Switzerland has become the pinnacle of watchmaking and home to the best watch brands in the world. Find out the Top 5 Best Watch Brands.
Switzerland has become the pinnacle of watchmaking and home to the best watch brands in the world. The world’s biggest and most prestigious brands have ingrained themselves within the Swiss nation and become famous for their innovation, design and style. They have created some of the most recognisable and beautiful designs in history. There’s a special lineage and sentiment attached to these brands with their histories stretching well over 100 years.
The ‘Made in Switzerland’ label has become synonymous with quality. Here is a list of the best watch brands, their history and what makes them so special.
TOP 5 BEST WATCH BRANDS
1. Blancpain
Founded: 1735, Villeret, Switzerland.
Founder: Jehan-Jacques Blancpain
Headquarters: Paudex/Le Brassus, Switzerland
Famous Models: Carrousel Villeret, Fifty Fathoms
Of all brands on this list, Blancpain has the most heritage of them all, being the oldest active watch manufacturer in the world. With almost 300 years of experience, they have mastered the mechanical movements. Focusing all their efforts on creating the most breathtaking and classic watches around, they claim to never have produced a quartz watch and never will. All of Blancpain’s watches are hand made by a single watchmaker, ensuring quality is assured in every item. Blancpain is sported by an array of famous people from actors like Brad Pitt to politicians like Vladimir Putin. If you are after an authentic, classic, luxury experience, look no further than Blancpain.
Watches of Switzerland – Blancpain Fifty Fathoms
2. Jaeger-LeCoultre
Founded: 1833, Le Sentier, Switzerland.
Founder: Antoine LeCoultre
Headquarters: Le Sentier, Switzerland
Famous Models: Polaris, Duomètre à Quantième Lunaire, Master Ultra Thin & Master Control.
A truly artistic luxurious watch brand, Jaeger-LeCoultre is characterised by its exquisite watch face designs and refined detailing. The visionary brand has over one thousand movement patents to its name and hundreds of inventions. A combination of innovation and complexity have paved the way for the brand to offer unique watches that cannot be replicated. With almost 200 years of experience, there’s no debating Jaeger-LeCoultre’s relevance and prominence in the luxury watch space. They combine may tasteful elements to truly offer beautiful timepieces.
3. Breguet
Founded: 1775, Paris, France
Founder: Abraham-Louis Breguet
Headquarters: L’Abbaye, Switzerland
Famous Models: Tradition, Classique, Marine
Breguet is the second oldest surviving manufacturer in this list. They are highly regarded as one of the forefathers of innovation. They have pioneered some of the most important watchmaking technologies such as the first self-winding watch and the first wristwatch. Over time Breguet has been worn by many influential people such as King George III, Queen Victoria, Sir Winston Churchill and more. Besides being a notable inventor of many modern watch components, Breguet also holds the title for some of the most expensive watches in history, further bolstering their illustrious image. If tradition and prestige are what you are looking for, look no further than Breguet.
Watches of Switzerland – Breguet Classique 5277
4. Tag Heuer
Founded: 1860, St-Imier, Switzerland
Founder: Edouard Heuer
Headquarters: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Famous Models: Aquaracer, Carrera, Formula 1, Link, Heuer Heritage
TAG Heuer which is short for Techniques d’Avant Garde are known for producing more than just luxury watches, they have become an international luxury design company. Their roots trace back to Edouard Heuer first chronograph patent in 1882. From there they entered the automobile market with the ‘Time of Trip’. Through the early to mid 20th century, TAG Heuer was acclaimed for their inclusion of such features as the tracking of moon phases, tide times and tachymeters. As their watches have evolved over time, they still keep true to their roots. A combination of luxury and sports functionality have led to their overall premium appeal in the market today.
5. Piaget
Founded: 1874, La Côte-aux-Fées, Switzerland
Founder: Georges Piaget
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Famous Models: Altiplano & Polo S
Piaget was originally established to manufacture watch movements, however, in the early 1900’s transitioned into creating their own line. They have a very distinct style, favouring sleek designs with the incorporation of precious stones. They created the ultra-thin movement in the late 1950s which was the thinnest in history. They use other traditional techniques such as the art of enamelling which is a painstaking process that delivers beautifully distinct colours. Piaget also owns the largest jewellery workshop in Geneva. They are renowned for their extremely high standards and precision, combining jewellery design with high-end movements to deliver some of the most recognisable luxury watches in history.
Watches of Switzerland – Piaget Altiplano 900P White Gold
Conclusion
There is no denying the impact these brands have had in the watch industry. With a history reaching back almost 300 years, the impact these watchmakers have made is indisputable. Each company has created exquisite, timeless pieces and established itself as one of the best watch brands globally. Which brand do you think deserves to be at the top of the list? Find out how you can own one of these beautiful watches for yourself.
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