Published: 01 June 2026
The luxury smartwatch is an intriguing addition to a relatively new marketplace. It is also one that comes with a fascinating contradiction built into the very fabric of the item. With the march of technology always moving ever faster, there is an acceptance that the smartwatch is a category defined by iteration and constrained by the threat of obsolescence in just a few years.
The luxury watchmakers and brands that have established themselves over the centuries were positioned as craftsmen of enduring quality. Their timepieces often represent assets that would live on for generations within families, a reassuring permanence created in timeless style. So, aligning these two worlds would at first seem to be quite challenging. Indeed, the first attempts at creating a luxury smartwatch were rather cautious with traditional case designs housing the necessary software platforms.
Gradually though, innovations and experimentations did begin to appear. Some were more positioned towards the jewellery market with others treating the product as a hybrid of wearable technology with traditional watchmaking sensibilities.
Although luxury smartwatches are far from having the history, provenance and collector communities of their analogue alternatives, there are still some standout examples of collectability.
Here is a guide to the five most expensive smartwatches seen so far.
1. Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45 Full Diamond
Around £140,000
This connected watch remains the benchmark for the highest end of pricing. Its case and bracelet are handcrafted from 18k white gold and set with 589 baguette-cut diamonds. The skilled labour hours to cut each stone precisely to fit the form and lines of the tag would clearly run into the hundreds for production.
The technology was created in partnership with Intel on Google Wear OS with core functions of app connectivity, payments and GPS etc. However, this was a proof of concept model that works in a modular way where the digital core can be removed and replaced by a mechanical movement as and when the technology is usurped.
The watch is definitely a collector’s item that signifies an intersection of the changing habits of luxury watch creation albeit with a strong jewellery framework to define it.
2. Nico Gerard Sunrise Pinnacle
Around £87,000
This piece is similar to the Tag Heuer above in that it captures an early smartwatch design language that was ambitious if a little uncertain. The watch is created with the duality of a traditional Swiss mechanical timepiece mounted on top of the bracelet and an Apple Watch set beneath the wrist. Essentially, the wearer carries two timepieces with one facing out and one facing inwards.
Every piece in the very limited run was created to order with a gold case and classic detailing and finishing. The Apple Watch component provides full smartwatch capability at all times, with the mechanical watch responsible for much of its visual identity. The Nico Gerard Sunrise Pinnacle was widely debated on its release but certainly fulfils its aim to be a remarkable item in a still-developing space.
3. Hublot Big Bang e
Ranges from around £39,000 to £68,000
The Hublot foray into luxury smartwatches feels like it is very much aligned with the existing identity of the brand. A signature industrial aesthetic is observed on the watch with a multi-layered case construction of exposed screws and masculine architecture.
A number of editions have been created that include diamond-set bezels with base materials ranging from titanium or black ceramic, making the most of strong contrasting colours in the design. The technology is powered by Google Wear OS with an AMOLED touchscreen and customisable dials. It does feel as though this a more balanced version of the expensive smartwatch category that aligns with the Hublot catalogue. Wearable and usable, it is forging a path for others to follow for a cohesive luxury smartwatch future to come.
4. Apple Watch Edition 18k Gold, First Generation
Around £7,800 to £13,300 at the time of launch
The Apple Watch Edition presents another interesting footnote in the design development of luxury smartwatches. From the outset it was a bold attempt to enter the luxury watch market in 2015 when the space was still unknown and unproven. A custom 18k gold alloy was designed to be harder wearing and scratch resistant within the parameters of Apples’ minimalist aesthetic.
Internally, the technology and features were identical to that of the early Apple Watches which made it vulnerable to the same upgrade cycles and eventual obsolescence vulnerability. The Apple Watch Edition range was discontinued after the first generation as it struggled to find a client base that supported the match between high material value and rapidly ageing technology. Nevertheless, it was a pivotal stop on the journey of luxury smartwatches and their design process.
5. Vertu Grand Watch
Around £2,300 to £7,800
The Vertu Grand Watch is a good focal point for where luxury smartwatches began to understand their design functions and lifestyle position in a more complete way. It uses microcrystalline ceramic and carbon composite materials that allow it to remain lightweight and scratch-resistant while still fulfilling the high end, hand crafted and luxury feel. A distinctive tonneau-shaped case also aligns it with some of the most prominent design language of expensive mechanical watches from the 21st century.
The technology stack is suitably modern and future-forward with AI-assisted health monitoring and application compatibility as a curated lifestyle tool. Sleep tracking, stress monitoring and over 100 sports modes that can simply align with both Android and Apple operating systems. Overall, the Vertu Grand Watch is the strongest signal of how luxury smartwatches can find a market through considered design, high-end craftsmanship and everyday usability.
The luxury smartwatch has had a difficult brief to fulfil. In essence, it is challenging an accepted and well-developed market that has stood for over 100 years with all the knowledge, experience and skills that it brings. As the 5 most expensive smartwatches clearly demonstrate, the process of achieving this is lined with experimentation and curiosities that may very well soon create an entirely new collecting community all of their own.
