Just Because Ever Wondered How Much A Patek Philippe Grand Complication Costs? Patek Finally Published All Their Prices

Patek Philippe is apparently over all of this coy nonsense. A few weeks ago, the brand started publishing the prices of their Grand Complication watches (including their chiming pieces) that were previously "price on request." If you're like me and have ever wondered how much [*insert outrageously complicated Patek reference here*] costs – if for no practical reason but to gawk – well, you don't have to wonder anymore.

I'm not going to go through every model. You can do that yourself on Patek's website, but I wanted to hit a few highlights. So, let's start with the biggest price tag in the brand's current lineup, the Patek Philippe ref. 6300/403G Grandmaster Chime Haute Joaillerie watch with 20 complications, 118 baguette-cut emeralds (7.87 cts), and 291 baguette-cut diamonds (20.54 cts). The price? A massive $4,596,140. 

The next most expensive model, besides the other versions of the 6300 (including the $4,345,160 sapphire version, $4,227,320 diamond model, and $2,990,760 "basic" Grandmaster Chime), isn't the hand-engraved, Grand Feu brown enamel dial version of the ref. 6002 Sky Moon Tourbillon at $1,738,180. No, it's actually the Aquanaut Luce "Rainbow" Minute Repeater Haute Joaillerie watch ref. 5260/1455R for a whopping $2,975,330. 

That makes the smoked-sapphire dial ref. 5316/50P (with its minute-repeater, tourbillon, and a perpetual calendar with retrograde date display and moon-phase indication) look like a real steal at $987,460. The ref. 5531G world time minute repeater with cloisonné Grand Feu enameling is even more "affordable" at $689,330. It seems that many of the highest prices are impacted by gem-setting. The ref. 5374G with perpetual calendar and cathedral gong minute repeater costs $749,430. The same movement, cased in platinum with 228 baguette-cut diamonds (11.62 cts) and 13 baguette-cut sapphires (0.72 ct), costs $1,196,020, nearly $450,000 more. The list goes on and on, and you can check out your favorite references on the Patek Philippe website. 

If you're curious about the very specific pricing (down to 10 dollars), it's partially due to exchange rates. Over the weekend, I spoke with one European AD who told me that Patek Philippe previously set the prices for these watches in Swiss Francs. Depending on the day's exchange rate, a customer could pay tens of thousands more on a Thursday than on a Tuesday (or, rather, Patek could have lost money with disadvantageous exchange rates). This is why brands like AP still set prices for their most expensive pieces in Swiss Francs only. Now, the prices seem to be fixed to the currency listed. Yes, these watches (and their prices) are almost completely unobtainable to any normal human being. That, to me, is what makes the transparency around the prices all the more interesting.