In the time of advanced technology, the magnificence of designer or luxury watches remains. A watch is more than just a timekeeping device; it completes the outfit and speaks of the wearer’s style. But when it comes to timepieces, we desire for something that looks polished and feels strong and sturdy. This is where luxury watches shine.
Luxury watches bear a combination of impeccable craftsmanship and distinct aesthetics. For some, watches are considered as works of art. Each piece tells a unique story only he could tell. They draw feelings, but they leave inspiration. Let us take you to the lavish world of luxury watches as we round up 24 best luxury watch brands worthy of your investment.
A. Lange & Söhne was founded in Germany in 1845 by Ferdinand Adolph Lange. The brand closed in 1948 subsequent the post-war Soviet municipalized its property. It, however, reopened in 1990. The brand is known to favor mechanical movements, which were developed and assembled in-house, rather than quartz movement. It uses platinum and variations of gold as the case of its timepieces. In 2005, an A. Lange & Sohne Platinum Tourbillon was sold at a whopping $333,000.
Swiss brand, Patek Philippe, was founded in 1851 and has since then did not stop producing timeless and elegant pieces that you deserve. Patek Philippe is one of the brands that other watchmakers replicate. Its watches are distinguished for their classic and unique style, and complex mechanics. Among its famous wearers are Robert Downey Jr., Queen Victoria, and Ellen DeGeneres.
Another Swiss brand which has been around since 1875 is the exceptional Audemars Piguet. A brainchild of Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet, the brand has its origin back to the 1700s and considered as one of the oldest, which is known to create the first steel luxury sports watch. Audemars Piguet was also the designer of the first watch with a jumping second hand, as well as, the first oversized watch that emphasizes the brand’s ingenuity. It is worn by popular people including Lebron James and Tom Cruise.
Vacheron Constantin is among the oldest watchmakers in the world, which dates back to 1755 when it was founded by Jean-Marc Vacheron. It is now owned by Richemont group but even so the brand is just as brilliant as it was in the past. In 2015, Vacheron Constantin launched what was considered as the most complicated mechanical watch that comes with 57 complications and took eight years to complete. This brand graced the hand of some of history’s iconic personalities including Napoleon Bonaparte and Pope Pius IX.
Housing some of the world most gorgeous watches is Breguet, which was founded by Abraham-Louis Breguet, who spent his life studying watchmaking. He changed the course of watchmaking after he developed self-winding perpetual watches as well as the gongs for repeating watches, and first shock-protection. During his time, his inventions found significance in military, finance, science, and diplomacy. He conceived in 1810 the first wrist watch. Today, Breguet is applauded for its creativity, ingenuity, and capability to innovate. The brand is likewise popular for their coin-edge cases. Among its most expensive watch is the 1814 No. 2667 stop watch which sold in 2012 for $4.7 million.
When it comes to luxury watches, this next watch brand will definitely steal a spot on top. Rolex is always associated with luxury and this is not surprising at all. While the luxury of the brand now relies more on the name itself, Rolex watches have achieved great feat because of its timeless style and inimitable function. They are easily distinguished for their classic designs and the brand itself has actually become a status symbol. Among the most famous individuals who were seen wearing Rolex watches are Orlando Bloom, Kanye West, and David Beckham.
Jaeger-LeCoultre is a Swiss luxury watches and clock manufacturer that dates back in 1833, when it was first founded by Antoine LeCoultre. Since its inception, the brand has launched over a thousand movements including the smallest calibre and flattest movement. Jaeger-LeCoultre is prominent for its intricate designs brought out by its complex detailing. It is also a standout for its unique designs. But above all this a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch is a timeless classic.
Being the only major factory in eastern Switzerland, this Swiss watch brand, IWC Schaffhausen, is a class of its own. The brand features premium timepieces that range from sporty to classic. It is the creator of some of the most remarkable titanium dive and pilot watches. IWC Schaffhausen is a groundbreaking luxury watch brand for its collection of watches made from superior material, exclusive design, and exceptional mechanics. It lives by its motto Probus Scafusia, which means “good, solid craftsmanship from Schaffhausen”.
Inspired by the movement of the ocean, Swiss brand Ulysse Nardin ventures into a journey of creating and innovating mechanical timepieces. The brand is celebrated for its mastery in marine chronometers. Since its inception in 1846, the brand has been specializing in marine chronometers as it used to supply watches to about 50 navies from across the globe. They offer a broad selection of beautiful and breathtaking pieces, which were built to last. Its Royal Tourbillon was believed to have been sold at $1.25 million.
In 1884, a Swiss watch brand was born. Breitling started its career in designing and producing diver and watches. The business flourished and has delved into the luxury watchmaking. Today, Breitling is a world renowned brand that is adored for its precision and durability. Many of its watches until today are greatly influenced by aviation that Breitling pieces are known to have readable faces and mechanic winding movement. Its watches look refined and tasteful that the watch appeared in the James Bond movie, Thunderball.
This Italian-made luxury watch brand was founded in 1860 in Florence. Italy is known for its exquisite taste in fashion and this is readily shown in Panerai pieces. Panerai watches are a breath of fresh air with its simplistic but bolder style, although elegant and flash pieces are still visible. Its line of sporty and sleek watches is in consonance with the brand’s partnership with Ferrari.
Omega is another leading luxury watch brand. It enjoyed its reputation of being the first watch to get to the moon. It was also used as the official watch of the combat units of the Britain’s Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and the United States Army in 1918. Through time, Omega has created classic, functional, and reliable watches that make their creations among the most significant and notable watches ever made. It was used by Daniel Craig in the movie, James Bond, an accurate depiction of the brand’s aesthetic and durability.
This next watch label has been in the industry just recently. It was only established in 2002 by brothers Nick and Giles English, who were inspired to create aviation-themed timepieces. Notwithstanding its being a relatively newcomer, Bremont has already marked its name through its collection of classic pieces with quality and proportionate features. The brand has a huge following from the men and women in the military.
Bell & Ross has been in the know since it first came out in 1992. Headed by Bruno Belamich and Carlos A. Rosillo, this French luxury watch label is widely acclaimed for its resilient and classic looking timepieces. The brand is often recognizable for its square shaping that frames the face of the watch. Bell & Ross is a trusted brand when it comes to diver’s watch. But even if you are not into diving, you will still love their collection of sophisticated and functional pieces.
Girard-Perregaux was founded in 1791 and earned its stripes through its precious collection of stunning and exceptional pieces. The brand sets as a standard for many watchmakers considering the countless achievements and records it holds. The brand has been in the business for more than two centuries with about 80 impressive patents resulting from its first-rate craftsmanship and commitment to perfection. Among the personalities seen sporting a Girard-Perregaux watch include Kobe Bryant, Hugh Jackman, and Pierce Brosnan.
One of the oldest watchmakers in the world today is Baume & Mercier, a Swiss luxury brand founded by the Baume family in 1830 and later joined by the Mercier family in 1918. Luxury watches does not always to have mean breaking the bank. Proof? Baume & Mercier. It a great alternative to high-end luxury watches without compromise on quality and style. It showcases sporty and traditional elements to its aesthetics, which are available for both men and women.
If you are a fan of chronograph, show your greatest appreciation to the inventor of the chronograph, Louis Moinet, a horologist, painter, and sculptor. His contribution to the watchmaking industry is the primary reason why Jean-Marie Schaller founded a watch brand in his name. Louis Moinet, as a brand, takes pride in the incorporation of exotic materials and the use of advanced technology to create limited edition mechanical masterpieces.
Montres Corum Sàrl, otherwise known as Corum, is a Swiss watchmaker with its inception in 1955. Like Baume & Mercier, Corum features watches in mid-range prices that make it more accessible to watch collectors. But Corum also comes up with limited edition high-end watches. The brand is famed for its Bubble and Admiral Cup watch series that had many collectors racing to get their own. It is a tough brand featuring top quality Swiss engineering.
From all the Swiss luxury brands, here comes a proudly Germany-made watch, Glashütte Original. Its roots can be traced to the town of the same name, Glashütte. The brand has a great selection of stunning and sleek timepieces from simple yet exquisite craftsmanship. Glashütte Original takes pride of its precision and cutting-edge innovation. Moreover, it is a home to 10 movements, which took 300 hours each to produce.
In 1960, a new breed of watch in the name of Grand Seiko was born. It was a product of the designers’ idea of an “ideal” watch that embodies precision, beauty, and durability. It released its first Grand Seiko watch in the same year and became the first in Japan to receive a rating of excellence from the Bureaux Officiels de Controle de la Marche des Montres. Through the years, new calibers were introduced to advance the functions and strength of its watches. The brand, represented by a lion as its symbol, is committed to becoming the “King of the watches”.
Another standout in the watchmaking industry is Roger Dubuis. He is a watchmaker who founded a label in his namesake, which caught the attention of many watch collectors. The brand showcases watches featuring avant-garde design and complex Swiss engineering. Roger Dubuis is recognizable for designs like twisted metals and exposed mechanics.
Piaget is a Swiss luxury brand that was established in 1874 originally as a manufacturer of movements. It later on expanded its market and launched its own collection of watches. They took their foundation as movement manufacturer as leverage to create pieces that are not only winning in superior quality, but in style as well. Piaget SA employs stones like onyx, lapiz-lazuli, and turquoise in creating glorious looking dials. Apart from that, the brand is recognized for its ultra-thin designs with its Altiplano 900P watch being the thinnest hand-wound mechanical watch. Piaget was worn by stars Olivia Palermo and Ryan Reynolds.
This next brand, Arnold & Son, is a legendary watch label created by British watchmaker, John Arnold, who was the man behind the first official chronometer. As such, the brand is renowned for its precision and exceptional standard of innovation. Arnold & Son, apart from its excellent engineering, is a home to some of the most stunning and breathtaking watches we have ever seen.
Hublot may have only been in the industry since 1980, but this brand has impressed us with its remarkable creations. The brand takes pride of its line of elegant watches made from premium materials. They offer a wide range of simplistic, yet versatile pieces luxury watch collectors will love. To top it off, Hublot, notwithstanding the relatively shorter period in the business, is actually an award-winning luxury brand. Jay Z, Kylie Jenner, and Kobe Bryant were seen wearing Hublot watches.
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