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Inspired by the recent sale of Captain Rostron’s Titanic Tiffany & Co. Pocket Watch, we've pulled together a list of our favourite timepieces. Based on more than value alone, this list boasts star quality, in more ways than one.
Captain Rostron’s Titanic Tiffany & Co. Pocket Watch (£1.57 million)
Captain Arthur Rostron of the RMS Carpathia was hailed a hero for rescuing survivors of the Titanic disaster in 1912. In gratitude, the passengers presented him with a finely crafted 18-carat gold Tiffany & Co. pocket watch. The watch, inscribed to commemorate his bravery, recently fetched £1.57 million at auction, becoming the most expensive Titanic artifact ever sold
Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A (£25 million)
Crafted by Patek Philippe, the Grandmaster Chime is an unparalleled feat of horology. With 20 complications, including a minute repeater and perpetual calendar, this double-faced wristwatch is a marvel of mechanical ingenuity. Auctioned in 2019 for £25 million, it holds the record for the most expensive wristwatch ever sold. Its stainless steel casing, a rarity in high-end watches, adds to its exclusivity and allure. This timepiece showcases Patek Philippe’s dedication to blending tradition with groundbreaking innovation.
Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication (£19 million)
Commissioned by New York banker Henry Graves Jr. in 1925, the Patek Philippe Supercomplication is a pocket watch with 24 functions, including a perpetual calendar and a celestial chart. It was considered the most complicated mechanical timepiece of its time upon completion in 1933. In 2014, it was sold at auction for £19 million, cementing its legacy as a horological masterpiece. This extraordinary pocket watch reflects an era when craftsmanship reached unprecedented heights.
Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona (£14.5 million)
The Rolex Daytona worn by Hollywood legend and racing enthusiast Paul Newman is a cultural icon. Gifted by his wife Joanne Woodward, it features the inscription “Drive Carefully” on the case back. The watch became synonymous with Newman’s charisma and passion for motorsports. In 2017, this vintage Daytona was auctioned for £14.5 million, a record for a Rolex. Its provenance and timeless design highlight the allure of classic wristwatches as coveted collectibles
Yanggu’s Gold Sundial (£405,244)
While not a traditional wristwatch, Yanggu’s Gold Sundial in Gangwon Province, South Korea, is an extraordinary timepiece. Created in 2008, it is composed of 2 kilograms of pure gold, 2.3 kilograms of 18-carat gold plating, and 8.5 tons of bronze. Measuring 7.7 meters in height, this functional yet artistic sundial holds the Guinness World Record for the most valuable sundial at £405,244!
Buzz Aldrin's Omega Speedmaster (£?)
Buzz Aldrin's Omega Speedmaster, famously worn during the Apollo 11 mission as he became the second man to walk on the moon, remains an iconic artefact of space exploration. Unfortunately, this historic watch disappeared under 'mysterious' circumstances in the 1970s after Aldrin sent it to the Smithsonian Institution for display. Its current location remains unknown, but its legacy as part of NASA’s official equipment, tested and certified for space missions, cements its place in horological and scientific history.
Considering other high-profile watch auctions, it could fetch a monumental sum if 'rediscovered' given its unparalleled significance as a tool of the Moon landing.
