TIMEI
t's a truism that luxury watches are expensive, but many people
are surprised - nay, horri� ed - at just how expensive they can be.
The most thought to have been paid for a vintage watch is more
than $11m, achieved at Sotheby's in 1999 for the Patek Philippe
'Supercomplication' pocket watch made during the 1930s.
Relatively few modern watches cost seven � gures, but there's
no shortage of pieces for those with a few hundred thousand to
spend. Some are pricey because they are smothered in gems, while
the cost of others is justi� ed by the materials that go into making
them, their rarity or their high level of mechanical complexity.
Here's half a dozen for which only the ber-wealthy need apply…
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE EARTH
FOR A WELL�MADE, STYLISH WATCH,
BUT IF YOU WANT TO SPLASH THE
CASH THERE ARE PLENTY OF
BIG�TICKET TIMEPIECES ON OFFER
IS MONEY
RICHARD MILLE RM 36�01 COMPETITION G�SENSOR
Created in honour of the nine-times World Rally champion
Sebastien Loeb, this decidedly specialised watch both tells the
time and serves as a wrist-mounted G-force meter to gauge just
how hard the wearer's body is being accelerated, slowed down,
or shoved sideways in extreme situations. The built-in G-sensor
measures just 17mm in diameter, but contains 50 separate
components. The watch also features a tourbillon and
power reserve meter. £459,000; richardmille.com
CARTIER ASTROCALENDAR
Cartier watches have been famous since the early 1900s, but
the 'king of jewellers' only started making its own movements
in 2007, since then it has developed numerous ultra-technical
pieces. Among the latest of these is the Rotonde de Cartier
Astrocalendar, a tourbillon watch that presents a new take on
the perpetual calendar function by displaying the day, month
and date on easy-to-read, concentric discs. Just 100 of these
watches will be made. £120,000; cartier.co.uk
128 | squaremeal.co.uk
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