Ten of the Most Remarkable Watches Sold at Auction in 2025

Vacheron Constantin Ref. 6448 “Unique Piece”

At the May Geneva sale organised by Phillips, this 1961 minute repeating wristwatch set a new world record. It became the most expensive vintage Vacheron Constantin wristwatch with a minute repeater ever sold at auction.

Despite its restrained appearance, featuring a 36.5 mm platinum case and a discreet dial with diamond hour markers, the watch attracted intense interest. Offered with an estimate of CHF 120,000, it ultimately sold for CHF 698,500, equivalent to approximately 840,000 US dollars.

Rolex “Companion Oyster” Ref. 34075

Formerly owned by Mercedes Gleitze

This historically important Rolex surfaced at auction in November and immediately drew global attention. The watch once belonged to Mercedes Gleitze, the first official Rolex ambassador and the swimmer whose English Channel crossing became central to Rolex’s early marketing mythology.

A caseback engraving suggests that the watch was produced in 1926, likely before Rolex formally secured the Oyster patent. Offered by a private collector who had owned the piece for 25 years, the watch sold at Sotheby’s for CHF 1,392,000, reflecting its exceptional historical significance.

Source: www.sothebys.com

Omega Speedmaster “Tribute to Astronauts”

Presented to Neil Armstrong

This yellow gold Speedmaster belongs to a special series created by Omega for NASA astronauts. The watch was presented to Neil Armstrong during a formal dinner in Houston in November 1969, following the Apollo 11 mission.

Featuring an onyx set dial and a burgundy aluminium bezel insert, the watch was sold in April for 2.1 million US dollars. Part of the proceeds was allocated to charitable causes, adding further weight to the result.

Cartier Portico Mystery Clock

One of the most spectacular decorative clocks of the year

Produced between 1923 and 1925, this Portico Mystery Clock is part of a small series inspired by Far Eastern architecture. Its gate like structure features rose quartz columns with black enamel decoration, an onyx and rock crystal arch and a diamond set Chinese character symbolising longevity.

The floating hands, driven by concealed sapphire discs, are characteristic of Cartier’s mystery clock construction. This was the third known example from a total of six. Sold at Phillips Geneva on 11 May, it achieved CHF 3,932,000, setting a new auction record for a Cartier timepiece.

Rolex Ref. 6062

A rare perpetual calendar wristwatch

One of the standout sales of the autumn season, this Rolex Ref. 6062 was sold at auction in Monaco in October for €5.33 million, equivalent to approximately 6.2 million US dollars.

Produced in the early 1950s, the model is among the rarest perpetual calendar wristwatches made by Rolex. This example, housed in yellow gold and fitted with a matching bracelet, is distinguished by diamond hour markers at the odd numerals and a bilingual English French calendar. The sale placed it firmly among the ten most expensive Rolex watches ever sold at auction.

F.P. Journe x THA for Breguet

Pendule Sympathique No. 1

Offered during the May Phillips Geneva auctions, this exceptional pairing of a wristwatch and desk clock was acquired by its creator, François-Paul Journe, for inclusion in his personal museum.

Produced in the early 1990s in a limited series of 28 examples, this was the first piece of the series and the only one cased in gold. The desk clock is designed to synchronise and regulate the wristwatch by aligning the balances of both mechanisms. The final result was CHF 5,505,000, or approximately 6.61 million US dollars.

Audemars Piguet “Grosse Pièce”

The most complex Audemars Piguet ever made

Sold at a December auction in New York organised by Sotheby’s, this monumental pocket watch achieved a price of 7.736 million US dollars, setting a record for Audemars Piguet.

Completed in 1921, the watch features 19 complications, including a tourbillon, chiming functions and a celestial map. It is the only known Audemars Piguet from this period equipped with a tourbillon and the only example displaying a star chart configured for London.

F.P. Journe FFC

Owned by Francis Ford Coppola

The most talked about auction result of December, this watch set multiple records. It became the most expensive F.P. Journe ever sold and the most expensive watch created by an independent watchmaker.

Previously owned by Francis Ford Coppola, the design is inspired by a sixteenth century mechanical prosthesis created by French surgeon Ambroise Paré. A sculpted hand replaces traditional hands, with finger positions indicating the hours and a triangular pointer displaying the minutes. Offered with a starting bid of 1 million US dollars, the watch ultimately sold for 10.755 million US dollars.

Patek Philippe Star Calibre 2000

Reference 990/1

This set of four pocket watches represents one of the most ambitious technical projects ever undertaken by Patek Philippe. Developed over seven years, the movement consists of 1,118 components and incorporates 21 complications, six of which are patented.

Functions include sunrise and sunset times, a perpetual calendar with rapid correction, equation of time and Westminster chimes. The set, produced around 2006 and housed in cases made from three types of gold and platinum, was sold at Sotheby’s on 5 December for 11.91 million US dollars. The cases were crafted by legendary case maker Jean-Pierre Hagmann.

Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 in Stainless Steel

A defining moment in auction history

Few watches carry the historical weight of the Patek Philippe Ref. 1518. Introduced in 1941, it was the first serially produced chronograph with perpetual calendar.

Of the 281 examples produced, only four were made in stainless steel. This particular watch, manufactured in 1943 and delivered in early 1944 to its first owner in Budapest, survived in remarkable condition with minimal wear. Sold on 9 November during the Phillips Watches Decade One sale in Geneva, it achieved CHF 14,190,000, or approximately 17.6 million US dollars, making it the most expensive vintage Patek Philippe wristwatch ever sold.

Together, these ten results illustrate the extraordinary range of watches that defined the auction landscape in 2025. From technical milestones and artistic achievements to pieces of singular historical importance, the year reaffirmed the auction market as one of the most compelling arenas in contemporary watchmaking.