You can buy a lot of things for US$31.2 million; a glamourous superyacht, a collection of Rolls-Royces, handfuls of Argyle Pink Diamonds, your own private island and even a luxurious Cessna Citation jet – but what about a Patek Philippe wristwatch?
The Swiss watchmaker made history when its one-of-a-kind Grandmaster Chime reference 6300A-010 sold for CHF31 million at Only Watch 2019, a charity auction held in Geneva, Switzerland.
The 180-year-old company created the timepiece exclusively for the auction, and it surpassed the long-standing record-holding Henry Graves Supercomplication pocket watch, which was made in 1920 and sold for US$23.98 million in 2014.
Remarkable engineering makes for one of most incredible watches in the world. With four spring barrels driving 20 complications, 18k solid-gold dial plates, perpetual calendar, minute repeater, leap-year cycle and esoteric chiming mechanisms, the Grandmaster Chime reference 6300A-010 is truly mesmerising.
Hailed as being the most complex wristwatches ever made by the company, it is the first of its kind to be set in a stainless steel case. And just in case people weren’t aware of how special the creation is, ‘The Only One’ has been inscribed on the salmon-coloured auxiliary dial at 12 o’clock.
Remarkable engineering makes for one of most incredible watches in the world.
Historically, watches that fetch astronomical sale figures are heritage pieces, however, the US$31.2 million timepiece is a pioneer, as it’s the first modern watch to be crowned the most expensive in the world.
And it wasn’t the only incredible timepiece leaving watch aficionados speechless.
The Tudor Black Bay Ceramic One sold for CHF350,000 at Only Watch – more than 100 times its retail price.
Wrapped entirely in black, the timepiece is Tudor’s first Black Bay model in ceramic. The Swiss company only makes unique compositions specifically for the global sale, making this chronograph truly significant.
Held once every two years, the history-making Patek Philippe and unique Tudor timepieces were auctioned off in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco at the weekend following Only Watch’s world tour.
Brands donate extraordinary chronographs which are then auctioned to raise money for charity. This year proceeds were donated to research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
