Even the cheapest watch among the 6 most expensive Longines watches costs more than many well-equipped luxury cars. A luxury watch serves a little practical purpose apart from telling the time but says a lot about the person wearing it. Of course, it says a lot about our society that uses a shiny watch to measure a man’s worth — but that’s a topic for another time.
Bambax / Shutterstock.com
Established in Switzerland in 1834 by founder Auguste Agassiz, watchmaker Longines provided timers for the inaugural modern Olympic games in Athens in 1896 and for an expedition to the North Pole in 1899. Longines watches have always been expensive because of their excellent Swiss craftsmanship, but the watches on this list are truly extraordinary, comparable only to the 6 most expensive Panerai watches in the world. We’ve combed news sites and auctions from Christie’s and Sotheby’s to find the most expensive Longines watches in the world.
6. Cartier Longines Gold Onyx Jadeite Mother of Pearl Desk Timepiece
Price of watch: $71,900
This exotic timepiece was built in 1920, and 19 jewels enhance both its beauty and its price. Gold Roman numerals display the time and are surrounded by rubies, with more rubies surrounding the watch face. The hands of the watch are set with diamonds. It was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in 2012 — read more here.
Radu Bercan / Shutterstock.com
5. Longines Lindbergh Model Silver Watches
Price of watch: $77,302
This pair of watches is valuable not only for materials used but for historic value and rarity. One of the watches, manufactured in 1935, was given to Air Marshal Italo Balbo by pioneering aviator Charles Lindbergh. The other watch was presented to Air Marshal Balbo by his friends Roger Williams and Lewis Yancey in honor of their friendship. The two watches feature 35 jewels between them.
Both watches were sold at an auction conducted by Christie’s in 2011. You can read more here.
Tupungato / Shutterstock.com
4. Longines Dolmabahçe Palace Gold and Enamel Hunting Cased Pocket Watch
Price of watch: $78,290
Made in 1910, this unique pocket watch features 17 jewels in addition to gold mechanical workings. The watch features amazing paintings on front and back, one of Istanbul’s famed Dolmabahce Palace at sunrise, the other a scene of swans and flowers by a mosque. It was sold in 2010 at a Sotheby’s auction, with more details here.
3. Longines Sultan Abdulmecid I Enamel Hunting Cased Minute Repeating Keyless Watch
Price of watch: $116,122
This watch is made of 18K gold and even the lever movement is studded with jewels. Turkish numerals inside silver discs display the time. The watch features a diamond-studded portrait of the legendary Sultan Abdulmecid I and a 9K gold chain. It was sold by Sotheby’s in 2011.
Pan Xunbin/Shutterstock.com
2. Babe Ruth Inscribed Gold Longines Pocket Watch
Price of watch: $750,000
This gold Longines watch may not look like much, but it was engraved for and presented to Babe Ruth for the 25th anniversary of old Yankee Stadium. It’s the only possession of Ruth’s that his family has ever offered for sale, boosting its worth to around $750,000, according to NBC news.
1. Cartier Longines Tortoise Gem Set Desk Timepiece
Price of watch: $875,000
The most expensive Longines watch in the world features 19 jewels and extensive mother of pearl detailing. The numerals are made of gold and gold-flecked indigo enamel. The interior of the watch and its dragon-shaped hands are set with diamonds. The watch itself is shaped like a tortoise, and the shell is opened to reveal the clock face.
360b / Shutterstock.com
