There are hundreds of years of technology packed into even the simplest wristwatch.

But superluxury watches contain feats of engineering like the tourbillon, invented in 1795, which counters the effects of gravity that make a timepiece imprecise. If you find a Rolex Tourbillon, beware, it's a fake.

It's tempting to wax poetic about art and function coming together, but the bottom line is good watches are cool and they command high prices.

To make this list a watch had to retail for over $100k and have been or currently be in production, not a one-off custom piece. Also, none of them have any diamonds or precious gems. The only jewels on these are in the movements to help them keep precise time over the generations.

$105k -- The Hublot Tourbillon Solo Bang

Named after the Frend for "porthole," Hublot is a Swiss watch company founded in 1980. The original line of Hublot watches came to market with the first ever natural rubber strap. Something it took the company three years to develop.

Hublot also has a Big Bang Caviar that sells for $1 million. It's coated with black diamonds and therefore not included.

The Big Bang has a platinum case, a black ceramic bezel and carbon dial with its signature black rubber strap.

To Buy

$141,600 -- Daniel Roth Ellipsocurvex Tourbillon

Roth started his company in Vallée de Joux, Switzerland in 1989 and it was bought by Bulgari in 2000. The company puts out "exquisite haute horlogerie timepieces" and its new releases are eagerly awaited by collectors.

The Ellipsocurvex is a self-winding piece with an eight day power reserve, a platinum case with an exhibition back, sapphire crystal and alligator strap. Water repellent. (suitable for splashing, light rain; unsuitable for swimming or diving)

If you're trying to peg someone wearing a Daniel Roth, look for the semi-oval case — all his watches have it.

To Buy

$155,000 -- Parmigiani Kalpa XL Tourbillon

Parmigiani started producing watches in 1976 after leaving a career as a watch restorer.

Each of their watches takes about 400 hours to make.

The company also made the watch insert for the Bugatti Veyron supercar, which won the 2006 "Watch of the Year Award" from the Japanese press.

28 jewel movement, platinum, sapphire crystal and alligator band.

To Buy

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/vJJmqqp1LUs/most-expensive-watches-2011-2

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