ColumnistsApr 27, 2026
Stop Treating Mother’s Day Like an AfterthoughtEmmanuel Raheb says jewelers need to start marketing early and make it easy for customers to pick a gift for mom.
AuctionsNov 14, 2019
Patek Philippe Watch Sells for Record-Breaking $31M
Meet the world’s most expensive timepiece sold at auction.
Created for charity auction Only Watch, the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime reference 6300A-010 is the only version of the timepiece ever made in stainless steel.
Geneva—A new wristwatch can claim the honor of being the most expensive timepiece sold at auction, and it benefited charity.
At the Nov. 9 Only Watch auction held at Christie’s Geneva, the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime reference 6300A-010 in stainless steel sold to an undisclosed bidder for 31 million Swiss francs ($31.3 million).
It’s the highest price garnered for any watch at auction, beating out Patek’s Henry Graves Supercomplication, which sold for $24 million at Sotheby’s Geneva in 2014, and the Rolex Daytona that once belonged to Paul Newman, which sold for $17.8 million at Phillips New York in October 2017.
At the Nov. 9 Only Watch auction held at Christie’s Geneva, the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime reference 6300A-010 in stainless steel sold to an undisclosed bidder for 31 million Swiss francs ($31.3 million).
It’s the highest price garnered for any watch at auction, beating out Patek’s Henry Graves Supercomplication, which sold for $24 million at Sotheby’s Geneva in 2014, and the Rolex Daytona that once belonged to Paul Newman, which sold for $17.8 million at Phillips New York in October 2017.
Made exclusively for the auction, the Grandmaster Chime reference 6300A-01 has a total of 20 complications, including five chiming modes, two of which are patented world firsts: an acoustic alarm that strikes the pre-selected time and a date repeater sounding the date on demand.
It also has a reversible case, with one dial in rose gold and the other in black ebony.
Unlike its predecessors, the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime’s record-breaking hammer price benefitted charity.
The biennial Only Watch auction funds research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Only Watch founder Luc Pettavino, previously the organizer of the Monaco Yacht Show, which counts many timepiece brands as sponsors, created the auction in honor of his son, who died from the disease.
Prior to Saturday’s sale, the organization had raised more than 35 million euros ($38.5 million) since its inception in 2005, Pettavino told Monochrome Watches.
Thanks to the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, the most recent Christie’s Geneva auction doubled that number, totaling CHF 38.6 million ($40 million).
In total, 50 one-of-a-kind timepieces were donated and auctioned in the sale, which lasted more than two hours.
Following the Only Watch auction were a number of Christie’s Geneva sales this week, including Magnificent Jewels, which saw a 7.03-carat fancy deep blue diamond garner CHF 11.6 million ($11.7 million) to earn the top lot spot.
Christie’s Rare Watches sale, meanwhile, totaled CHF $12.7 million ($12.8 million), with the Henry Graves Patek Philippe made to his specific recommendations in 1972 selling for CHF 4.6 million ($4.62 million).
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Auctions
The Latest
IndependentsApr 27, 2026
Longnecker Jewelry Celebrates 30 YearsIn honor of the milestone, the Nebraska jeweler has debuted Leslie & Co., its new in-house jewelry brand.
MajorsApr 27, 2026
JBT Re-Elects Jeff Corey as Board ChairThe trade organization, which held its annual elections earlier this year, also added five new board members.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
SurveysApr 24, 2026
Mother’s Day 2026 Jewelry Spending to Top $7B, NRF SaysNRF’s annual survey found that 45 percent of consumers plan to purchase jewelry for a loved one this Mother’s Day.
Weekly QuizApr 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TechnologyApr 24, 2026
TwentyFour’s Digital-Age Locket Is a Virtual VaultThe “Vault” charm, our Piece of the Week, expands on the memories that can be stored in a locket by connecting to your phone.
Events & AwardsApr 24, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Meet the Real Moms of Day’s JewelersThe jeweler’s Mother’s Day campaign highlights the women who work there—mothers, grandmothers, women who want to be mothers, and dog moms.
Supplier BulletinApr 23, 2026
JM® Shipping Solution: Smarter Shipping for High-Value GoodsSponsored by Jewelers Mutual
Lab-GrownApr 23, 2026
Charles & Colvard May Sell Assets for $1.5MThe proposed agreement follows the moissanite maker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing last month.
CollectionsApr 23, 2026
Adam Neeley’s High Jewelry Collection Steps Into Salvador Dalí’s GardenThe “Dalí’s Garden” collection was inspired by a surreal dream Neeley had after cooking a recipe from Salvador Dalí’s 1973 cookbook.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Windsor Jewelers Names New Buying DirectorNatalie Feanny has been appointed to the role.
CrimeApr 22, 2026
New Mexico Couple Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Native American JewelryThe pair falsely claimed their jewelry was made by Navajo artists, but it was imported from Vietnam.
AuctionsApr 22, 2026
Roberta Flack’s Jewelry Is Going Up for AuctionJulien’s Auctions is selling the musician’s fine and fashion jewelry alongside her clothing, gold records, and other memorabilia.
CollectionsApr 22, 2026
British Museum Curator Pens Book on ‘The Tudor Heart’Rachel King’s book dives into the history of the pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
Events & AwardsApr 22, 2026
Here’s What Sy Kessler Has on Tap for Las Vegas The company will have deals on precious metals testers as well as the latest in lab-grown diamond detection technology and security.
WatchesApr 21, 2026
Coco Chanel Enters the Game with New Watch CollectionGabrielle “Coco” Chanel is a character in the “Coco Game” collection of watches and the queen in its first haute horlogerie chessboard.
IndependentsApr 21, 2026
Meet Jewelers of America’s 2026 ‘20 Under 40’ ClassThe annual list honors rising professionals on the retail and supply sides of the jewelry industry.
CrimeApr 21, 2026
Customs Nabs 1,500 Pieces of Counterfeit Jewelry Bound for NYCSeized in Kentucky, the packages include fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, and Fendi jewelry.
CrimeApr 20, 2026
Queens Man Convicted in Bludgeoning Death of Pawn Shop OwnerRodolfo Lopez-Portillo faces 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty in the March 2022 beating death of Arasb Shoughi.
TrendsApr 20, 2026
Beth Bernstein, Sonia Esther Soltani Pen New Jewelry Book“Jewelry Creators: Dynamic Duos and Generational Gems” highlights the relationships among 22 influential designers, brands, and gem dealers.
Events & AwardsApr 20, 2026
Atlanta Jewelry Show’s Spring Event Is Hitting the RoadThe AJS Spring 2027 show will be held in Savannah, Georgia, with future shows taking place in other Southeast cities.
MajorsApr 20, 2026
Kendra Scott Names New CFO, Chief Business OfficerThe jewelry retailer plans to open 20 new stores this year and expand into new product categories.
TrendsApr 17, 2026
New (Groundbreaking) Floral Jewelry for Spring 2026Flower motifs are the jewelry trend blooming amongst the new collections that debuted this spring.
MajorsApr 17, 2026
QVC Group Files for Chapter 11 BankruptcyThe retailer reported an 8 percent decline in annual sales as it struggles under the weight of billions of dollars of debt.
CollectionsApr 17, 2026
Edina Kiss’ Earrings Are the Devil on Your ShoulderThe “Devil” drop earrings, our Piece of the Week, are part of designer Edina Kiss’ new namesake jewelry line that she will show at Couture.
