Five of the Most Expensive Watches Unveiled in 2024

When Bollywood star Salman Khan was spotted flaunting the US$3 million Jacob & Co. Billionaire on the brand’s founder Jacob Arabo’s Instagram feed in September, it created quite the stir. Jacob & Co. — a brand that is no stranger to creating overly extravagant timepieces — went on to announce a collaboration with Khan that will be unveiled soon. It is likely that these new watches will be highly expensive too.

In keeping with this penchant for producing ostentatious timepieces, Jacob & Co. has just revealed a brand new iteration of the Billionaire III. Named the Billionaire III Arlequino, the watch sports a whopping 714 multicoloured sapphires totalling 147 carats set across the rose gold frame. However, Jacob & Co. isn’t the only brand that introduced watches with big, hefty price tags in 2024. GMT India’s top five picks from among the year’s most expensive watches include an exquisite chiming watch, a special model dedicated to a tennis great, a dazzling gem-set iteration of a beloved icon, and more. 

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding 41 mm Full Gemset

A dazzling avatar of one of the world’s most iconic watches by Audemars Piguet, this is adorned with a camouflage pattern that extends from the dial to the case and bracelet. The pattern is created by the use of a staggering 861 baguette-cut gemstones (in 179 different sizes, each delicately hand-polished) in graduated shades of blue or in green, brown and black tones. The invisible setting of the stones enhances the tone of each gemstone, adding even greater depth and intensity to the overall visuals. Powered by Calibre 4309, the timepiece foregoes the date display in order to draw more attention to the stunning gemstones. It’s priced at approximately US$1,450,000.

Richard Mille RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal

This surprisingly light watch (it weighs a mere 11.5g excluding the strap) is a fitting testament to the long-standing friendship between the tennis icon and Richard Mille. Unveiled in May, the RM 27-05 is crafted out of a new composite, Carbon TPT® B.4, and the movement, based on the ultra-thin RMUP-01 calibre, has a power reserve of 55 hours and incorporates a flying tourbillon. With a thickness of just 3.75mm and weighing 3.79g, the movement is super light too. A staggering 4,000 hours of work went into the making of the case and calibre. The timepiece can withstand a g-force of 14,000, for a two-fold record for a manual winding tourbillon watch. A product of the brand’s steadfast commitment to innovation and its pioneering roots, the RM 27-05 is priced at approximately US$1,150,000.

Bvlgari Octo Roma Grande Sonnerie Tourbillon

Housed within the instantly recognisable Octo Roma case, this stunner — unveiled at Geneva Watch Days this year — is powered by the mighty Calibre BVV 800 that brings to life the poetic grande sonnerie mechanism. The result of a collaboration between Bvlgari and conductor Lorenzo Viotti, the watch offers a rather disruptive take on the tonal scale. Sporting a unique openworked dial, the watch reinvents the melody of gongs by adding the tritone, a characteristic interval of classical music. This allows the quarter-hour chimes to present four unfamiliar notes, a departure from the usual Westminster tones that most chiming watches make use of. Sized at 45mm, it’s a hard-to-ignore horological marvel, priced at slightly over US$1,000,000.

Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XP Frozen Summit

Entirely set with diamonds, this 41 mm timepiece turned heads at Watches and Wonders this year where it was introduced for the first time. A perfect representation of Chopard’s excellence in both watchmaking and high jewellery, the watch brings to mind the celestial beauty of stars as reflected on glaciers. Every last surface of the case, dial, bezel, crown and integrated bracelet in ethical 18 ct white gold is set with meticulously cut diamonds. It isn’t just a visual spectacle though; the ultra-thin L.U.C 96.41-L movement, with automatic winding via a micro-rotor ensures an impressive 65-hour power reserve. Not surprisingly, it comes with a US$1 million price tag.

‍Breguet Classique Double Tourbillon ‘Quai de l’Horloge’ 5345‍

A striking rose gold version of the Classique Double Tourbillon Quai De l’Horloge 5345 first launched in 2020, this imposing watch — measuring 46 mm with a thickness of 16.8 mm — is a resounding tribute to Breguet’s rich watchmaking heritage. The skeletonised dial offers a clear view of the double tourbillon mechanism. Each tourbillon functions independently, making a full rotation in one minute. Connected together, the regulating organs perform a double revolution, powering the tourbillon bridge, which doubles as the hour hand. The incredible hand-finishing enhances the overall complexity of the watch, both in terms of aesthetics and engineering. It’s priced at approximately US$735,100.