Record Auction Prices: Cars, Watches and Handbags
These are some of the highest prices ever reached in public auctions for prestige objects, checked against the auction houses' published results as reported by Wikipedia. Prices include the buyer's premium where reported, and conversions to US dollars are approximate.
Records are history, not predictions. A record price reflects one object, one day and one buyer, and it says nothing certain about what anything else is worth.
A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO: see file page, CC BY-SA 3.0
Auction records at a glance
| Item | Category | Price | Auction house | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe (1955) | Car | 135 million euros (about US$143 million) | RM Sotheby's, Stuttgart | 2022 |
| Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 3765 (1962) | Car | US$51,705,000 | RM Sotheby's, New York | 2023 |
| Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 3413GT (1962) | Car | US$48,405,000 | RM Sotheby's, Monterey | 2018 |
| Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime ref. 6300A-010 | Wristwatch | CHF 31 million (about US$31 million) | Christie's, Geneva (Only Watch) | 2019 |
| Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication | Pocket watch | CHF 23,237,000 (about US$24 million) | Sotheby's, Geneva | 2014 |
| Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 | Wristwatch | US$17,752,500 | Phillips, New York | 2017 |
| Patek Philippe ref. 1518 in steel | Wristwatch | CHF 11,002,000 (about US$11.1 million) | Phillips, Geneva | 2016 |
| Original Hermès Birkin prototype | Handbag | 8.6 million euros (about US$10.1 million) | Sotheby's, Paris | 2025 |
| Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 with Tiffany blue dial | Wristwatch | US$6.5 million | Phillips, New York | 2021 |
The stories behind the records
The most expensive car
Mercedes-Benz sold one of its two 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupes at a private auction in its own museum. The 135 million euro price funded a scholarship programme.
The most expensive watch
A unique steel Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime made for the Only Watch charity auction reached CHF 31 million at Christie's in Geneva.
The most expensive pocket watch
The Henry Graves Supercomplication, with 24 complications made without computers, sold at Sotheby's Geneva for CHF 23.2 million.
The most famous Rolex
Paul Newman's own Daytona, missing from view for decades, sold at Phillips in New York for 17.75 million dollars.
The most expensive Ferrari at auction
One of only 36 Ferrari 250 GTOs sold at RM Sotheby's in New York for 51.7 million dollars.
The most expensive handbag
Jane Birkin's own prototype Hermès Birkin sold at Sotheby's in Paris for 8.6 million euros.
How the top watch record moved
- 1999
Graves Supercomplication, US$11 million
Sotheby's New York sets a new record for any watch.
Source: en.wikipedia.org - 2014
Graves Supercomplication again, CHF 23.2 million
The same watch returns to auction in Geneva and doubles its record.
Source: en.wikipedia.org - 2017
Paul Newman Daytona, US$17.75 million
A new record for a wristwatch, though below the Graves total.
Source: en.wikipedia.org - 2019
Grandmaster Chime 6300A-010, CHF 31 million
The current record for any watch sold at auction.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Greatest Prestige reports historical facts only. Nothing on this page is investment advice or a forecast of future prices.
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- Wikipedia: List of most expensive cars sold at auction
- Wikipedia: Ferrari 250 GTO
- Wikipedia: Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR
- Wikipedia: Patek Philippe
- Wikipedia: Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication
- Wikipedia: Rolex Daytona
- Wikipedia: Birkin bag
Facts on this page were checked against these sources (updated Oct 13, 2026). Spot an error? Email hello@fireempireshop.com.