishing $52,500, soaring well past estimates. This Omega Constellation stands out as both a superlative example of vintage watchmaking and a compelling artefact of music history gifted during Elvis’ golden era.