High Rollers – 3 of the most expensive timepieces at Only Watch 2019

James Robinson

With Only Watch 2019 now just a few short days away, there’s a veritable smorgasbord of gorgeous piece-unique watches and timekeeping devices heading to the auction block.

In fact, there are 50 watches in total taking part in this year’s charity auction, with all funds raised going to the research of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

And while all the timepieces are gorgeous and inimitable, the price from one watch to the next can vary greatly in terms of their estimated value.

So, we thought it’d be interesting to take a look at the top 3 most expensive timepieces up for grabs at Only Watch 2019:

Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime ref. 6300A-010

We couldn’t write this list without mentioning the truly astonishing offering from Patek Philippe for this year’s Only Watch – the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime ref. 6300A-010. Now, let’s not beat around the bush with this one, the Grandmaster Chime was always going to command an eye-watering price, but the extent of the estimate borders on what most mere mortals would consider absurd. However, for the lucky winning bidder, they will have purchased one of the most complicated timepieces ever created from arguably the best watchmaker on planet Earth.

$2,500,000 – $3,000,000 USD (roughly $3,650,000 – $4,360,000 AUD)

F.P. Journe Astronomic Blue

Boutique watchmaker F.P. Journe has really gone all out with this year’s entry, with the famed Swiss marque creating a completely unique prototype movement for their Astronomic Blue timepiece. Calibre 1619, finished in solid 18k rose gold, truly is an amazing movement and features an impressive host of complications that include a minute repeater, tourbillon, second time zone, power reserve indicator, annual calendar, equation of time, moon phases and a day-night indicator. All this is housed inside a 44mm tantalum case that measures just 13.75mm thick, which is quite remarkable considering the sheer complexity of this wristwatch.

USD $300,000 – $600,000 USD ($440,000 – $871,000 AUD)

Richard Mille RM 11-03 Automatic Flyback Chronograph McLaren

For this year’s Only Watch, Richard Mille has decided to celebrate their relationship with supercar manufacturer and Formula 1 team McLaren, entering the auction with this – the Richard Mille RM 11-03 Automatic Flyback Chronograph McLaren. Presenting an aesthetic reminiscent of McLaren’s herculean 720S supercar, the RM 11-03 utilises a carbon quartz construction that is intertwined with a material known as Orange Quartz TPT. The result of these technologically advanced case materials is a structure that is both incredibly strong and lightweight. Inside the contemporary case, which measures 44.5mm, is Richard Mille’s Calibre RMAC3, a self-winding movement hewn from titanium that is capable of a number of features including a flyback chronograph complication and barrel winding.