Born on 21st April, 1926, in London, as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, who later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother), Queen Elizabeth II’s full name is Elizabeth Alexandra Mary.
Married to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, she has four children: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales; Princess Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. On 6th February, 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II became queen. Her official coronation ceremony took place on 2nd, 1953, at Westminster Abbey.
Possessing an unrestricted budget, the Royal family boasts an exceptionally remarkable assortment of watches. Prince of Wales, William, is frequently seen donning an Omega Seamaster Pro, while his wife, Kate Middleton favors the exquisite Cartier Ballon Bleu, a charming complement to her blue sapphire engagement ring. Prince Harry tends to lean towards the Rolex collection, while Meghan remains loyal to Cartier. King Charles III recently captured attention with a Parmigiani Fleurier automatic Toric Chronograph adorning his wrist. Undoubtedly, the Royal family exhibits incredible style. However, curiosity arises about the late Queen Elizabeth II watch collection, speculated to be as dazzling as the Crown jewels.
The Queen was documented for having a collection of at least 14 wristwatches, solidifying her repute as one of the most outstanding female watch collectors in history. Her selections included Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 101 bracelet watch, Vacheron et Constantin model and Patek Philippe that have constantly reflected practicality and intentionality, with a clear prominence of not masking her elegant jewelry.
With the net worth of the Royal family calculated to be approximately $28 billion, and Queen Elizabeth II has been estimated to have a personal wealth of around $500 million. Queen owned many watches and her watch collection includes the less expensive watch worth more than £9,500.
Here’s a look at Queen Elizabeth II’s most favored timepieces.
Timekeeping with Majesty: Queen Elizabeth II’s Exclusive Watch Collection Revealed
1. Cartier Tank Cintrée ‘Dual Time’
Apart from her fondness for classic timepieces, Queen Elizabeth demonstrated an appreciation for modern advancements. When quartz watches emerged, she welcomed them, recognizing them as a symbol of technical progress. Queen Elizabeth II did not hesitate to break gender norms in her choice of watches. Numerous photos captured her wearing a Cartier Tank Cintrée Dual Time, a striking model featuring an elongated dial that displays two time zones, each adjustable by separate crowns. The uniqueness of this timepiece and the innovative mechanism behind it inspired Queen Elizabeth to defy traditional gender roles, confidently appearing in public adorned with a men’s watch. She proved to be a woman ahead of her time.
Price: From £9,500
2. Jaeger-LeCoultre 101
Queen Elizabeth’s coronation watch, officially known as the Jaeger-LeCoultre 101, is meticulously crafted from 18-karat gold, specifically produced by Jaeger-LeCoultre for the momentous occasion. The square case sparkles with diamonds, and when teamed with a diamond-studded bracelet, the entire ensemble truly befits a queen. Underneath the dial, like various watches, its most stunning feature lies— it houses one of the world’s smallest mechanical movements, the Jaeger- LeCoultre Caliber 101. Measuring at 14×4.8×3.4 mm, it comprises 98 parts assembled and adjusted by hand. Despite its diminutive size, the caliber impressively offers a 33-hour power reserve. While perhaps not the Queen’s everyday choice, she did develop an affinity for the brand, evident in numerous sightings of her wearing a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, showcasing her refined taste in watches.
Price: £135,000
3. Vacheron Constantin 4481
The VC 4481, a gold and diamond cocktail watch, was presented to Queen Elizabeth in 1947 by the Swiss Confederation on the day of her wedding to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, later known as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. This exquisite watch, however, found its way to Princess Diana, who, despite being spotted with it only a few times, became more widely recognized for her affection toward the Tank Louis Cartier and Tank Française watches.
Price: £30,000
4. Patek Philippe Ref. 4975 / 1G
While en route to inaugurate a Parliamentary session, the Queen chose to wear a new Patek Philippe ref. 4975. This particular watch, though more precious and delicate, still retained a sense of discretion. Accompanied by the Crown Jewels, including the Imperial State Crown, Queen Elizabeth adorned this Patek Philippe reference with baguette-cut diamonds as indices, a diamond-encrusted bezel, and a pearl bracelet on one of the most momentous days in the political calendar. Queen Elizabeth graciously permitted Patek Philippe to feature the watch at the Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition held at London’s Saatchi Gallery in 2015.
5. Patek Philippe Ellipse Ref. 3609 / 1
The Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse was a frequent choice for Queen Elizabeth II during official engagements, thanks to its practical yet elegant aesthetic. The watch is perfect for the Queen, as it embodies an ultimate blend of functionality and refinement. The model’s finely symmetrical oval case properly justifies the “Golden” designation provided by Patek. Representing a timeless and elegant allure reflecting the Queen herself, her version of this watch came with an opulent white gold mesh bracelet, a blue dial, a 36-jewel automatic movement, and a diamond-encrusted bezel.
6. Omega DeVille Ladymatic
The collection of Her Majesty included a vintage Omega Ladymatic from the art deco era. The Queen added this watch to her timepiece collection in the early 1970s. This outstanding 14k yellow gold 20mm model casts femininity and flattering poise. The Queen’s choice of this watch is easily understood, given its classic aesthetic and delicate expertise, making it a popular selection during its initial launch. Prince William also shares a liking for Omega, and is often seen wearing the Seamaster Professional 300M, a gift from his late mother.
7. Audermars Piguet Jules Audermars
Jules Audemars by Audemars Piguet was often seen on the Queen’s wrist. Frequently decorated with an elegant gold watch resembling the Jules Audemars, she consistently wore it loosely on her wrist, just like a bracelet. This traditional gold timepiece includes a petite round case and a matching multi-link bracelet, thus creating a classic and chic look. The Queen wore this watch in April 2020 while she addressed the UK during the collective efforts against the Covid-19 spread.
8. Cartier Vintage Watch
Over the years, the Queen was often seen wearing a timelessly chic watch that featured a simple black strap and a gold face. Queen Elizabeth II had a deep sentiment for this particular vintage model crafted by Cartier. In 1988, the Queen was photographed at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, wearing this Cartier watch from the 1930s, further displaying her fondness for classic and refined watches.
What Watches Queen Elizabeth II Owned?
The Queen has been known to wear different timepieces over the years, and many have been publicly observed during official engagements or events. Queen Elizabeth watch collection includes:
- Cartier Tank Cintrée ‘Dual Time’
- Jaeger-LeCoultre 101
- Vacheron Constantin 4481
- Patek Philippe Ref. 4975 / 1G
- Patek Philippe Ellipse Ref. 3609 / 1
- Omega DeVille Ladymatic
- Audermars Piguet Jules Audermars
- Cartier Vintage Watch
From the Writer
Thursday, 8 September 2022, marked a somber day for the British Royal Family, as Queen Elizabeth II, the nation’s longest-reigning queen, passed away at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle, her residence in Scotland. At the youthful age of 96, majesty Queen Elizabeth II had a penchant for collecting luxury watches, ranging from Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet to Omega. Notably, she was spotted wearing a very rare 20 mm Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse featuring a quartz movement and a captivating beads-of-rice bracelet. Another prized possession in the late Queen’s collection was an exceptionally rare and exquisite white gold Patek Philippe 4975/1G adorned with brilliant-cut diamonds, elegantly showcased on a pearl bracelet. Undoubtedly, this particular model stands as a testament to true craftsmanship.
