The £4.4MILLION watch collection: British auctioneers reveal their 20 most expensive sales as global shortage of new items drives demand

The 20 most expensive watches to go under the hammer on an online auction site have been revealed, as a scarcity in brand-new luxury watches fuels a surge in bidding for second-hand timepieces. The iconic Patek Philippe Nautilus – a watch worn by Thierry Henry and Hailey Bieber – was first created in 1976, but its discontinuation in 2021 has caused demand to rocket in recent years. In sixth place, a Richard Mille RM 72-01 - a model worn by F1 ace Charles Leclerc - is the first timepiece on the list that isn’t from the Patek Philippe line. This 2021 version of the Patek Philippe Nautilus manufactured with an Olive Green dial and boasted 32 flawless baguette diamonds sold for a staggering £548,000 The iconic Patek Philippe Nautilus – a watch worn by Thierry Henry and Hailey Bieber – was first created in 1976 A Richard Mille RM 72-01 - a model worn by F1 ace Charles Leclerc – sold for an eye-watering £242,500 Rolex only manages one entry in the top 20 – a 1954 Rolex Submariner 6200 which fetched a £205,200. Patek Philippe Nautilus with 'factory set diamonds' sold for £296,500 The 2022 Patek Philippe Celestial 5 went was bought for £260,000 at auction While this 1954 Rolex Submariner sold for £205,500 2021 He added that it is 'no coincidence' that the three big watchmaking powerhouses - Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet - remain outside the typical shareholder-driven structure of other large brands.