Five High-Priced Luxury Watches for Avid Collectors

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani’s youngest son Anant Ambani reportedly gifted each of his groomsmen, including Shah Rukh Khan and Ranveer Singh, a limited-edition Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar (Ref. 26584OR.OO1220OR.01) watch. After months of spectacular pre-wedding celebrations that caught the attention of the world, Anant married Radhika Merchant, daughter of pharma tycoons Viren and Shaila Merchant, in Mumbai recently.

Housed in a 41 mm rose gold case, the AP watch is said to be priced at INR 2 crore (approximately); only 25 pieces of this ‘Premiere’ edition were made. With a crown at 3 o’clock and a bezel with screws, the grande tapisserie dial has gears, springs and levels that are barely hidden under the transparent indications, consisting of a month counter at 12 o’clock, a date counter at 3 o’clock, leap year and double-moon at 6 o’clock, and a day-of-the-week counter at 9 o’clock. What’s more, the outer periphery of the dial marks the 52 weeks of a year. Powered by an in-house Calibre 5134, delivering 40 hours of power reserve, the model was created exclusively for Anant Ambani’s groomsmen. 

Needless to say, luxury watches make for excellent gifts for near and dear ones; they have always been considered a symbol of status, wealth, and sophistication. If you are an avid watch collector and looking for high-quality, high-priced pieces, preferably in the price range of INR 2-3.75 crore, this curated list can come in handy.

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H. Moser & Cie Streamliner Concept Minute Repeater Tourbillon Blue Enamel

The case centre of the new 42.3 mm watch has been enlarged to its maximum width to fit the movement, while also providing enough space to form a sound box and intensify the chiming of the hours, quarters, and minutes. The mirror-polished hammers in the upper left quadrant strike the minute repeater's two gongs, which are raised in response to information provided by several feeler-spindles, revealing the dial's complexities. A skeletonised bridge surrounds the one-minute flying tourbillon, which spins in the aperture at 6 o'clock.

The watch has an aqua blue grand feu enamel dial with a hammered texture. The enamel sports a fumé or gradient appearance, similar to the brand's signature fumé dials, with the brighter middle area gradually becoming darker. This clock is powered by a hand-wound HMC 905 movement with a 90-hour power reserve. The watch is finished on an integrated steel band with a folding clasp featuring three steel blades engraved with the Moser emblem. Half-links are also available.

Price: INR 2,49,00,000 (approx.)

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Jacob & Co. Bugatti Tourbillon

Created in collaboration with French sports car manufacturer Bugatti, Jacob & Co's latest timepiece, limited to 150 pieces, boasts a black PVD titanium casing that complements the car's robust exterior and distinguishing elements. The watch is 52 mm x 44 mm in size, with a single sapphire crystal protecting the three-subdial configuration that replicates the instrument cluster. A 30-second flying tourbillon begins from the left side. The retrograde indication for both jumping hours (with a red hand) and minutes (with a blue hand) at the centre is comparable to the rev counter and speedometer on the most recent Bugatti model.

The Bugatti Tourbillon's engine automaton is based on the new tiny V16 (rather than W16!) engine block. It consists of a single sapphire block with 16 cylinders to house the same number of titanium pistons. This limited-edition Jacob & Co. Bugatti Tourbillon is driven by the Calibre JCAM55, a manually wound movement with a 42-hour power reserve. The watch is finished with an optional black rubber strap with louvres and a black PVD titanium deployment buckle clasp.

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Price: INR 2,85,00,000 (approx.)

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Roger Dubuis Excalibur Sunrise Double Tourbillon

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Sunrise Double Tourbillon features an 18 ct 45 mm pink gold case with a pink gold bezel set with 72 stones (red garnets, orange spessartite, and yellow sapphires). The dial features two separate tourbillons that work independently of one another. Each has its own escapement and balance wheel, which are not mechanically coupled. Then there are polished and pink gold-plated hour markers set with nine stones (red garnets, orange spessartite, and yellow sapphire).

The Roger Dubuis signature Star is set between 9 and 3 o'clock. The clock is powered by RD108, a manual winding movement with two flying tourbillons and a differential for exceptional precision, delivering a power reserve of 72 hours. The watch comes with a fine calf leather strap that can be removed and replaced through a pink gold triple folding buckle.

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Price: INR 3,45,20,000 (approx.)

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Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometre Heliotourbillon Perpetual‍

left-handThe Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometre Heliotourbillon Perpetual case is 44 mm in diameter and made of solid 18 ct pink gold. The case has a domed sapphire crystal and the entire left side is occupied by a curved sapphire display window that reveals the model's characteristic Heliotourbillon complication. The timepiece's dial emphasises its complexity, with its triple-axis tourbillon prominently displayed on the left hand side atop a dark blue lacquer surface designed to simulate the starry sky. At 3 o'clock rests a huge subdial with pink gold hour markers and a dual date window.

Two power reserve indications for the two barrels are located at 1 and 5 o'clock respectively, and the day-of-the-week with a moon phase is displayed at 11 o'clock. The subdial at 7 o'clock indicates the month and leap year. The watch is powered by a manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 388, which has a 46-hour power reserve per barrel. The watch is limited to 20 pieces and finished on a brown alligator leather strap with a small-scale alligator interior.

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Price: INR 3,67,00,000 (approx.)

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Bovet Virtuoso XI

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Bovet's Virtuoso XI has a 44 mm 18 ct white gold writing slope casing, adorned with diamonds. There are no hour markers on the dial, only blue hour and minute hands; however, there are a flying tourbillon at 6 o'clock and a big power reserve indicator at 9 o'clock. Two patents have been granted for the use of this innovative system as well as the multi-gear three-dimensional teeth on one of its pinions. This technique reduces the number of crown turns required for full winding of the mainspring without increasing friction and stresses on the gears.

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The Virtuoso XI's movement incorporates Bovet's revolutionary double-sided flying tourbillon, while the hairspring and regulating organ are fully manufactured in-house. Every plate, bridge, and other surface are completely hand-engraved. It takes more than 60 hours to execute engraving on the movement, powered by a single barrel, which provides more than 10 days of power reserve (240 hours versus the industry typical of 42-48 hours).  The Fleurisanne pattern is laser carved into the power reserve barrel.

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Price: INR 3,72,70,000 (approx.)‍