Rolex
Founded in 1905, Rolex is a Swiss watch designer and manufacturer based in Geneva, Switzerland. A symbol of prestige and precision, Rolex offers some of the most expensive watch collections. While the Rolex Submariner has a spectacular range of diving watches, the Rolex Daytona is known for its association with motor racing which requires extreme precision in timekeeping. The Rolex Submariner, GMT-Master II, and Datejust are some other famous Rolex watches that are highly sought after by Rolex enthusiasts and collectors.
Founded: 1905
Based In: Geneva, Switzerland
Owned By: Hans Wilsdorf Foundation
Popular Collections: Daytona, Submariner, GMT-Master, and Datejust
FYI: The Rolex Daytona’s association with racing legend Paul Newman made it a popular model, leading to the ‘Paul Newman Daytona’ becoming one of the most sought-after and valuable vintage watches in the world.
Patek Philippe
Founded in 1839, Patek Philippe is a Swiss luxury watchmaker. The Nautilus collection is Patek Philippe’s most recognisable series, courtesy its porthole construction of the case and octagonal bezel. Its Aquanaut collection offers the best sporty watches out there, whereas the Calatrava collection delivers some of the best dress watches of all time. The Grand Complications collection by Patek Philippe is also home to intricate and prestigious timepieces, including various complications, such as a moonphase, split-seconds chronograph with a perpetual calendar, and a minute repeater.
Founded: 1839
Based In: Geneva, Switzerland
Owned By: Stern Family
Popular Collections: Nautilus, Aquanaut, Calatrava, and Grand Complications
FYI: The Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime 6300A-010, sold for US$31.19 million at the 2019 Only Watch Auction in Geneva, is the most expensive watch ever sold at auction.
Audemars Piguet
Audemars Piguet, founded in 1875 is a Swiss manufacturer of ultra-luxury watches based in Le Brassus, Switzerland. The company became Audemars Piguet & Cie in 1881, which went on to revolutionize the watch industry with the Royal Oak (RO), designed by Gérald Genta. The RO’s stainless steel case and integrated bracelet, and the iconic octagonal bezel, set a new standard for luxury sports watches. While the Royal Oak Offshore collection comprises more robust and sporty versions of the Royal Oak, the Code 11.59 collection is more about cutting-edge technology and pioneering new materials and designs.
Founded: 1875
Based In: Le Brassus, Switzerland
Owned By: Audemars Piguet Holdings SA
Popular Collections: Royal Oak, Royal Oak Offshore, and Code 11.59
FYI: Audemars Piguet established the category of luxury stainless-steel sports watches, with the Royal Oak, designed by Gerald Genta and introduced in 1972, becoming the world’s first luxury sports watch made of stainless steel.
Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin, a Swiss luxury watch and clock manufacturer founded in 1755, has been a subsidiary of the Swiss Richemont Group since 1996. The Patrimony, Overseas, Traditionnelle, and Égérie are some of the brand’s popular collections. The Patrimony’s focus remains on circularity, delivering some of the best minimalist watches. The Traditionnelle collection houses both sophisticated complications and simple creations. The Overseas collection takes pride in its casual elegance, enhanced by an interchangeable strap or bracelet system. Vacheron Constantin‘s lineup also includes the Égérie collection dedicated to women, which is a breathtaking blend of haute couture and haute horlogerie.
Founded: 1755
Based In: Geneva, Switzerland
Owned By: Richemont Group
Popular Collections: Patrimony, Overseas, Traditionnelle, and Égérie
FYI: Vacheron Constantin developed the world’s first world time watch with 31 time zones in 1932 and also made one of the most complicated watches ever created in 1935 for the King Farouk of Egypt.
Omega
Founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1903, Omega is a Swiss luxury watchmaker based in Bienne, Switzerland. Known for its association with space exploration and NASA, Omega’s Speedmaster collection is a hot favourite amongst watch enthusiasts. In 1969, the fourth generation of the Speedmaster became the first watch to be worn on the moon. While the Seamaster collection features some of the best dive watches out there, the Constellation collection is all things style and sophistication. The De Ville collection is also popular for its classic designs and intricate movements, featuring the Ladymatic series. First launched in 1955, the Ladymatic was among the first self-winding timepieces created especially for women.
Founded: 1848
Based In: Bienne, Switzerland
Owned By: Swatch Group
Popular Collections: Speedmaster, Seamaster, Constellation, and De Ville
FYI: Since 1995, Omega has held the distinguished title of being James Bond’s chosen timepiece, featuring on the wrists of both Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
A fully owned subsidiary of Richemont, Jaeger-LeCoultre (JLC) is a Swiss luxury watch and clock manufacturer founded in 1833 and is based in Le Sentier, Switzerland. Offering various iterations, the Reverso collection is truly timeless, known for its slim profile and reversible case that can conceal and protect the dial. In its diverse catalogue, JLC has the Polaris collection that offers varied complications, including date, world time, alarm, and chronograph. The Master Control collection of watches on the other hand are vintage-inspired models that testify to JLC’s watchmaking heritage. With its Rendez-Vous collection, JLC also offers women’s watches, set with diamonds and small calibres.
Founded: 1833
Based In: Le Sentier, Switzerland
Owned By: Richemont Group
Popular Collections: Reverso, Polaris, Master Control, and Rendez-Vous
FYI: Inspired by British army officers stationed in India in 1931, the Reverso was designed to endure the rigors of polo matches while also serving military needs
Cartier
Established in 1847, Cartier is a French luxury brand specialising in crafting jewellery, leather goods, and watches. Designed by Louis Cartier in 1916, the original Cartier Tank was inspired by the silhouette of Renault tanks fighting on the Western Front during WWI. The collection presents a timeless icon with a rectangular case and Roman numerals that make the watch instantly recognisable. The Santos collection, created to help aviators keep precise time during flights, is distinguished by its geometric dial, elegant curved horns, and iconic exposed screws. The Panthère de Cartier is another Cartier collection of jewellery watches adorned in gold, diamonds, and exquisite gemstones. Another popular Cartier collection, the Pasha de Cartier has a distinctive lineup of watches that feature bezels set with diamonds and interchangeable straps.
Founded: 1847
Based In: Paris, France
Owned By: Richemont Group
Popular Collections: Tank, Santos, Panthère de Cartier, and Pasha de Cartier
FYI: Cartier watches have resonated with many iconic figures, from Kate Middleton who adores her Ballon Bleu to Princess Diana who wore Cartier Tank, or Andy Warhol’ – a fan of Tank Louis Cartier.
Breitling
Founded in 1884 in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, Breitling has been creating exquisite Swiss luxury watches for over a century. The Navitimer collection offers quintessential pilot’s watches that come equipped with a circular slide rule that allows pilots to perform all necessary flight calculations, whereas the Superocean collection brings out technical and durable sporty sea watches full of modern features and a bright colour palette. Breitling‘s Chronomat collection mainly consists of mechanical chronographs, but this range of all-purpose watches also offers three-hands and GMT models. The racing chronographs from the Top Time collection also maintain a strong character, which pays tribute to the motorbikes, classic cars, and open road adventures.
Founded: 1884
Based In: Grenchen, Switzerland
Owned By: Partners Group Holding AG
Popular Collections: Navitimer, Superocean, Chronomat, and Top Time
FYI: Astronaut Scott Carpenter, one of America’s first seven astronauts to go into space, wore the Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute during his Mercury mission.
IWC
Originally founded in 1868, IWC Schaffhausen is a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer based out of Schaffhausen, Switzerland. The Portugieser collection from IWC is one of its most iconic and enduring series, renowned for its impressive size, neat Arabic numerals, slender hands, and distinctive railway-track chapter ring. Engineered as a professional instrument for divers, the watches in the IWC Aquatimer collection can be set using the rotating bezel for extra safety during deep dives, along with the IWC bracelet quick-change system. The Pilot’s Watches collection on the other hand shows off a cockpit-instrument look. Beloved by aviators and watch enthusiasts, this collection boasts technical features like anti-magnetic and anti-shock properties, along with high-tech ceramic cases.
Founded: 1868
Based In: Schaffhausen, Switzerland
Owned By: Richemont Group
Popular Collections: Portugieser, Aquatimer, and Pilot’s Watches
FYI: Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are both associated with IWC as brand ambassadors.
TAG Heuer
Founded in 1860, TAG Heuer is a Swiss luxury watchmaker that is one of LVMH’s biggest watch brands. The Carrera collection is one of TAG Heuer’s most iconic series of sports watches designed for professional drivers and sports car enthusiasts. Like the Carrera, the Monaco collection also has an association with motorsports but is presented in a distinctive square case with bevelled crystal that is highly scratch-resistant. The brand’s Aquaracer collection strives to offer exceptional water resistance and sporty aesthetics, including an Aquaracer Professional watch that is water-resistant up to 1,000 metres. The brand also has cockpit-inspired watches under its Autavia collection, featuring a bold look with extra large crown and chrono pushers.
Founded: 1860