Rare Watches: Explore the World's Most Exquisite Timepieces

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There has been a huge upsurge in vintage watch collecting over the past twenty years, a natural consequence perhaps of the mechanical watch revival that took place in the 1990s after the doom-laden era of the quartz crisis had receded.

For the casual person, 100% originality is not such a big deal,” says Boutros. “You want something that looks good and that can be worn easily without worry. You may not want to have to pay the premium that comes with an all original vintage watch in mint condition. Compromises can be made as long as certain replacement parts came from the brand versus aftermarket. Obviously you don’t want anything that’s counterfeited. You don’t want a refinished dial. You don’t want anything overly polished.” Actor and heartthrob Paul Newman was known for his love of fine watches and for being a devoted racing car fan. Hence why, when she had it commissioned in 1968, his wife Joanne Woodard had this watch engraved with the words Drive Carefully. Many vintage watches are so rare and highly sought-after that their current market prices have reached enormous heights. The most famous example is probably the Paul Newman Daytona from Rolex. When this chronograph first came to market in the 1960s, it had a slow start. This led Rolex to produce few examples of this timepiece, meaning there aren't many early examples that still exist today. Moreover, the Paul Newman Daytona is one of the most popular vintage watches in the world. Paul Newman's personal timepiece sold at auction for a record-smashing 17.8 million USD in 2017, making it the world's most expensive wristwatch. If you can settle for a Paul Newman Daytona that wasn't previously owned by the actor and race car driver, you'll need at least 117,000 USD.Some people are drawn to high-end watches for their engineering and technical skills. Others just want some bling. This Chopard timepiece, with its 15-carat pink diamond, 12-carat blue diamond, and 11-carat white diamond—is probably the latter. But if you can afford it, then why not? It’s just an extra bonus that it happens to tell the time. And if this particular model isn’t for you, take a look at our ranking of the best luxury watches for women for more ideas. It certainly lives up to its designation, encrusted with 189 carats of Akosha diamonds—a cut that’s meant to make each diamond appear 30% bigger than a standard emerald cut diamond (one of the most popular diamond shapes). Then there’s the skeleton face, where you can see the intricate and hand-crafted tourbillon movement at work, composed of 167 elements and 18 jewels. If you don't have the time or you're simply not interested in immersing yourself deeply in the subject, then you're much better off depending on a serious dealer. A dealer can offer you a watch that they have inspected at a fair price and in some cases, even offer a warranty. reference number 1655 and a faded 24-hour hand demand five-figure prices today. This is much more expensive than a brand new Explorer II. Actor Steve McQueen is also said to have worn this timepiece, which only adds to its appeal. Connections to a celebrity are often a significant selling point. This just goes to show that vintage watches are a sound investment and much more than just an easy bargain.

For a sportier and edgier watch, you can't go wrong with a classic design from Breitling. Our range of vintage Breitling watches includes iconic models such as their Navitimer model, designed for pilots and aviation enthusiasts, and their Cosmonaute model, which famously made its way into outer space in 1962. Today, the brand is known for its high-quality, reliable and intricate designs.

Daniel Joslin

If you're looking for a luxurious, meticulously hand-crafted design made out of the finest materials, you'll love our collection of Rolex watches. As one of the most well-known watch brands in the world, Rolex's many iconic designs adorn the wrists of the rich and famous, as their unique style and contemporary aesthetic is designed to stand out from the crowd. Even if you're not playing polo, you'll love the design of this watch. You don't have to be a member of the elite class to enjoy it and make a great investment for your future. Where To Buy First introduced in 1941, the Patek Philippe Ref.1518 made horology headlines as the first-ever perpetual calendar and chronograph—yet another reason why this watch impresses collectors. And while you might think steel would make a watch less valuable than gold, it’s hard to find high-end watches in this material. Rarity always pushes prices up.

Despite this impressive engineering, Calibre 89 failed to find an owner during its most recent auction. But we’re sure it won’t stay homeless for long.

Patek Philippe 3974

Searching for information and comparing prices from a large selection of watches is part of the watch buying experience. This also includes Is a Rolex a good investment? Yes, but there's collectible watches out there to look into in addition to Rolex watches. original condition of the watch is what matters most. It's not a big deal if there are signs of wear and tear; what matters is if the watch has its original parts. Not even good looks can save a watch if many of its components have been replaced, such as the dial, hands, and crown.

If we told you that top-tier brand Jaeger-LeCoultre crafted this intricate timepiece as a gift for none other than Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate the 60th year of her reign, it would give you some idea of what to expect. 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. Best for: Telling the time all over the world in the most traffic-stopping and eye-catching way. Manufacturing date: This is not meant to discourage you from learning about these details. If you’re up for it, go down that rabbit hole. It’s more to let you off the hook, helping you understand that you may never reach a scholar-level understanding of vintage, which is completely fine. That’s where your community and the specialists come in.Best for: Turning heads with titanium, one of the rarest materials in the luxury watch world. Manufacturing date: Patek Philippe is one of the world’s top luxury watch brands, so be prepared to see the name many times on this list. First up, this ultra-rare Patek Philippe world timer is one of only four in existence. Only two versions of the timepiece have ever appeared at auction. Once again, we turn to Rolex for the perfect example: the Explorer II. Pieces from the 1970s included an additional, reddish-orange hour hand with a 24-hour scale. This colorful hand had a problem with sunlight and would fade over time due to exposure to UV rays. Despite this shortcoming, examples with the 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.