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