9 Most Expensive Rolex Watches in the World

As far as watches go, no brand is more internationally recognized and coveted as a luxury item than a Rolex. The luxury watch brand has been around for more than a century now, founded way back in 1905 in London, and has certainly come a long way from its humble roots.

Owning a Rolex is a mark of prestige but buying one can cause quite the dent in your savings. But not as much of a dent as these nine Rolexes will make.

If you don’t have a huge budget, you can still purchase a classical watch such as Rolex Cellini

1. 1972 James Bond Rolex Submariner ($365,000)

There’s no need to explain why this watch was so popular when it came out.

Having been featured as Agent 007’s watch in the movie “Live and Let Die,” back when Roger Moore played our favorite secret agent James Bond, the watch was an instant hit when it finally hit the market.

It has since cemented its place in the Rolex Hall of Fame as a classic, never to be replaced.

2. Gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual ($444,000)

This watch may be of a simpler design than the previous one, but it ranks higher in significance and price for two reasons. For one, the watch is made out of 18 carats of pink gold.

For the other, it belonged to India’s first president, Dr. Rajenda Parsad. It was, in fact, a custom-made piece and had the map of India engraved on the dial.

3. Rolex GMT Master II Ice ($485,350)

One of the first watches to introduce the system of a dial you could adjust to keep track of two different time zones simultaneously, the Rolex GMT Master II Ice was designed specifically for pilots who’d need it to keep track of their flight’s arrival and departure times.

The watch is truly a testament to Rolex’s innovation and efficiency in design.

4. Eric Clapton’s Daytona Rolex ($1,400,000)

If you’re a rock/blues fan and love the classics from the late 19th century, you’ve heard of the famous guitarist Eric Clapton.

A music legend in his own right, it would seem whatever Mr. Clapton touched also turned to gold since his Rolex Daytona was auctioned at a whopping $1.4 million! Still, that’s not to say the watch wasn’t at all deserving of that price.

5. 1971 Daytona ‘Albino’ Ref 6263 ($1,418,00)

Another piece that belonged to the famous guitarist Eric Clapton, the 1971 ‘Albino’ Daytona was more of a vintage piece than Mr. Clapton’s other watch that made it into the list.

It was also dubbed the ‘Albino’ because of its beautiful silver exterior and silver monochrome dial. The watch broke all previous records for Rolexes and was, for quite some time, the most expensive Rolex ever.

6. 1942 Antimagnetique ($2,400,000)

Perhaps the oldest watch on this list, the Antimagnetique is very different from the others on this list.

For one, the watch was designed for a private collection, instead of being available in the market to buy, for a team of racers, which is what makes it one of the rarest and exquisite Rolexes out there.

It is also one of the largest watches Rolex has ever made. Regardless of size or age though, the Antimagnetique is still one of the most beautiful watches ever made by the company.

7. 1969 Paul Newman Daytona Ref 6263 ($3,717,906)

While the younger generation today may be mostly ignorant of Paul Newman and his exploits, those of us who remember the glory days of the late 19th century know just how big of a deal Mr. Newman was in his prime.

Although primarily an actor and voice actor, the man was able to branch out from his core profession by taking up the role of film director, the producer then diverging towards racing as both driver and IndyCar owner and finally settling as an entrepreneur and philanthropist.

No wonder his watch the 1969 Daytona was valued at over $3.7 million!

8. Bao Dai ($5,060,427)

Talk about luxury! The Bao Dai, belonging to the last emperor of Vietnam was one fancy timepiece. Not only was it made of 18 carats of pure gold, but it also had five diamonds studded on its dial where the numbers two, four, eight, ten and twelve needed to be.

With a make like that, it’s not all surprising the piece was valued at over $5 million in total worth.

9. Paul Newman’s Cosmograph Daytona ($17,752,500)

Another watch from Mr. Newman’s collection and THE most expensive Rolex to date, the Cosmograph Daytona wasn’t just a stunning timepiece, it also held great sentimental value for Mr. Newman, being a gift from his wife on his birthday.

It even has an engraving (Drive Carefully Me) that distinguishes it from every other piece on the market.

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