Until moments ago, the most expensive wristwatch ever sold publicly was a Patek Philippe 1518 in stainless steel, which was the very first serially-produced perpetual calendar chronograph. Only four were made in stainless steel and it wasn't shocking at all to see it reach eight-figure heights. The 1518 was also sold by Phillips in Geneva, and just a year ago in November 2016. While Paul Newman's Paul Newman certainly has the cool factor (provenance doesn't get better than this), for it to sell for more than this extremely rare, complicated watch is truly shocking – and I am most certainly clutching my pearls .