Some people could argue that wristwatches have gone obsolete what with the advent of super-smart portable devices that can tell so much more than time. But you will probably never hear a luxury enthusiast say that, because people with a taste for the rare and unique will always appreciate the value of a well-made, reliable and luxurious watch.
We’re happy to show a few stunning pieces to prove our point. You might find yourself trapped in the infamous search loop where you can’t stop browsing the internet for remarkable pieces. You might even stumble upon some stunning watches on sale, but price should not be the main criterion when you are trying to find a timepiece that really defines your unique style.
Whether you are looking for classy luxury watches for men or elegant luxury watches for women, you are bound to find many irresistible options both online and in select stores and boutiques. Online luxury watches are no less exquisite than the ones you find in posh boutiques, so don’t shy away from embracing technology and buying them online!
MP-05 LaFerrari Watch by Hublot
While you can find numerous beautiful luxury watches with a classic, understated design, sometimes a stunner like the MP-05 LaFerrari timepiece from Hublot is all your soul really needs. With a completely unconventional design, it boasts a unique microblasted black PVD titanium case with a quite science-fiction-inspired design.
Launched in 2013, the watch was limited to 50 pieces and was priced at over $300,000 each, which made it the most expensive creation ever to bear the Hublot and Ferrari names together. It also holds the record for the longest ever power reserve of any watch, at a whopping 1,200 hours or 50 days!
Its beautifully exposed manually wound suspended vertical tourbillon and 11 Series-coupled barrels resemble the spine of an advanced bio-mechanic system. The HUB9005.H1.6 movement (with an impressive 637 parts) is the most intricate in-house movement ever created, and it is truly fascinating to look at through the anti-reflective sapphire crystal.
Anodized black aluminum cylinders with white luminescent numerals spin in a perfect choreography to indicate the hours, minutes and seconds. This fascinatingly intricate timepiece sits comfortably on the wrist, featuring a smooth black rubber strap and a titanium and microblasted black PVD titanium deployant buckle clasp with a beautiful satin finish.
MP-05 LaFerrari Watch by Hublot (Source)
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication
Limited to only three pieces, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication is unsurprisingly one of the most expensive watches anyone could add to their collection: over $830,000 apiece. It made its debut at the 2013 SIHH event, where it impressed everyone with its 648-parts movement, sturdy yet lightweight titanium case, angular ceramic bezel, and gold details for good measure. The 18-karat yellow gold oscillating weight as well as the white gold hands and hour markers give a little extra flair to the beautiful skeleton dial.
Its functions include a perpetual calendar that will never have to be manually adapted for leap years, a moon-phase indicator, week indication, split-seconds chronograph, and a minute repeater. With a power reserve of 45 hours and a 2 ATM water resistance, this can be a very handy everyday accessory, but our guess is its owners will prefer to keep it safe on display at home.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication (Source)
Excalibur Quatuor in Silicon by Roger Dubuis
Iconic among expensive watch brands, Roger Dubuis knows how to steal the spotlight with every single one of its creations. For those of you who are attracted by the more dramatic kind of luxury – the one that generates gasps of wonder and surprise – this piece will prove absolutely irresistible: the $1.1 million Excalibur Quatuor in Silicon by Roger Dubuis. A cheaper gold edition was also created, but why go for the 380,000 watch when there is a far more dazzling version of it on the market?
Silicon (half the weight of titanium, yet sturdier) first made its way into watch manufacturers’ ateliers with the purpose of replacing a few metal pieces here and there. But then this beauty came out, with an entire case made of the novel material. Properly machining it takes a lot of resources, which is the main reason for Excalibur Quatuor’s highly prohibitive price.
However, the revolutionary movement inside the case is no cheap feat either. It boasts four diagonally positioned escapements that run together in unison to produce a trademark sound. Only assembling the intricate movement requires up to three days of work, while the whole watch is completed in approximately 2,400 hours. Unsurprisingly, the Quatuor is limited to only three pieces.
Excalibur Quatuor in Silicon by Roger Dubuis (Source)
Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4
The Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4 was created for people who are attracted by complexity. If too many functions on a wristwatch scare you, then this one is not for you. Also, $2.7 million could be a little more than what you are willing to pay for your rare and expensive watches. But if none of those warning concern you, then go ahead and have a read about the world’s most complicated watch ever.
With 1,483 components and 99 jewels that make up a total of 36 complications, the Aeternitas Mega 4 has no equal! Among its numerous features, the perpetual calendar is probably the most impressive. You can check the day, date, month, and moon phase on the same dial, while also following three distinct time zones. The calendar will work for the entire duration of your life, and then some generations afterwards, because it guarantees 999 years of functionality. Impressed? So are we.
Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4 (Source)
Patek Philippe Model 2523 Heures Universelles Watch (1953)
When you look for ultra-luxury swiss watches, Patek Philippe is always a good place to start. And sometimes you may be lucky enough to find one of the manufacturer’s rare vintage pieces that come up for auction from time to time. That’s when you know millions will just fly out of your bank account.
This 1953 wristwatch, for instance, was auctioned off in 2002 for a staggering $2.9 million. It is a gorgeously crafted 18-karat yellow gold piece with a timeless elegant design. It keeps track of a number of different time-zones, which would make it ideal for a regular traveler, except no one in their right mind would ever take it out of the safe for random travels. Its most visually appealing feature is the polychrome and enamel dial that represents the map of North America.
Chopard L.U.C. Tourbillon QF with Fairmined Gold
The one thing that we think is better than luxury is sustainable luxury. This classically elegant Chopard L.U.C. Tourbillon QF watch fits the bill beautifully: it is the first luxury watch to be manufactured with Fairmined Gold. While the precious metal itself is no more special than the regular gold you typically find on other really expensive watches, the way that it is mined makes it unique. By buying the gold from small-scale farmers who are respecting the high Fairmined standards of environment protection, labor conditions, and more, Chopard has taken an important step on its “Journey to Sustainable Luxury”.
Clearly, the watch ticks the ethical-value box with ease. But the rest of the story is just as impressive: with a timeless design and a Qualite Fleurier Certification, this is a timepiece that will make any collector very happy. Powering it is a hand-wound L.U.C. 02.13-L1 movement with patented Quattro technology, which ensures a 9-day power reserve, or 216 hours of unaltered time-telling precision. We also really enjoy the visual appeal of the wristwatch, especially the rose gold elements against the dark gray, clutter-free dial. Only 25 individually-numbered units were manufactured, each one priced at approximately $145,000.