World's Most Expensive Watch Fetches $24 Million At Auction
- 10 years ago
The Henry Graves Supercomplication, an 18-karat gold watch custom made for its namesake owner early in the 20th century, fetched 24 million dollars at auction.
The Henry Graves Supercomplication, an 18-karat gold watch custom made for its namesake owner early in the 20th century, fetched 24 million dollars at auction.
It’s regarded as the most complex timepiece ever designed and assembled prior to the advent of computer technology.
Among its capabilities are indicating the times of sun setting and rising, sounding a chime similar to that of London’s Big Ben, and displaying a plotted rendering of the starry night sky over New York City.
The specific celestial vista featured is the one that its namesake commissioner, a bank owner, enjoyed from his Central Park apartment.
In total, it has 24 non-timekeeping functions, which are also often referred to as complications.
It’s said that Graves had the piece made so he could come out ahead of fellow intricate watch enthusiast and rival James Ward Packard.
Over the years it’s become among the most sought after pieces by collectors, but has only been available for acquisition a very small number of times.
Initially, Sotheby’s Geneva, which handled the sale, expected it would bring in about 16.8 million dollars.
The individual who bid well over that amount has chosen to remain anonymous.
The Henry Graves Supercomplication, an 18-karat gold watch custom made for its namesake owner early in the 20th century, fetched 24 million dollars at auction.
It’s regarded as the most complex timepiece ever designed and assembled prior to the advent of computer technology.
Among its capabilities are indicating the times of sun setting and rising, sounding a chime similar to that of London’s Big Ben, and displaying a plotted rendering of the starry night sky over New York City.
The specific celestial vista featured is the one that its namesake commissioner, a bank owner, enjoyed from his Central Park apartment.
In total, it has 24 non-timekeeping functions, which are also often referred to as complications.
It’s said that Graves had the piece made so he could come out ahead of fellow intricate watch enthusiast and rival James Ward Packard.
Over the years it’s become among the most sought after pieces by collectors, but has only been available for acquisition a very small number of times.
Initially, Sotheby’s Geneva, which handled the sale, expected it would bring in about 16.8 million dollars.
The individual who bid well over that amount has chosen to remain anonymous.