The World's Most Expensive Watches

By (author) Adams Ariel
Short description/annotation
The second expanded and updated edition of a bestselling book that presents the world''s most expensive watches.
Description

More than a fashion accessory or means to tell the time, the wristwatch has become a statement of identity; politician or celebrity, scientist or sportsman, what you choose to wear on your wrist speaks volumes about who you are. The World''s Most Expensive Watches presents some of the most extravagant, intricate, collectable, decadent, or just plain interesting modern-day timepieces that sit at the top of the price spectrum. Starting at a threshold price of about $200,000, it is a trip through the last decade or so of watches whose values soar incredibly to prices of $5 million dollars or more. Additionally, there is a selection of notable watches that yielded extremely high prices at auction - many of which are historically relevant. A stunning collection that is both informative and entertaining; with detailed descriptions of individual watches and articles that usefully deconstruct the price tag with an explanation of the relevance of craftsmanship and complexity of design, as well as the importance of exclusivity, prestige and collectability. Prepare to be impressed by a larger-than-life-look at some relatively small items that command not only huge prices but kudos and respect, in all areas of a global society fascinated with using accessorising to create identity. This is the second expanded and updated edition.

Table of contents
Foreword 07 Introduction 08 Expensive Watches Explained: Complications & Mechanical Features 10 Precious Materials & Artistic Technique 14 Historical Importance & Provenance 18 The World’s Most Expensive Watches HYT – H2 In Platinum 20 Kerbedanz – Maximus Tourbillon 24 Breva – Genie 01 in Platinum 25 Van Cleef & Arpels – Les Voyages Extraordinaires “From the Earth to the Moon” 26 Badollet – Ivresse 27 Roger Dubuis – Excalibur Aventador S 28 Vianney Halter – Deep Space Tourbillon 30 Arnold & Son – Double Tourbillon Escapement (DTE) 32 Panerai – Luminor 1950 Equation of Time Tourbillon Titanio PAM00365 34 Cartier – Rotonde De Cartier Astrotourbillon Carbon Crystal 35 Ferdinand Berthoud – Chronomètre FB 1.2 36 Porsche Design – P’6910 Indicator 38 Audemars Piguet – Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher 40 URWERK – UR-203 44 Panerai – L’Astronomo Luminor 1950 Tourbillon Moon Phases Equation of Time GMT 48 MB&F – Horological Machine No. 4 Final Edition 52 A. Lange & Söhne – Richard Lange Perpetual Calendar "Terraluna" 54 4N – 4N-MVT01/D01 58 Hautlence – HL2.2 62 Chopard – L.U.C Tourbillon Baguette 63 Ferdinand Berthoud – Chronomètre FB 1.RS 64 MB&F – HM3 JwlryMachine Watch 66 H. Moser & Cie. – Heritage Perpetual Calendar 68 Bernhard Lederer – The Gagarin Tourbillon 70 Chopard – L.U.C Perpetual T – Spirit of the Chinese Zodiac 74 Louis Vuitton – Tambour Mystérieuse 76 Jaeger-LeCoultre – Duomètre Sphérotourbillon 77 Cabestan – Winch Tourbillon Vertical 78 Rudis Sylva – RS12 Grand Art Horloger Harmonious Oscillator 82 Zenith – Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane 86 Corum – Golden Bridge Tourbillon Panoramique 88 Laurent Ferrier – Galet Secret Tourbillon Double Spiral Meissen 90 Ateliers DeMonaco – Grand Tourbillon Minute Repeater 94 HYT – H3 95 Parmigiani Fleurier – Bugatti Type 390 96 De Bethune – DB28ST 98 Romain Jerome – Titanic DNA Day & Night Double Tourbillon 102 Ulysse Nardin – Grand Deck Marine Tourbillon 104 IWC – Grande Complication Platinum (ref. 9270-20) 108 Hublot – MP-05 LaFerrari 110 Roger W. Smith – Unique Tourbillon No. 4 114 De Witt – Academia Tourbillon Force Constante 118 URWERK – UR-CC1 King Cobra 122 Graham – Tourbillon Orrery 126 Omega – De Ville Central Tourbillon 128 Speake-Marin – Renaissance Tourbillon Minute Repeater 130 Franck Muller – Vanguard Tourbillon Minute Repeater Skeleton 134 Antoine Preziuso – Mega Tourb