From Rolex to CASIO, 5 times watch prices spun seriously out of control
Published on Jun 23, 2023 at 10:37 AM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Jun 26, 2023 at 2:19 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain

In today’s market, you can buy a watch for $10 or a watch for $10 million.
What’s crazy is you can sometimes buy incredibly expensive watches from affordable brands.
From the million-dollar Rolex to the eight-figure Swatch (!), these are five of the most expensive watches from unlikely brands.
5. Casio G-Shock 35th Anniversary – $69,500

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We’re kicking this off with a brand you definitely wouldn’t associate with luxury and that’s Casio.
The Japanese manufacturer is known for its cheap, sturdy timepieces, but it also makes some incredibly expensive stuff.
Casio sells watches under different sub-brands such as G-Shock and Mr. G, and some of these pieces cost a fortune.
Mr. G models, for example, will set you back a cool $4,000.
Mind you, that’s nothing compared to the G-Shock D5000 that Casio released for the 35th anniversary of the G-Shock brand, which is by far the brand’s most expensive timepiece.
Crafted from 18k gold and it costs, wait for it, $69,500.
4. Swatch Kiki Picasso – $110,000

Moving on to another brand you wouldn’t call ‘luxurious’, we find Swatch.
Swatch watches are generally pretty cheap, but they’re all sought after by collectors.
In 1989, a rare Kiki Picasso Swatch, named after the French artist that designed it, sold at auction at Sotheby’s in Milan for $45,000.
That’s $110,000 in today’s money, when adjusted for inflation.
3. Grand Seiko Kodo – $478,000

Grand Seiko is the sub-division that Seiko uses to sell ultra high-end stuff.
Seiko is definitely a solid brand, but Grand Seiko is the one that’s on collectors’ radars.
And the average price for a Grand Seiko reflects that.
The most expensive new model is the Elegance, which costs $29,000.
And the most expensive Grand Seiko ever sold fetched $478,000 at auction last year.
Ouch.
2. Rolex ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona – $17.75 million

The most expensive new Rolex you can buy today is the gold Day-Date, which starts at around $35,000.
Meanwhile, the priciest new Rolex ever made is the Master Ice, an iced out version of the GMT.
This one retailed for $485,350.
And then we get to the most expensive Rolex of them all, the Rolex ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona.
Featuring the iconic ‘panda’ dial and equipped with an unusual Bund strap, the Daytona sold for $17.75 million at auction.
It was famously owned and worn by actor Paul Newman, which somewhat explains the price.
1. Patek Philippe Grand Master Chime – $45 million

This is one of the most expensive watches ever made, with a retail price (when it was new in 2014) of $2.6 million.
Sometimes referred to as the ‘Grail of Grails’, it’s the Patek Philippe Grand Master Chime.
It has a long list of complications spread across two dials, one on each side, and it’s work of art.
Despite the jaw-dropping price tag, the Patek Grand Master Chime turned out to be a great investment.
Only six were made, and one of them is available from luxury website JamesEdition for $45 million.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.