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Vetta Stop Second, Antimagnetique, Rare Watch, 1950s
Vetta Stop Second, Antimagnetique, Rare Watch, 1950s

Vetta Stop Second, Antimagnetique, Rare Watch, 1950s

Located in Roma, Lazio

Vetta Stop Second, Antimagnetique, rare, 50’ Movement and functions: hand-winding cal. E1168

Category

Vintage 1950s Wrist Watches

Materials

Steel

Rolex Day-Date Royal Arabic Blue Rare! Watch
Rolex Day-Date Royal Arabic Blue Rare! Watch

Rolex Day-Date Royal Arabic Blue Rare! Watch

By Rolex

Located in New York, NY

Rolex Day-Date 36mm Royal Arabic Blue Rare! All original Rolex Parts excellent condition

Category

Early 2000s Art Deco Wrist Watches

Bulgari Tubogas 18K Yellow and Blackened Gold Vintage Rare Watch
Bulgari Tubogas 18K Yellow and Blackened Gold Vintage Rare Watch

Bulgari Tubogas 18K Yellow and Blackened Gold Vintage Rare Watch

By Bulgari

Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY

The Bulgari Tubogas watch is a stunning piece of craftsmanship, showcasing a unique and elegant

Category

Vintage 1970s Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Pierre Cardin Jaeger-LeCoultre Movement Stainless Steel Moderne Style Watch
Pierre Cardin Jaeger-LeCoultre Movement Stainless Steel Moderne Style Watch

Pierre Cardin Jaeger-LeCoultre Movement Stainless Steel Moderne Style Watch

By Jaeger-LeCoultre

Located in Long Beach, CA

Crocodile / Medium Length WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement. This is a rare watch, in fact I have never

Category

Vintage 1970s French Modernist Wrist Watches

Cartier Gondole Jumbo Watch 18K Gold Full Set 1979
Cartier Gondole Jumbo Watch 18K Gold Full Set 1979

Cartier Gondole Jumbo Watch 18K Gold Full Set 1979

By Cartier

Located in Saint Petersburg, FL

A rare watch presented here-a full set of a 1979's Cartier Gondole watch in jumbo vertical size

Category

Vintage 1970s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Pierre Cardin Jaeger-LeCoultre Stainless Steel Yellow Gold Moderne Watch
Pierre Cardin Jaeger-LeCoultre Stainless Steel Yellow Gold Moderne Watch

Pierre Cardin Jaeger-LeCoultre Stainless Steel Yellow Gold Moderne Watch

By Jaeger-LeCoultre

Located in Long Beach, CA

SERVICE COMMITMENT This is a rare watch, in fact I have never seen the model before. It is in excellent

Category

Vintage 1970s French Modern Wrist Watches

Van Cleef & Arpels Art Deco Stone Pocket Watch, circa 1930's
Van Cleef & Arpels Art Deco Stone Pocket Watch, circa 1930's

Van Cleef & Arpels Art Deco Stone Pocket Watch, circa 1930's

By Van Cleef & Arpels

Located in Long Beach, CA

Blued Steel Hands WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT This rare watch by

Category

Vintage 1930s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches

Patek Rose Gold Automatic Watch Ref 2584, circa 1956
Patek Rose Gold Automatic Watch Ref 2584, circa 1956

Patek Rose Gold Automatic Watch Ref 2584, circa 1956

By Patek Philippe

Located in Long Beach, CA

the movement LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT This extremely rare watch is full size and comes with an

Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Modernist Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Vacheron & Constantin Yellow Gold Late Art Deco Manual Winding Watch
Vacheron & Constantin Yellow Gold Late Art Deco Manual Winding Watch

Vacheron & Constantin Yellow Gold Late Art Deco Manual Winding Watch

By Vacheron Constantin

Located in Long Beach, CA

movement. LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT This is an impressive and rare watch by the premier old house of

Category

Vintage 1940s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches

Universal Geneve 18Kt. Rose Gold Art Deco Ladies Watch circa 1940's
Universal Geneve 18Kt. Rose Gold Art Deco Ladies Watch circa 1940's

Universal Geneve 18Kt. Rose Gold Art Deco Ladies Watch circa 1940's

By Universal Genève

Located in Long Beach, CA

LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT This rare watch is by the legendary luxury house of Universal Geneve. The

Category

Vintage 1940s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Gruen Rare 14Kt Art Deco Tank Style Watch with Original Dial from 1930
Gruen Rare 14Kt Art Deco Tank Style Watch with Original Dial from 1930

Gruen Rare 14Kt Art Deco Tank Style Watch with Original Dial from 1930

By Gruen

Located in Long Beach, CA

. LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT This is a rare watch by legendary house of Gruen. It is entirely original with

Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Wrist Watches

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Carolina Bucci 15454Ba 37Mm Frosted Gold Women's Watch
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Carolina Bucci 15454Ba 37Mm Frosted Gold Women's Watch

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Carolina Bucci 15454Ba 37Mm Frosted Gold Women's Watch

By Audemars Piguet

Located in Studio City, CA

The Frosted Gold Bracelet. This Watch Is In Stock And Available To Ship Immediately! Rare Watch, Only

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Gold

Essex Nickel Silver One Button Chronograph Original Enamel Dial Watch
Essex Nickel Silver One Button Chronograph Original Enamel Dial Watch

Essex Nickel Silver One Button Chronograph Original Enamel Dial Watch

Located in Long Beach, CA

is a rare watch and I do not recall ever seeing this model before and the condition is remarkable. It

Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Wrist Watches

Essex Nickel Silver One Button Chronograph Original Enamel Dial Watch
Essex Nickel Silver One Button Chronograph Original Enamel Dial Watch

Essex Nickel Silver One Button Chronograph Original Enamel Dial Watch

Located in Long Beach, CA

is a rare watch and I do not recall ever seeing this model before and the condition is remarkable. It

Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Wrist Watches

Le Coultre 18Kt Solid Gold Round Art Deco Watch in a Modernist Style 1950's
Le Coultre 18Kt Solid Gold Round Art Deco Watch in a Modernist Style 1950's

Le Coultre 18Kt Solid Gold Round Art Deco Watch in a Modernist Style 1950's

By Jaeger-LeCoultre

Located in Long Beach, CA

COMMITMENT This rare watch by the legendary house of LeCoultre is in excellent original condition. This is

Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Seth Thomas Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Tonneau Shape with Original Dial 1940's
Seth Thomas Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Tonneau Shape with Original Dial 1940's

Seth Thomas Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Tonneau Shape with Original Dial 1940's

Located in Long Beach, CA

COMMITMENT Seth Thomas was a legendary American Clock Company. This example is one of their rare watches

Category

Vintage 1940s American Wrist Watches

Materials

10k Gold, Gold Plate, Stainless Steel

Zenith 18 Karat White Gold Art Deco Tank Style Watch, circa 1930s
Zenith 18 Karat White Gold Art Deco Tank Style Watch, circa 1930s

Zenith 18 Karat White Gold Art Deco Tank Style Watch, circa 1930s

By Zenith

Located in Long Beach, CA

the movement. LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT This is a rare watch by the iconic house of Zenith. The

Category

Vintage 1930s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches

Materials

White Gold

Breguet Yellow Gold Pin Set Manual Wind Watch, circa 1900's
Breguet Yellow Gold Pin Set Manual Wind Watch, circa 1900's

Breguet Yellow Gold Pin Set Manual Wind Watch, circa 1900's

By Breguet

Located in Long Beach, CA

century. The hand constructed lugs were expertly fitted to this rare watch which had stopped being

Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

LAPEL WATCH 1915 Swiss Art Deco Guilloche Blue Enameled Silver And Gilt Brass.
LAPEL WATCH 1915 Swiss Art Deco Guilloche Blue Enameled Silver And Gilt Brass.

LAPEL WATCH 1915 Swiss Art Deco Guilloche Blue Enameled Silver And Gilt Brass.

Located in Miami, FL

Switzerland during the art deco period, back in the 1915. The rare watch was crafted with parts made up in

Category

Vintage 1910s Swiss Edwardian Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver, Brass, Bronze, Enamel, 18k Gold, Gilt Metal

1940s Rolex Unisex Manual Wristwatch
1940s Rolex Unisex Manual Wristwatch

1940s Rolex Unisex Manual Wristwatch

By Rolex

Located in London, GB

lugs. However, the dark brown leather strap is brand new. This rare watch has been wonderfully

Category

Vintage 1940s Wrist Watches

Materials

Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold

Hamilton Yellow Gold Filled Deco Style Tonneau with Rare Original Dial 1950
Hamilton Yellow Gold Filled Deco Style Tonneau with Rare Original Dial 1950

Hamilton Yellow Gold Filled Deco Style Tonneau with Rare Original Dial 1950

By Hamilton

Located in Long Beach, CA

by the Illinois Watch Company. I have never seen this model with this rare "oxidized" black finish

Category

Vintage 1950s American Modernist Wrist Watches

Materials

Gold-filled

Watch Designed by the Austrian Artist Hundertwasser, 1995
Watch Designed by the Austrian Artist Hundertwasser, 1995

Watch Designed by the Austrian Artist Hundertwasser, 1995

By Hundertwasser

Located in Saint ouen, FR

Watch designed by the Austrian artist Hundertwasser. Rare watch, new from stock. Sold with box

Category

1990s Mantel Clocks

Materials

Steel

Watch 2 Designed by the Austrian Artist Hundertwasser, 1995
Watch 2 Designed by the Austrian Artist Hundertwasser, 1995

Watch 2 Designed by the Austrian Artist Hundertwasser, 1995

By Hundertwasser

Located in Saint ouen, FR

Watch designed by the Austrian artist Hundertwasser. Rare watch, new from stock. Sold with box and

Category

1990s Mantel Clocks

Materials

Steel

Watch 3 Designed by the Austrian Artist Hundertwasser, 1995
Watch 3 Designed by the Austrian Artist Hundertwasser, 1995

Watch 3 Designed by the Austrian Artist Hundertwasser, 1995

By Hundertwasser

Located in Saint ouen, FR

Watch designed by the Austrian artist Hundertwasser. Rare watch, new from stock. Sold with box and

Category

1990s Mantel Clocks

Materials

Steel

Watch 4 Designed by the Austrian Artist Hundertwasser, 1995
Watch 4 Designed by the Austrian Artist Hundertwasser, 1995

Watch 4 Designed by the Austrian Artist Hundertwasser, 1995

By Hundertwasser

Located in Saint ouen, FR

Watch designed by the Austrian artist Hundertwasser. Rare watch, new from stock. Sold with box and

Category

1990s Mantel Clocks

Materials

Steel

Omega Stainless Steel 3 Register Chronograph Manual Wind, circa 1950s
Omega Stainless Steel 3 Register Chronograph Manual Wind, circa 1950s

Omega Stainless Steel 3 Register Chronograph Manual Wind, circa 1950s

By Omega

Located in Long Beach, CA

houses in the world and still creating impressive watches. This rare watch is very dependable and comes

Category

Vintage 1940s Swiss Post-War Wrist Watches

Materials

Stainless Steel

Longines Yellow Gold Enamel Dial Military Chronograph Manual Watch from 1933
Longines Yellow Gold Enamel Dial Military Chronograph Manual Watch from 1933

Longines Yellow Gold Enamel Dial Military Chronograph Manual Watch from 1933

By Longines

Located in Long Beach, CA

SERVICE COMMITMENT This is a fantastic and rare watch. It is the largest Longines wrist chronograph

Category

Vintage 1930s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches

Materials

Yellow Gold, Enamel

Dueber Hampden Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Tonneau Shaped Watch circa, 1919
Dueber Hampden Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Tonneau Shaped Watch circa, 1919

Dueber Hampden Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Tonneau Shaped Watch circa, 1919

Located in Long Beach, CA

WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement This is a rare watch by a rare watch company. This unique watch is in

Category

Vintage 1910s American Art Deco Wrist Watches

Materials

Gold-filled

Rolex Stainless Steel Chronometer Bubbleback with Black Dial 1940's
Rolex Stainless Steel Chronometer Bubbleback with Black Dial 1940's

Rolex Stainless Steel Chronometer Bubbleback with Black Dial 1940's

By Rolex

Located in Long Beach, CA

rare watch is also supplied with what appears to be a new old stock "Ladder Bracelet." Turn heads with

Category

Vintage 1940s Swiss Modernist Wrist Watches

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Rare Watches For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a broad range of rare watches for sale on 1stDibs. Frequently made of gold, 18k gold and stainless steel, these items were constructed with great care. Find a collection of 3207 vintage versions or 269 modern creations for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Our inventory has long been popular, and it includes earlier versions that date to the 18th Century and newer variations that were made as recently as the 21st Century. Our collection of rare watches includes designs that are universally popular, but Art Deco and modern styles, specifically, are sought with frequency. Rolex, Patek Philippe and Cartier each produced beautiful examples of these items that are worth considering. Any of these pieces can lend versatility to your look, but diamond versions, from our inventory of 254, are particularly popular. Today, if you’re looking for round cut rare watches and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes brilliant cut and baguette cut alternatives. When shopping our range of rare watches, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for women today than there are for men.

How Much are Rare Watches?

Prices for rare watches can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $0 and can go as high as $3,200,000, while rare watches, on average, fetch $5,884.

Finding the Right Watches for You

Records show that, in Europe, by the 16th century, it was high time for portable clock devices. Right now, perhaps you’re shopping for your own. If so, find a vast range of fashionable and functional antique, vintage and luxury watches on 1stDibs.

While wall-mounted time tellers and grandfather clocks were much more convenient than the sundials of ancient history, watches were becoming crucial for an increasingly connected society whose members learned that the latest advancements in technology meant they could carry devices that kept time to within a minute a day. Tragically, the first pocket watches — albeit an improvement on the accessories that preceded them, which dangled from a chain worn around the neck — didn’t help much as far as accuracy or portability. Focused on style over substance, the upper class frequently carried lavish pieces that ran hours behind. 

Eventually, watches migrated from owners’ pockets to their wrists. In the early days of watchmaking, watches were fragile enough that they necessitated protection from the elements. Now, wristwatches made of gold and steel can withstand the harshest climates — even 100 meters underwater, in the case of Rolex’s Submariner. Designer Gérald Genta, whose range of clients included Rolex, created for Audemars Piguet the first luxury sports timepiece to be made from stainless steel. First introduced in 1972, the Royal Oak was a perfect choice for blending the form and function that are now synonymous with sports watches.

Indeed, although exceedingly practical, the watches of today are far from bland. Bulgari’s iconic Serpenti watch was on everyone’s list after the collection’s bold bracelet, which technically debuted after the timepiece, graced the wrist of actress Elizabeth Taylor. If anything, elaborately crafted timepieces — the unmistakably boxy silhouette of Cartier Tank watches, the elegant and minimal Calatrava designed by legendary Swiss house Patek Philippe — are even more effective than the shape we associate with traditional watches. You’ll always know what time it is because you won’t be able to tear your eyes away from your new accessory. 

Form watches — the all-encompassing moniker bestowed upon non-round watches — are making headlines and completing contemporary fashionable ensembles the world over. At the same time, both casual fans and careful collectors are drawn to the unbeatable charm of vintage styles, such as the icons designed by Omega that even James Bond can’t resist

When shopping for a watch, it’s good to keep your needs as well as your specific personal style in mind: A smaller, subtle timepiece is a good fit for small wrists. When will you be wearing your new accessory? There’s a versatile model out there for everyday wear, while a rugged, feature-heavy watch is a safe bet if you’re prone to embarking on all-weather activities in the great outdoors. 

Find exactly what you’re looking for in an unparalleled collection of antique, vintage and luxury watches on 1stDibs that includes Cartier watches, Rolex watches, Patek Philippe watches and more — we promise it will be worth your time.

Questions About Rare Watches
  • 1stDibs ExpertDecember 5, 2024
    Many people would consider AP watches to be rare. The Swiss luxury watchmaker typically manufactures only around 40,000 timepieces per year, and demand for them tends to be high. As a result, there are often lengthy waiting lists for Audemars Piguet watches. However, you can still find various models for sale on trusted online platforms. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of Audemars Piguet watches.