What makes for a great ‘brand’ luxury watch? What’s the best luxury brand watch? What brand names should you consider when/if purchasing a luxury watch? If you are embarking on the latter, the first question you really should be asking yourself is “what kind of luxury watch do I want?” Not all watches are created equal; some have specific uses perhaps less suited for simple everyday use – like a diver’s or a chronograph watch – while some brands are good at one particular thing but less so at others. Is the watch a present? To whom are you giving it and for what particular reason or occasion?
These latter two questions, of course, are ones that only you can answer but for the first few questions above, we can point you in the right direction with an overview of some of the most prominent and established brands in the current marketplace. For reasons of conciseness and brevity, the overview will not and simply cannot be exhaustive, but if we give you a prudent guide on what to look for, we’ll consider our job done here.
Time, as they say, waits for no-one, so let’s get started…
1. Patek Philippe
Inventors of the very first wristwatch in 1868 and still the leading brand in the luxury watch marketplace, a Patek Phillipe is the hallmark of quality against which all other watchmakers are compared, and for good reason. With some of their most popular brands such as Nautilus, Aquanaut, World Time and Calatrava consistently in the top sellers, not to mention worn by celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Eric Clapton, and Charlie Sheen, there’s a very good justification why Patek Philippe is one of the three luxury watchmakers that constitute the so-called ‘Holy Trinity’ of luxury wristwatches. Even Queen Victoria wore a Patek Phillipe, so if that’s not an endorsement of quality for you, then you’re reading the wrong article! Of course, quality costs and with a Patek Phillipe, you can expect to part with a monetary sum of between five and eight figures. But if you’re looking for the best luxury watch on the market, this is the gold standard.
2. Vacheron Constantin
Another member of the aforementioned ‘Holy Trinity’ of luxury wristwatches, Vacheron Constantin is the oldest continuously-operating watchmaker in the world, established in 1755. They have consistently built their brand around the twin concepts of mechanical and aesthetic excellence, making them world leaders in the horological field for centuries, and that long experience counts for something. With such esteemed brands as Patrimony, Traditionnelle, Métiers d’ Art, and Les Historiques (to name but a few), Vacheron Constantin is the Swiss watchmaker to rival all others and a mark of quality second to none.
3. Audemars Piguet
The third member of the horological ‘Holy Trinity’ is Audemars Piguet, who have been leading the way in watchmaking since 1875 and who revolutionized the luxury watch world with the Royal Oak series, wherein they used stainless steel rather than a precious metal, still charged premium prices for it, and led to watchmakers charging for the excellence of the product rather than the material it’s made from, which has now become standard operating procedure with luxury watchmakers the world over. They are also known for the sheer amount of limited editions and more avant garde designs, so if you have the money and are looking for a taste of individualism in your luxury watch purchase, then Audemars Piguet is a combination of quality and character you’ll find hard to beat.
4. Rolex
Of course, we cannot possibly create a list of recommended luxury watches and not include the watchmaker whose very name has become a byword for the product itself. If you have a Rolex, you give yourself an air of instant sophistication and elegance that few others can compete with. But aside from 100% brand recognition, the sheer excellence of Rolex watches also needs to be emphasized here, with an accuracy of +/- 2 seconds per day, which is an astounding testimony to their watchmaking skills. With some of the most popular brands ever for luxury watches such as Daytona, Submariner, GMT Master II, Datejust, and SkyDweller, Rolexes have been on the wrists of those who scaled the highest peaks and plumbed the deepest abyssal depths. With a resale value unrivaled among fellow watchmakers, a Rolex is not just the highest excellence in luxury watchmaking but a prudent investment for the future.
5. Omega
Undoubtedly the most popular and most affordable of luxury watchmakers, certainly when compared to some of its competitors. Although some horological ‘purists’ get rather sniffy at calling Omega a luxury watch brand – indeed, some of the elite critics of the brand say they should be considered a designer brand more than a luxury one – nonetheless the technical excellence and innovation of an Omega timepiece is evident in their popularity and prominence in the media. Their SeaMaster watch you have almost certainly seen in movies and television through the years, and James Bond no less has worn an Omega while saving the world in every 007 film since 1995’s GoldenEye. But behind the glitz and glamour, there is also technical pioneering; Omega has been flight-qualified for NASA use (Buzz Aldrin wore one while on the lunar surface!) and they also developed a material resistant to electromagnetic interference, ensuring maximum accuracy in their timepieces. So with an Omega, affordability, practicality, popularity, and dependability are all but assured in one place.
This list is very far from exhaustive, as we’ve mentioned, but we hope it will point you in the right direction in purchasing a luxury watch that will both delight and serve its recipient for many years to come.
