The relationship you have with your watch (or watches) is unique. Both fashion statements and practical tools, today’s most expensive and luxurious watches exude style and technology unmatched by any other designer accessory. Although a watch’s retail price might alarm the novice, auctions of fine timepieces are excellent barometers of which brands increase in value over time. Here are five of my favorite vintage and contemporary collectible timepieces I’d bet on to hold their value and possibly increase in value over time.
The 5013R is the first Patek Philippe minute-repeating wristwatch to feature an automatic movement combined with perpetual calendar with retrograde date indication. With a Tonneau-shaped case in rose gold and with 515 parts, this watch is an investment with a blue chip future (est. $280,000-300,000).
2. The Patek Philippe Very Fine Ref. 5204p-001 Perpetual Calendar With Split-Seconds Chronograph, Day/Night Indication
The Patek Philippe 5204P Perpetual calendar with split-seconds chronograph is the most recent addition to the most iconic line of watches the brand produces. It is cased in platinum, with in-house movement powering a split-second chronograph with moon phases (est. $225,000-250,000).
3. An incredible Patek Philippe Fine & Very Rare Unused Ref. 5004R Perpetual Calendar Split Seconds Chronograph With Moon Phases, Double Sealed
An icon of watchmaking and collecting, the 36mm Patek Philippe 5004 split second chronograph perpetual calendar, this one is cased in rose gold and double factory- It was made first in 1996, with only about 12 a year produced due to its complexity (est. $180,000-200,000).
4. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Exceptional, Rare and Highly Important Skeletonized Platinum Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2, Serie Limitée, No. 58/75, with 50–Hour Power Reserve and 24 Hours
This platinum Gyrotoubillion 2 by Jaeger LeCoultre was produced in 2009 as exhibition masterpiece of master watchmaking. With a three-dimensional dual-access tourbillion and skeletonized dial, this is 58 of only 75 ever made (est. $180,000-200,000).
5. A fantastic Audemars Piguet Rare Royal Oak Concept Carbon Tourbillon Chronograph
With a forged carbon case, black ceramic bezel, blackened titanium case back ring, black ceramic screw-locked crown and push pieces, this watch is the pinnacle of technical achievement for Audemars Piguet (est. $150,000-175,000).
You can find these rarities and more in Heritage Auctions’ Timepieces Signature Auction Oct. 24 in New York.
Written by: Eric Bradley