# Expensive watch brands **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 11, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expensive-watch-brands/448919 "2008-05-11T14:34:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expensive-watch-brands/448919/1 "2008-05-11T14:34:00Z")
Which are the most expensive brands of watches? I’m not talking about one-off timepieces created specifically for the King of Infinitemoneyland, but about ‘standard’ offerings from the top makers. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expensive-watch-brands/448919/2 "2008-05-11T14:42:59Z")
I would put [Breitling for Bently](http://www.breitlingforbentley.com/en/) up there in the top. I love the [Submariner](http://www.rolex.com/en/collection/extraordinary-watches/submariner/index.jsp#/en/xml/collection/extraordinary-watches/submariner/index) by rolex - very nice, masculin, have it forever! I like the Swiss made [Wenger](http://www.wenger.ch/watches/Welcome.html) series. I’ve got the 600m aquagraph ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expensive-watch-brands/448919/3 "2008-05-11T14:53:05Z")
**Phlosphr** : Nice watches, but not really in the league I’m wondering about. I’m thinking of watches like Vacheron, Breguet, Petek Philippe, and whatnot. What I meant by the second sentence is ‘a’ Blancpain, rather than ‘a jewel-encrusted platinum’ Blancpain. And yeah, I like my Sub. But I like the GMT II better. ---
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expensive-watch-brands/448919/4 "2008-05-11T14:56:05Z")
Patek Philippe immediately comes to mind. Many of their watches run easily over $50,000. Many of the top watchmakers have prestige models that are just way, way, too expensive. [This A. Lange & Sohne](http://www.essentialwatches.com/listing_detail.asp?brandID=27&itemID=18057), the first one I pulled up on Google, seems to be listed at $127,000. ETA: Lange’s standard offerings are at least $30-40,000, which seems to be more what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expensive-watch-brands/448919/5 "2008-05-11T15:20:38Z")
**iwakura43** : Do you happen to have a list from highest to lowest? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expensive-watch-brands/448919/6 "2008-05-11T16:16:29Z")
Oh - _ **REEEEEALY** _ Expensive watches… Gotcha. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expensive-watch-brands/448919/7 "2008-05-11T16:44:53Z")
**Johnny** , a list of brands ordered by median sale price? Sorry; most of what I know about watches is from reading [TimeZone.com](http://TimeZone.com). Ulysse Nardin is another brand of real expensive, pretty watches, if that helps. Can’t afford anything better than a $200 Seiko for a while anyway 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Satellite\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Satellite\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satellite_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expensive-watch-brands/448919/8 "2008-05-11T16:47:41Z")
[QUOTE=iwakura43] Patek Philippe immediately comes to mind. Many of their watches run easily over $50,000. Many of the top watchmakers have prestige models that are just way, way, too expensive. [This A. Lange & Sohne](http://www.essentialwatches.com/listing_detail.asp?brandID=27&itemID=18057), the first one I pulled up on Google, seems to be listed at $127,000. [/QUOTE] But **MY** price is only $86,250! 😉 S^G ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expensive-watch-brands/448919/9 "2008-05-11T17:40:12Z")
See next message ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expensive-watch-brands/448919/10 "2008-05-11T18:02:43Z")
There is no linear high to low when dealing in this strata. Some manufacturers will make production runs of as little as 1 to 100 if they are playing with rare/exotic materials, doing technology demonstrations, anniversary/historical celebrations/commemorations etc. Plus you have some of the tip top brands throwing multiple tourbillions into watches as technology/craft demos which can push them in the 100K to 300K+ range. In addition some small manufacturers are so rarefied that virtually every watch is a custom job and priced accordingly. Assuming we’re talking about watches from top end manufs that do not have decorative jewels increasing the price, and that are not in the “can you top this” low production run category, and that what you are paying for is the basic mechanical fineness, craft, and in some cases creativity & innovation involved in the watch movement + case & bracelet - among the top brands in this category will be Patek Philippe, Lange & Sohne, Vacheron & Constantin, Jaeger LeCoultre, Panerai, Breguet, Blancpain, Franck Muller, Alain Silberstein, Audemars Piguet, Breguet, Franck Muller, Gerald Genta, Girard Perregaux, Hublot, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron. Of all these Patek Philippe & Lange & Sohne are probably considered the uber craft heavyweights, but any other of the brands listed (and many not listed) could throw in a special or “over the top” watch that would cost as much or more as anything these two are offering. There really is no linear rank to this. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expensive-watch-brands/448919/11 "2008-05-11T18:11:15Z")
Here’s a few examples of some unusual watches > **[$500,000 Invisible Watch - Guy Ellia 'Tourbillon Zephir' by Christophe Claret](https://watchismo.blogspot.com/2007/05/500000-invisible-watch-guy-ellia.html)** > > Famed movement designer Christophe Claret has teamed up with the exclusive French brand Guy Ellia for this unusual see-thru sapphire cased... [http://www.tp178.com/mh/un\_freak2/un\_freak2.html](http://www.tp178.com/mh/un_freak2/un_freak2.html) ---
**Author:** ![pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9e5f3/32.png) [@pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pretend_my_name_is_witty)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expensive-watch-brands/448919/12 "2008-05-11T21:36:19Z")
I like [my watch](http://www.thewatchhut.co.uk/black-dice/black-dice-watches/Black-Dice-Paid-Watch.html), got it today. It’s the most expensive one I’ve ever owned. Not sure it’s quite what you’re looking for though. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2008, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expensive-watch-brands/448919/13 "2008-05-12T13:04:16Z")
[QUOTE=astro] Assuming we’re talking about watches from top end manufs that do not have decorative jewels increasing the price, and that are not in the “can you top this” low production run category, and that what you are paying for is the basic mechanical fineness, craft, and in some cases creativity & innovation involved in the watch movement + case & bracelet - among the top brands in this category will be Patek Philippe, Lange & Sohne, Vacheron & Constantin, Jaeger LeCoultre, Panerai, Breguet, Blancpain, Franck Muller, Alain Silberstein, Audemars Piguet, Breguet, Franck Muller, Gerald Genta, Girard Perregaux, Hublot, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron. [/QUOTE] There’s a International Watch Fair in a Mitsukoshi department store here in Tokyo, and I’ve seen $100k plus models from a few of these. I’ve held a $150+ Vacheron & Constantin, and a other $80k plus models from a half dozen or so of these. Most of the more expensive models aren’t brought to the show. I think the only brands I haven’t personally seen are the Gerald Genta and the Ulysse Nardin. I have a Piaget and an IWC, in addition to my “cheaper” Breightling, Boume & Merchier, Rolex, Tag and Rado and will generally wear my Piaget when I’m attend the show, and generally the various watch makers will show me their lineups. ---
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2008, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expensive-watch-brands/448919/14 "2008-05-12T13:28:06Z")
[QUOTE=astro] [http://www.tp178.com/mh/un\_freak2/un\_freak2.html](http://www.tp178.com/mh/un_freak2/un_freak2.html) [/QUOTE] Wow. That may be the coolest timepiece I’ve ever seen. Using the movement to display the time rather than the hands. Love it.