These Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands are the finest watches available in the world today. There are none better.
But which one is right for you?
LUXURY:
"The use and enjoyment of the best and most costly things
that offer the most physical comfort and satisfaction."
~ Webster's New World College Dictionary
In our world today, a wrist watch is about as necessary as a horse.
Today we have an endless supply of electronics, iPhones, Smartphones, Laptops, Tablets…. at our fingertips that can give us more accurate time than even the very finest mechanical watch movements.
So, a wrist watch is no necessity.
But, owning a timepiece, that is one of the Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands, is something many of us truly treasure. For our own personal reasons. And, the Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands provide a selection that can meet any requirement for these simple pleasures.
But, do we need one?
No.
As we said, no one really needs a horse these days. Yet we all know these gorgeous magical creatures need no explanation to love, desire, and own. The same holds true with the Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands,
And, the only justification any of us requires for purchasing one is, we want to enjoy one. Or, two. Or, ten.
Yes.
Any wrist watch will tell you the time.
All the Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands tell much more.
They express your style. Your Joie de Vivre. Your success. The way you feel about yourself. Each one in a different way.
Wearing one makes you feel good about yourself every time you look at it. Ask anyone who wears one. It feels wonderful on your wrist. It enhances your entire ensemble. And, we never regret getting one.
If this is your first adventure into the Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands, you’re about to embark on a magnificent adventure.
Take your time. Enjoy what you’re about to see. It is some of the most magnificent mechanical artistry and craftsmanship in the world.
What makes a watch a Luxury Watch?
A cornucopia of things that include: The ultimate of human mechanical achievements, incomparable design, the zenith of skill and craftsmanship, the finest materials, and time are all required to create a Luxury Watch.
And, why do we love and desire a Luxury Watch this much?
Patek Philippe likes to say that “Buying one of our products isn’t about spending money, but rather, preserving it for the next generation – in wrist watch form.”
Audemars Piguet paints the idea that wearing a masterpiece of timekeeping is “the same as wearing a time honored tradition”.
Rolex has established their trademark as the watch for those who have achieved success.
So, is the Luxury in the timepiece itself? Or, in the experience and feeling you get from wearing one of these masterful works of art and craftsmanship?
How many things that you own were still made by hand?
Not made by some computerized machine that punches things out like popcorn. But, by a human hands that were carefully guided by some of the finest craftsmen in the world? This is what we find in the Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands. The incomparable human element.
Have you ever noticed that works made by hand seem to breathe? Each one, no matter how much the same, is slightly different from any other. Much like a fingerprint.
The same is true for the exquisite time pieces you are about to see.
These Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands are crafted mostly entirely by hand. Some, entirely. From start to finish. This, along with the meticulous quality control and testing they undergo, explains why the production of each watch can take between 9 months and a year.
Also, you will find most of the best watches in the world are produced in Switzerland. Swiss watches are truly the best there are. The most important names in watchmaking, as you will see here, are all Swiss.
So, now it’s time to enjoy finding out a bit more about these stunning and luxurious watches. We hope this makes your purchasing decision more pleasurable and meaningful.
What are the Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands in the world? (you may click any name for direct access)
And, these are the top 10 for good reason. These are the finest mechanical time pieces ever created that are worn on the wrist. Come take a look:
First: “The Holy Trinity”. No disrespect meant.
When you enter the world of Luxury Watches, you will find dozens. It’s almost overwhelming.
As you search, you will hear of something called “The Holy Trinity” of watchmakers. These are the very special of the very special. The creme de la creme.
These three watchmakers are considered by most connoisseurs to be the Royalty of Luxury Watch creation.
The trinity includes:
All the manufacturers of the Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands are devoted to creating the finest timepieces in the world. You can not go wrong acquiring any of them.
Still, if you are looking for the best of the best, the very ultimate, shopping in this trinity is where you invariably will find yourself. So, with these three is where we will begin:
Of the top 10 Luxury Watch brands, Patek Phillipe, along with Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet are the top of the top. The creme de la creme: Patek Philippe.
Patek Philippe is most often considered the ultimate of luxury watches. It is in a class by itself. With a remarkable history and heritage.
This not to say the others are inferior. All the top 10 Luxury Watch Brands are superlative time pieces. Deserving of the awe they inspire. They can not even be closely compared to any other watches.
The “Holy Trinity” leads this esoteric group just as a Bentley automobile leads in the world of luxury automobiles.
And, Patek Philippe leads the trinity.
The unassuming Patek Philippe watch is the most conservative of all the top brands. Simple lines and characteristics. Again, much like the classic Bentley automobiles.
Hand mad craftsmanship is a part of every detail.
Did you know, Patek Phillipe is not only a great watch maker, they are still a family-run business?
The company began in 1839. Founded by Antoine Norbert de Patek and François Czapek. The Stern family, in Switzerland, purchased the company in 1932 and it remains in their family to this day.
Their manufacturing is one of the most exclusive in the world. They’re known for being an heirloom watch brand. With their exceptional timepieces being passed down through generation after generation. Functioning marvelously with only minimal regular maintenance.
On average, a Patek Philippe watch can take 9 months to produce. This makes the limited supply super exclusive.
Patek Philippe is not only and extraordinary timepiece, it is known for being one of the top investment Luxury Watch brands. They hold their value.
Patek Philippe is royalty in the world of Luxury Watches.
They are the most known and the most sought-after Super Luxury Watch. Some examples are rare to even lay eyes on.
It seems only natural then, that the queen owns more than a couple of the famous watchmaker’s watches.
Wearing your Patek Philippe, you’ll also be in the company of:
President John F. Kennedy
Pablo Picasso – Spanish painter
Albert Einstein
Pyotr Tchaikovsky – Russian compositor
Leo Tolstoy – Russian writer
Jason Statham
Brad Pitt
Robert Downey, Jr.
The Dalai Lama
Sir Paul McCartney
Princess Diana
Pope Pius IX
With a Patek Philippe on your wrist, you’ll be in some very exclusive company!
If there’s one thing you’ll never see, it’s a gauche Vacheron Constantin. They are masters of understated design.
Vacheron
Constantin is the oldest and one of the most prestigious watch makers
in the world. They began in 1755 and have been in continuous operation
since.
If you are an admirer of mechanical marvels these watches will make your adrenaline flow.
Vacheron
Constantin is the second of the Big Three, “The Holy Trinity” of
watchmakers along with PatekPhilippe and Audemars Piguet.
These
three watchmakers have been in the forefront of luxury watchmaking and
innovation since it began. And, they continue to make news today.
Today,
Vacheron Constantin still proudly upholds the Genevese tradition of
offering customers the extraordinary experience of ordering entirely
custom-made watches.
Vacheron Constantin watches are famous not
only for their superb quality, but, also for having created watches with
the most complications of any watch in the world.
Their most complex wristwatch: The Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600. It is is a one of a kind watch with 23 complications, 3 drive trains, and a price tag of $1,000,000.00.
“The basic idea behind the Celestia was to create a watch that would be a kind of horological exploration of astronomical complications – and which would also embody not just complications as such, but also express the deeper connection between the astronomical cycles that are behind what we see in the sky, and experience on Earth.” ~ Jack Forster - hodinkee
Come take a look inside this masterpiece of creation, the Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600:
Don’t let the price tag of that mechanical marvel scare you off.
Vacheron Constantin stunning heirloom quality watches begin at $19,000 new and about $3,000 pre-owned.
Wearing your Vacheron Constantin you’ll be in the company of:
Marlon Brando
Princess Diana
President Harry S. Truman
Napoleon Bonaparte (yes, “the” Napoleon)
President Dwight David Eisenhower
Larry King
Kate Bosworth
Alexander Skarsgard
King Farouk
Tom Cruise
Silvio Berlusconi
Lindsay Price
The third of “The Holy Trinity” of watch making greats (along with Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin) is Audemars Piguet.
Audemars Piguet
is still one of the very rare independent watch makers. It is owned by
the Audemars family and the Piguet family. The company was founded by
Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet in the Vallée de Joux in
1875.
Audemars Piguet presents one of the finest examples of watch making in the world.
Your
Audemars Piguet comes from Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux. An an
awe-inspiring region nestled in the Jura Mountains, north of Geneva,
Switzerland. The area is the birthplace of Audemars Piguet and one of
the centers of luxury high-end Swiss watchmaking.
Their revolutionary Royal Oak Collection sparked the world’s love of Luxury Sports Watches.
Did you know, the Royal Oak’s very masculine case with an octagonal shaped bezel was the first stainless steel sports watch? It was an immediate sensation. It gave collectors, who had been waiting far too long for a Patek Philippe Nautilus to come available, an alternative to fall in love with.
Since the Royal Oak, Audemars Piguet has gone on to create exceptionally beautiful perpetual calendar watches. And, they have developed exquisite tourbillons for improving accuracy.
“Audemars Piguet is more than a company. It remains independent and family owned, responsible for the transmission of knowledge and know-how to the future generations. Here in Le Brassus, where it all started in 1875.” ~ Olivier Audemars, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
Wearing your Audemars Piguet you’ll be accompanying:
Prince Michael of Kent
Felipe VI of Spain
Damian Lewis
Novak Djokovic
Quincey Jones
Harry Edward Styles
Chris Hemsworth
Denzel Washington
Luka Dončić
Drake
Serena Williams
If you’re shopping for one of the top 10 luxury
watch brands in the world, there is no doubt you have already known the
name Rolex for some time. And, for good reason.
Rolex is the most well known name in luxury watches. The Rolex watch boasts worldwide recognition due to it’s extremely reliable mechanical movement and material quality.
So, as a watch aficionado, you already know much of what you can expect from one of these masterpieces.
It’s
no wonder that many well known people, with unlimited assets for a
watch, buy Rolex. This includes people we all have heard of, such as:
John F. Kennedy
Paul Newman
Warren Buffett
Martin Luther King
Elvis Presley
and practically everyone who buys their first Luxury Watch.
But, there’s more to these super fine watches than being a symbol of success. Rolex is not just a name. It truly is a precision mechanical work of art.
Did you know:
- The watch movements and bracelets are usually hand-assembled?
- Water resistance is extreme? Up to 300 meters in the Submariner model.
- Even the hand picking and hand setting of the diamonds and other precious stones is done by traditional jewelers?
- Rolex is the only watchmaker to produce their own gold, refining 24K gold into 18K yellow, white, or Everose Gold for their products?
- The exquisite Rolex craftsmanship and manufacturing standards give you a watch that is guaranteed to +2/-2 seconds per day? Many Rolex owners have found their own accuracy to be as good as within just 10 seconds per month.
Every Rolex watch that leave the factory is, in Rolex language, designated a ”Superlative Chronometers”.
“This exclusive designation (Superlative Chronometer) attests that it has successfully undergone a series of specific final controls by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria, in addition to the official COSC certification of its movement. This unique testing of the chronometric precision of the cased-up movement, as well as of the watch’s waterproofness, self-winding and power reserve, pushes back the boundaries of performance and makes Rolex the benchmark for excellence in mechanical watches.” ~ https://www.rolex.com/en-us
If you’re looking to turn heads at that next social function, then you definitely need to consider the collections at Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Jaeger-LeCoultre is one of the Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands that is know for it’s incredible style. They make some of the most elegantly stunning watches in the world.
The company was founded by Antoine LeCoultre in 1833, in the serene Valley de Joux in Switzerland and officially became the first watch Manufacturer in the Vallée de Joux. It is in the same location today.
In 1903 Frenchman Edmond Jaeger and Jacques-David LeCoultre met and formed the famous association. In 1937 they merged and became one company. The Jaeger-LeCoultre watch became a fusion of French Style and Swiss technique. The tradition remains today.
Bringing together 180 different skills under one roof, Jaeger-LeCoultre is one of the only true Swiss Watch Manufactures with the capacity to produce all its watches in their entirety, from the original design to the final production.
Each watch will undergo a strict “1,000 Hour Control” testing. Their strict testing program will yield “internal certification tests that far exceed official chronometry tests”. Once the standards are met, a quality seal is engraved on the back of the watch.
Jaeger-LeCoutre is very popular in the Hollywood crowd:
Michael Douglas Pierce Brosnan
Amanda Seyfried
Leonardo DiCaprio
Adrien Brody
Christian Bale
Clive Owen
John Hamm
And, Jaeger-LeCoultre is also a favorite of our favorite Queen, Elizabeth II. She has three in her collection:
Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 101
Contemporary Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 101
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso
Gerard-Perregaux was founded in 1791. They are one of the oldest fine watchmaking manufacturers still in operation in Switzerland. They are headquartered in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
Gerard-Perregaux has been manufacturing exquisite timepieces in-house for over two hundred years and are a leader in innovative horological innovation with over 100 recorded patents and innumerable prizes.
Their handcrafted Swiss made Luxury Watches hold a universal appeal. Whether using bold architectural steel, super light high-tech titanium, or classic gold and sparkling diamonds, their collections offer you an alluring spectrum of materials.
A Girard-Perregaux watch presents a harmonious melding of functionality and contemporary aesthetics.
Putting all these unique distinctions aside, they simply create eye catching contemporary styled watches, with exceptional mechanisms, that will inspire admiration in any setting.
And, who wear a Girard-Perregaux?
Harry Connick Jr
Hugh Jackman
Gerard Pique
Sergio Ramos
Pierce Brosnan
Riz Ahmed
“Always do better than necessary.” ~ Georges-Édouard Piaget
Piaget
is yet another of the top 10 Luxury Watch Bands whose history begins in
the Swiss Jura mountains in the small village of La Côte-aux-Fées. And,
this is where the spirit of Piaget was given birth by Georges-Édouard
Piaget.
With a passion for watchmaking from a young age, in 1874
at only 19, Georges-Édouard Piaget set up his first workshop on the
family farm. His motto then, remains the Piaget motto to this day: “Always do better than necessary”.
Piaget creates a very decorative watch. They are in fact the most luxurious looking jeweled time pieces in the world.
Their very thin trademark style allows them to work diamonds, as well as other hard and precious stones, on their cases, dials and bracelets, without ever weighing down the delicacy of their luxury watches. This is a Piaget trademark.
But, don’t let the highly elegant and extravagant exterior cases fool you.
Piaget boasts the in-house marriage of over one hundred watchmaking and jewelry crafts. Every watch is the perfect synchronicity of two of the Maison’s founding principles: Excellence and Creativity.
Their thin watches are legendary. The reference for elegance in men's ultra-thin watches.
Now, under the 4th generation of the family, Yves Piaget, Piaget watches remain synonymous with elegance, luxury and "beautiful people”.
Wearing your Piaget, you’ll be in the company of:
Jackie Kennedy
Elizabeth Taylor
Sophia Loren
Salvador Dalí
Ryan Reynolds
Jessica Chastain
Sienna Miller
Michael B Jordan
"Beautiful timepieces of impeccable quality."
Cartier
Jewelers is regarded as one of the most prestigious jewelry makers in
the world. Cartier gained its reputation for its perfection.
The
company was founded by Louis-François Cartier, a master jeweler. In
1847, from humble beginnings and a deep passion for watchmaking, Cartier
took over his master’s workshop and began to thrive.
Cartier
timepieces are made in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. An area
surrounded by the Jura mountains and known for watchmaking.
In the 19th century Cartier made pocket watches. And, he began incorporating his timepieces in elegant necklaces.
The significant moment in Cartier’s watch making history was in 1904 when Louis Cartier designed the first modern wristwatch.
He
designed this watch for his friend Alberto Santos-Dumont, a famous
aviator. The purpose was to allow Santos to easily check the time while
flying.
The Santos name would later be used for a collection of the now most famous Cartier wrist watches.
Other Cartier very uniquely styled collections now include Ballon Bleu, Tank, Pasha, Santos, Roadster, and Panthere.
Wearing your Cartier, you’ll enjoy the company of:
Jacqueline Kennedy
Princess Diana
Clark Gable
Rudolph Valentino
Robert Downey Jr
Yves Saint Laurent
Mick Jagger
Princess Caroline of Monaco
Queen Elizabeth II
Duke Ellington
Anne Hathaway
Madonna
As with many of the finest watches, Breguet has a very interesting history.
In 1762, at the tender age of 15, Abraham-Louis Breguet left his home in Neuchâtel, Switzerland and headed for Versailles, France to begin a watchmaking apprenticeship.
In 1775, after finishing his apprenticeship, he married Cécile Marie-Louise L’Huillier and they moved to 51, quai de l'Horloge in the Île de la Cité in Paris, which became the first Breguet watchmaking company.
Breguet himself went on to invent innovative escapements, including the tourbillon (still in use today), automatic winding mechanisms, and the overcoil (an improvement of the balance spring with a raised outer coil).
Breguet watches have a rich heritage with some unique and distinct Breguet features such as:
- Their high decorative Engine-Turned Dials that are produced by hand.
- The Breguet hands invented in 1783 are the same used today.
- The Breguet numerals, the same since 1790.
- The famous “Secret Signature” on the dial, which Breguet began employing in 1795 to foil counterfeits, is still used to do the same thing today.
In 1999 Breguet joined the Swatch Group, under the drive of CEO Nicolas G. Hayek. Production is now made in the famous Vallée de Joux in Switzerland. The heart of the Swiss watchmaking Universe.
And, who will you be keeping company with wearing your Breguet?
Interestingly, their legendary archives record every Breguet watch sold since 1787. It’s not rockstars and movie stars who predominate their list, but rather some of the most notable figure in history, including:
Winston Churchill
Arthur Rubinstein
Sergei Rachmaninov
Louis XVI
Napoleon Bonaparte (yes, THE Napoleon)
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
Marie Antoinette
The Duke of Windsor
Since 1848 OMEGA has established a reputation as one of the world’s finest watches and one of the pioneers of watchmaking.
In an OMEGA you’ll find the work of traditional masters of watchmaking. And, modern styling that so many enjoy.
Omega is most famous for being the decisive timekeeper in major world-wide sporting events.
For over a century, OMEGA has been the timekeeper of international sporting competitions that include: Swimming, Sailing, Athletics, and Golf. And, in 1932 The Olympic games gave OMEGA the honor o being the official time keeper.
OMEGA’s legacy has been built on it’s commitment to precision, design, and quality.
OMEGA is a name that now may be familiar to many. Especially since it was the watch James Bond as 007 wore in the movie “No Time to Die”.
Who will you be wearing your Omega along with?
Daniel Craig
Cindy Crawford
Michelle Wie
John F. Kennedy
Jacques Cousteau
Eddie Redmayne
Buzz Aldrin
Elvis Presley
Prince William
Tom Hanks
Dennis Quaid
Tom Hanks
A quality heirloom that will transcend the generations.
For men with greater concerns than money and peer approval, a fine Luxury Watch can become a most meaningful heirloom. One that lasts for generations. Any and all The Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands can endure, in working condition, for generations.
One of these tasteful and magnificently crafted timepieces can be passed down, in full working order, from Father to son. Mother to daughter. And, then again. And, again....
A young boy who finally grows up, becoming big enough to wear the watch his father wore, and which his father’s father wore, is an extraordinary experience that conveys not only feelings of love and connection, but also imparts feelings of courage and strength to a young man.
Then there is the time of passings. Monetary inheritance is often of little comfort when a young person loses a parent or grandparent.
A treasured time piece, on the other hand, is something personal that was a part of the previous owner’s history and lifetime. Something enduring. Something that can continue to endure to future generations. This makes a magnificently crafted timepiece an extra special and meaningful gift. Even during the most difficult of losses.
Great works of art are always a good investment. One that appreciates over time. And, in the case of the Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands, this completely holds true.
Probably the only investment better than a mechanical Luxury Watch is real estate.
The difference is, in real estate you have lots of yearly expenses and all kinds of maintenance and personal hours invested every year.
With Luxury Watches, you can wear them, enjoy them, and sell them later. Often for a substantial profit.
If you buy your Luxury Watch(es) new, you’ll have a long wait to make a profit. As with all new items, the first few years show severe depreciation.
If you are looking for a more rapid appreciation, and purchase a quality pre-owned watch, you can see a very nice profit in a mere 10 years. The price can easily double. How many other investments are paying that well these days?
PLUS: You get to enjoy and wear your watch(es) the entire time.
Sweet! Right?
For example: Our good friend, Paul G., bought his pre-owned Datejust Rolex 14 years ago for $1,900. Today it is valued at $4,500. And, he still enjoys wearing this watch almost every day.
Remember: Every Luxury Watch, that is well maintained, appreciates over time. From the date of purchase, the older models just appreciate much more quickly.
And, a beautiful older example, purchased wisely, can bring a handsome profit from day one.
It’s a safe bet, if you invest now, your watch will only become more sought-after as time goes on.
This is the most important question to ask yourself when considering which of the Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands you should choose.
Is this your first Luxury Watch? Or, your 15th?
It doesn’t matter.
What matters is which one will be right for you?
Which one displays your style? Or, your desired style?
Which of these magnificent time pieces will put that hint of a smile on your face every time you see it on your wrist?
Which one makes you feel like standing a little taller? And, walking a bit more confidently? Knowing it represents your style, who you are, and how far you have come.
Forget what everyone else may be wearing or talking about. Choose the one that makes you feel the best. The one that is a part of your style. That’s the right one. That’s the Best Luxury Watch for You!
Remember: It’s not a competition. These are the Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands in the world. Every one of them is as good as it gets. It's all a matter of personal taste.
That’s our short tour of the Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands in the world.
All have wonderful and colorful histories as well as a rich heritage. All have strived for the ultimate in quality. All are masterpieces. All are the best you can get.
Why buy a Luxury Watch? Or, more than one?
Because: You deserve it! Simple as that.
Owning just one of these masterpieces imparts a sublime feeling of satisfaction in one’s self. Every day. A feeling of personal achievement. Of your individual personal success.
As a gift, there is no finer item. It will last for a lifetime with care and only meager regular maintenance.
Whether you buy a new one or a pre-owned one, you will never be disappointed with any one of the Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands.
With only a small amount of maintenance, these mechanical masterpieces will keep excellent time for decades to come. And, one day, you will be able to lovingly hand it down to your own son or daughter. Who in turn can hand it down again… And, they again…
And, if you decide to sell your timepiece for any reason after 10 or 20 years, you will lose nothing. These fine watches have no fear of the passing years. You will probably even turn a handsome profit.
Owning, enjoying, and appreciating any one of these Luxurious Treasures places you in an elite and esoteric group of men and women. Not all are Royalty or movie stars. But, all appreciate the finest craftsmanship we humans can achieve.
Yes, there are quite a number of other very nice watches available. Some of them are excellent also. But, none of them hold the same allure, history, and essential aesthetic value.
____________________
If you are looking to own one of the finest time pieces ever made, a masterpiece of human achievement, a valued family heirloom, a work of mechanical artistry whose value increases over time, these Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands are the ones to go to.
We hope you have enjoyed this page and we hope it may have assisted you in deciding on your next exquisite investment: The magnificent hand crafted time piece you want and deserve.
Enjoy! ~ William
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