Every avid timepiece collector wishes that he or she can afford any of these luxury watch brands. Here’s a list of the top 20 watch brands that are most sought after by collectors.
While Cartier didn’t come up with the concept of the wristwatch, the French-Swiss watch brand otherwise made wearing watches fashionable, with its classic and elegant style and the most cutting-edge technology. The company also makes fashionable high-end jewelry and home accessories as well.
Chopard is a Swiss luxury watch and jewelry brand which was founded by Louis-Ulysse Chopard in 1860. His timepieces earned popularity during the early 20th century and the company began supplying watches particularly to clients from Russia, parts of Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia. In 1963 the company was sold to German watchmaker Karl Scheufele III, who made remarkable expansions to the brand. The blend of effortless elegant style and expertise has made Chopard one of the sought-after company watches today.
Christian Dior is one of the leading brands in fashion. Founded by the late French designer Christian Dior in 1945, the brand is now owned and controlled by LVMH, which is the world’s biggest conglomerate specializing in luxury brands. Christian Dior has four watch collections: the Dior VIII, La D De Dior, Dior Crystal, and Chiffre Rouge.
Swiss watchmaker Franck Muller founded the company in Geneva, Switzerland in 1991. The company is known for creating unique watches that fuse the modern style with traditional Swiss watchmaking technology. Its cutting-edge and stylish “complications,” in particular, earned them a lofty place on the luxury watches market. The success and status of Franck Muller disprove the notion that a company has to have a long history to make it big in the luxury watch industry.
The company was founded by jeweler Harry Winston in 1932, and since it built its reputation, it instantly reminds you of fine-quality, excellent jewelry, and watches that use the most innovative technology. Harry Winston’s most famous timepieces are the diamond-studded Avenue and High Jewelry.
The French luxury goods company isn’t only famous for its bags and other premium-quality leather goods, but also for its timepieces. Each of Hermes’ seven timepiece lines is inspired by something in particular. For instance, the Arceau line was inspired by the fine characteristics of horses while the Kelly line was inspired by the company’s famous Kelly bag during the 1970s.
Longines is a Swiss watchmaker founded by Auguste Agassiz in 1832 and is presently controlled by the Swatch Group. The company’s line of exceptional, high-quality, and durable timepieces have been the arm candy of several famous sports figures.
French horologist Louis Moinet (1768-1853) is credited as the inventor of the chronograph and crafted his timepieces for notable figures such as Napoleon Bonaparte, James Monroe, and Thomas Jefferson. Moinet’s exemplary skill in making timepieces was fortunately passed down to the following generations of watchmakers who followed his footsteps. This ensures the longevity and success of the name Moinet built.
The French luxury fashion house has a long and illustrious history and solid reputation. Founded in 1854, the company has added a variety of luxury items to its esteemed inventory and that includes high-grade timepieces. LV’s watches look simple compared to the other luxury watch brands, yet they’re extremely unique.
The Hamburg, Germany-based company that started by manufacturing upscale pens in 1906 was acquired by British luxury good company Dunhill. Since the acquisition, the brand was transformed as the leading vendor of a wide range of luxury goods other than fine-quality pens. They include excellent jewelry, leather goods, eyewear, fragrances, and beautifully handcrafted luxury watches.
Omega is one of the most esteemed luxury watch brands. This Swiss watchmaker hasn’t only earned a great reputation for its excellent, durable, and elegant timepieces, but has also for other notable achievements. In 1969, Omega was the official timepiece of NASA and the first watch on the moon and has been the official watch of the Olympic games since 1932. Since 1995, Omega has been James Bond’s brand of choice, and notable figures such as John F. Kennedy and Buzz Aldrin have sported their own Omega’s. If these don’t convince you about Omega’s greatness, then we don’t know what will.
Founded by watchmaker Michel Parmigiani in the town of Fleurier, Switzerland in 1976, Parmigiani Fleurier produces its own components for its excellent timepieces. The company is behind the award-winning Bugatti watches, whose style was patterned after the Bugatti Veyron sports car.
Another Swiss watchmaker, Patek Philippe, and Co. were founded in 1851. Known for its ultra-luxurious watches, Patek Philippe also has the reputation for crafting some of the world’s most complicated timepieces. No wonder, Patek Philippe’s products command quite a steep price and unparalleled prestige.
Piaget was founded by watchmaker Georges Edouard Piaget in the small village of La Côte-aux-Fées in 1874. As the years progressed, Piaget evolved into one of the most prestigious luxury watch brands in the world. Piaget is also one of the forerunners of the ultra-thin watches.
Name one brand of luxury watch, and the automatic answer will be Rolex. It’s seen as the biggest and most popular luxury watch brand in the world. Rolex has gone a long way from its original company Wilsdorf and Davis, established in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in Geneva, Switzerland. Rolex is listed as one of the most powerful global brands, according to Forbes. Wearing luxury watches such as Rolex indicates a notch up in your social status.
Seiko was founded by Kintaro Hattori in 1881 in Tokyo’s prominent Ginza shopping district. The company also manufactures clocks, wallets, semiconductors other electronic devices. Seiko’s luxury watches are known for combining innovative technology, precision, and understated elegance. Seiko also outsources timekeeping materials to other companies who manufacture particular gadgets and instruments. It is no wonder, Seiko has kept a solid reputation throughout many decades.
Founded by Edouard Heuer in Saint-Imier, Switzerland in 1860, Tag Heuer certainly won’t lag behind when it comes to innovation. The company patented a chronograph mechanism in 1882 and then created the automatic Monaco V4 in 2004 that helped revolutionize the watch industry. It creates luxury watches and chronographs which can range from chic to sporty, but still never losing their sophisticated side.
Van Cleef & Arpels was founded by nephew-and-uncle team Alfred Van Cleef and Salomon Apels in Paris, France in 1896. Apart from perfumes and fantastically designed jewelry, the company is also known for its luxury watches which boast the most unique designs you’ve ever seen. Van Cleef & Arpels seemed to push the envelope when it comes to designs. Its Poetic Complications line features the amazing Midnight Planetarium timepiece, which looks like a tinier version of the solar system worn on your wrist. It costs $245,000.
Another luxury watch brand based in Switzerland, the Zenith company was founded by watchmaker Georges Favre-Jacot. It has maintained its long and solid reputation for its quality precision watches. Zenith is only one of the very few remaining Swiss watchmakers that still produce its own mechanisms for the watch in-house. Because of Zenith’s commitment and dedication to precision in its timepieces, the company has won over 1,500 awards over the years. Like Christian Dior, Zenith is also owned by LVMH.
Breitling has enjoyed a solid and incorruptible reputation as one of the leading manufacturers of luxury technical watches since its establishment in 1884. Its chronometer watches are renowned for their precision which has made Breitling the choice brand among pilots and aviators. Breitling also produces its own chronograph movements for its timepieces.