Most Expensive Rolex Ever Made – The World of Luxury Watches

Rolex holds a one-of-a-kind position in the world of high-end mechanical clocks. It is the world's most valuable luxury brand of watches. Rolex is also one of the best and most expensive watch brands.

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This Swiss firm develops one-of-a-kind models that have become true status symbols. Owning a modern Rolex day-date or a classic Submariner, for example, reveals a great deal about you!

What makes Rolex so unique? The standard of its designs. The scarcity of its raw resources. Most significantly, the brand's excellent manufacturing method ensures exact and accurate performances.

All of these foundations contribute significantly to Rolex's status. But the brand is much more than that. Other watchmakers, like Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, are also capable of crafting magnificent timepieces.

Rolex, on the other hand, has a long and diversified history of watchmaking invention and leadership. Worldwide celebrities have also worn Rolex watches from sports, film, politics, and business. Some of the most famous Rolex owners are Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Elle Macpherson, John F Kennedy, Dr Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill, Che Guevara, Marlon Brando, and Victoria Beckham.

We're looking at the 17 most expensive Rolex watches of 2022 to help you traverse the world of Rolex watches and understand the significance that each of their models plays in the company.

Some of the most costly models are historical items that have increased in value due to their scarcity or the prominence of their prior owners. Others are modern items that you may purchase right now by strolling into a Rolex showroom. They range in price from $13,337 to $17.8 million.

This is going to be a lengthy list, so if you simply want to know what the most expensive Rolex on the market is right now, here's the simple answer:

With prices starting at $485,350, the Rolex GMT Master II Ice is the most costly model series in the present collection.

The Paul Newman Daytona is the most expensive Rolex that has ever been sold. It was acquired at auction in October 2017 for $17.8 million.

Top Most Expensive Rolex Ever Made

We'll start with the least expensive Rolex watch. Those are modern models that you may buy right now. As we progress down the list, you'll come across one-of-a-kind vintage models that are only available through private auctions. They were frequently the belongings of celebrities and influential individuals, or they were made from unusual materials.

17. Rolex Submariner Date: $13,337 (2022)

The Date model of the Rolex Submariner is at the top of our list. The Submariner, which debuted in 1953, was the first wristwatch that divers could take to a depth of 100 meters (330 feet). The Rolex Submariner, made famous by the early James Bond films, is today one of the brand's most popular models, although without the date and on a NATO strap.

Prices for the current Rolex Submariner series begin at $13,337 and vary according to the material used. There are stainless steel, yellow gold, and white gold options.

16. Sky-Dweller Oystersteel and Yellow Gold: $14,275 (2022)

There aren't many Rolex Sky-Dweller versions on the market. The self-winding watch was initially created for pilots and frequent travellers to simultaneously maintain track of two time zones on the dial. The watch's wearer may set the time on the main dial using the standard hour, minute, and second hands.

A second-time zone may be tracked by adjusting a tiny dial off-centre. The second dial has a 24-hour display to help you tell the difference between day and night.

Rolex Sky-Dweller prices start at $14,275. You may mix and match white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold materials.

15. Cosmograph Daytona: $16,780 (2022)

In 1963, the mesmerising Rolex Daytona dial was designed to commemorate the high-performance world of professional racing car driving. The model quickly acquired favor among Hollywood stars and the general population.

Cosmographia Among sports chronographs, Daytona defined a distinct watch genre. Its dial has become a symbol that is frequently admired and replicated by other watch companies.

Two little pushers activate the chronograph feature on the right side of the watch. The pushers may be tightened down to provide 100-meter waterproofness (330 feet).

14. Rolex Datejust: $17,000 (2022)

Rolex developed the beautiful Datejust in 1945 to commemorate the company's 40th anniversary. It is presently the most famous watch among businesspeople all over the world. The watch is so adaptable that it may be worn as part of both a business casual and a professional business ensemble. It comes with a wide range of dials, bands, and materials and the option of having precious stones on the dial.

The Datejust is offered in four different sizes: 31mm, 34mm, 36mm, and 41mm. There's also a Lady-Datejust in 28mm. The watch comes in stainless steel, white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold finishes.

13. Rolex Day-Date: $34,500 (2022)

The Rolex Day-Date is often regarded as the apex of a status symbol. It's one of the most costly watches in Rolex's current collection, and it's been worn by numerous international leaders and heads of state.

The Day-Date was the very first waterproof and self-winding chronometer wristwatch to have a calendar with a current day display in addition to the date, and it was introduced in 1956. It was also the first watch to have the jubilee Rolex bracelet (also known as the President bracelet), which provides excellent wrist comfort.

The calibre 3255 movement in the 2022 Day-Date delivers exceptional dependability and performance in a casing that is ideal for wearing a suit or formal clothes.

The Day-Date is priced starting at $34,500. The dial comes in 36mm and 40mm sizes and is available in yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, or platinum.

12. Rolex Pearlmaster collection: $87,000 (2022)

The Rolex Pearlmaster is the most costly Rolex available today, according to our ranking. The watch costs $87,000, however the price is subject to fluctuate depending on the market price of diamonds at the time of purchase. The watch is available in 34mm and 39mm case sizes and is only available in white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold (called Everose).

The timepiece is a high-end customised Rolex Datejust with precisely carved diamonds and valuable jewels. To perfectly coordinate each stone's height, orientation, and location on the dial, Rolex had to create high-end procedures. The Pearlmaster is available in three bracelet styles, two of which feature jewels on the bracelet itself. The watch is water-resistant to 100 metres (330 feet) and has a battery reserve of 48 hours.

11. Steve McQueen's 1967 Rolex Submariner: $234,000 (2009)

You might say that Steve McQueen's 1967 Rolex Submariner sparked current interest in classic Rolex watches. The watch was the first on our list to be auctioned off for a high price in 2009. The auction, which Antiquorum organised, ended at $234,000, the highest price ever paid for a vintage Rolex at the time.

The watch is a vintage Rolex Submariner from 1967. What distinguishes it is that Steve McQueen initially owned it. The iconic actor called "The Kind of Cool" was famed in the 1960s and 1970s for being one of Hollywood's highest-paid performers. His Rolex Submariner upheld his reputation.

The Steve McQueen Submariner's value has undoubtedly improved over the last ten years. A second Steve McQueen Submariner was scheduled to be auctioned in December 2018. However, the auction was delayed at the last minute owing to a disagreement with the McQueen Estate.

10. Diamond Pearlmaster Rolex Platinum: $277,850 (March 2011)

The Rolex Platinum Diamond Pearlmaster, unlike its current sister, is based on the Day-Date collection rather than the Datejust. The watch is fashioned of meteorite diamond and features 42 diamonds on its unique bezel. The 39mm dial watch was initially sold for $277,850 in 2011.

9. James Bond's 1972 Rolex Submariner: $365,000 (November 2015)

Another Submariner has been added to our list of the most expensive Rolex watches ever sold. This is the genuine watch worn by Sir Roger Moore in the 1973 film Live and Let Die as James Bond. In 2015, the watch was auctioned off for $365,000 at a Phillips auction in Geneva.

The watch was altered for the film. The bezel, in particular, was changed to resemble a circular saw. In the movie, James Bond uses it to cut a rope. The "magnetic field" of the watch is also employed to unzip Miss Caruso's frock (played by Madeline Smith).

The James Bond Submariner was so substantially changed for the film that it no longer tells time. Roger Moore, on the other hand, autographed the back of the watch.

8. Rolex GMT Master II Ice: priced at $485,350 (2022)

Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo wore this Rolex GMT-Master Ice during the 14th Dubai International Sports Conference. It is the priciest new Rolex on the market. It costs 485,350 US Dollars, although the price may change depending on the market value of diamonds at the time of purchase.

The Rolex GMT Master II Ice is coated with beautiful stones and constructed entirely of white gold. The dial has an intriguing diamond and gold wave design. The rest of the case has not been jeopardised as a result of the in-house customisation. You receive the same features and performance as the current Rolex GMT II, including a waterproof casing that can withstand depths of up to 100 metres (330 feet) and a power reserve of 50 hours. The dial had the traditional GMT second hand, which was used to set a second-time zone.

7. Jack Nicklaus Rolex Day-Date: $1.22 million (December 2019)

In 1967, Rolex presented this yellow gold Day-Date to famed golfer Jack Nicklaus. He's been wearing it almost every day since then. The Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus, wore this Rolex when he won 12 of his record 18 professional major championships. When Nicklaus raised the championship trophy after his triumphs, the watch was frequently photographed.

Rolex's most distinguished model and one of the world's most recognised watches is the yellow gold DayDate on a President bracelet. "This is the very first watch I had ever owned, and it's the only watch I've worn for every professional event I've won during my career," Jack Nicklaus explained. "It has followed me for almost five decades in U.S. Opens, Masters Tournaments, PGA Championships, Open Championships, and numerous other tournaments, and has served me well at every step along the road."

In December 2019, the watch sold for $1.22 million at a Phillips auction. The whole auction earnings went to Nicklaus' philanthropic Foundation, which helps children in need worldwide.

6. Eric Clapton's Rolex Cosmograph Daytona "Oyster Albino": $1.4 million (May 2015)

Eric Clapton's Daytona called the Rolex "Oyster Albino" Cosmograph, sold for significant sums not once but twice during public auctions. The first time occurred in 2003 in New York when the watch was purchased for $505,000 at a Sotheby's auction. Twelve years later, in May 2015, at a Phillips auction in Geneva, Eric Clapton's Daytona was sold for $1.4 million, over three times its prior price.

Aside from its legendary first owner, the Rolex "Oyster Albino" Daytona is unique in that just four pieces are available with a single colour dial. The Daytona dial is often two colours to contrast the chronograph totalisers with the rest of the display.

5. Marlon Brando's Apocalypse GMT-Master Now Rolex: $1.952  million (December 2019)

This Rolex GMT ref. 1675 worn by Marlon Brando in the film Apocalypse Now was auctioned off by Phillips in December 2019 for $1.952 million. The auction suitably titled the Phillips Game Changers event saw the Rolex GMT-Master from 1972 sell for far more than the projected amount.

Oscar-winner Marlon Brando wore the watch on a black strap with the bezel removed. Francis Ford Coppola had requested Brando to remove the bezel because it was too prominent in the film. Brando etched his name on the back of the watch, making it one-of-a-kind. After 15 minutes of furious bidding, it was sold.

4. Antimagnetique Reference 4113 made in 1942: $2.5 million (May 2016)

The oldest Rolex on our list is the 1942 Antimagnetique Reference 4113, which sold for about $2.5 million at a Phillips' auction in Geneva in 2016. It comes in an unusually big casing for its manufacture year, measuring 44 mm. It is Rolex's biggest case ever produced. Only 12 Reference 4113 specimens are known to exist today. The watch was first created as a gift to commemorate a racing team's triumph.

Surprisingly, this model had been sold at Christie's just three years previously, in 2013, for $1.16 million. It's another example of how the value of rare Rolex models has skyrocketed.

3. The Rolex Bao Dai: $5.1 million (May 2017)

The Rolex Bao Dai is without a doubt one of the most instantly recognisable models among watch enthusiasts. Based on the Rolex reference 6062, this watch was first sold to Vietnam's last emperor of the Nguyen dynasty in 1954.

This was the most costly model in Rolex's collection at the time. The gold case and black dial variants were the most limited. According to Hodinkee, just three were ever made. And this is the only piece of the three that has diamond marks on the even hours.

2. The 1971 Reference 626 Unicorn Rolex Daytona: $5.9 million (May 2018)

The price of this 1970 Rolex Daytona, which sold for $5.9 million in 2018, may be attributed to its uniqueness and scarcity. The Reference 6265 is the only model available in 18-karat white gold, therefore the nickname "Unicorn." At the time, the great majority of Rolex Daytonas were made of stainless steel.

Aside from its rich metal, the watch's narrative is intriguing in and of itself. Few people had heard of it until it was revealed in 2013 that famed Rolex collector John Goldberger had purchased it.

1. Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona: sold for $17.8 million (October 2017)

The Rolex Daytona, owned by Paul Newman, is the most expensive Rolex ever sold and the most expensive watch ever sold in the world. It comfortably surpassed the previous record, achieved in 2016 by a 1943 Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph that sold for $11 million. [2]

The opening price on Paul Newman's Daytona began at $1 million but was quickly upped to $10 million by the first bidder, startling the whole Phillips auction room. Only two bids competed for the watch, resulting in a final price of $17.8 million.

This Rolex Daytona, while quite well kept, is not exceptionally uncommon nor composed of costly materials. However, it is its one-of-a-kind narrative that has piqued the curiosity of watch collectors. It was presented to Paul Newman by his wife, Joanne Woodward while filming "Winning."

Why is Rolex so expensive?

People frequently inquire as to why Rolex watches are so pricey. What is so unique about the Swiss manufacturer that it can justify the high price of its high-end mechanical watches?

A Rolex watch is more than just a regular timepiece; it is an object of desire and aspiration. A sign of accomplishment and success. A pleasurable luxury pleasure.

Behind the name, the Rolex corporation functions differently than the majority of the world's watch producers. The corporation is privately owned and operated as a non-profit organisation. Rolex is now ranked fifth on our list of the world's most famous luxury brands.

So, what is it about Rolex watches that make them so expensive? It's a mix of four key variables, in our perspective.

Innovating at the forefront

Rolex has numerous laboratories at its headquarters in Geneva. Their in-house researchers work not just on new timepieces but also innovative and more efficient production procedures.

Precious Materials

Rolex manufactures its steel, gold, and platinum. They created innovative manufacturing procedures to make stainless steel watches in 904L steel, which is more resistant and retains its polished appearance over time. In addition, they convert raw 24k gold plates into 18k yellow, white, or rose gold materials (called Everose gold).

Rolex also has its gemological department, which purchases, tests, cuts, and places diamonds and precious stones on its timepieces. Each stone is hand-selected and hand-set in the same manner as the world's most known jewellery companies.

Excellent Manufacturing Process

Rolex has honed its watchmaking process to make the most efficient use of both machines and humans. Even while robots and automation aid professionals along the way, every Rolex movement and bracelet is still made by hand.

Dedication, Time, and a Keen Eye for Detail

A single Rolex watch takes around a year to create, from raw material manufacturing through assembly and testing.

Take, for example, the development of a dial. Rolex discovered that humans were superior to machines at setting markings on a dial after rigorous testing. As a result, each dial is still handcrafted. The final product is then dropped from a height of 20 cm to confirm that everything is kept together as intended.

Given that Rolex sells around a million watches every year, the amount of time spent on each watch is amazing.