Mankind has learned to measure time by the sun more than 3.5 thousand years ago. And the first mechanical watches appeared in Europe at the turn of the XIII - XIV centuries. At the beginning of the XIX century, the idea came to wear a watch on the wrist, and already at the end of the century, wrist models became widespread along with pocket ones.
Nowadays, smartphones have taken over the functions of watches, but the watch reserves the right to be an ornament and an indicator of social status. In this regard, we give a rating of Swiss watches, and present a top list of Swiss watch brands.
Categories
It is rather difficult to answer the question which Swiss watches are the most prestigious, therefore we will present them in several categories, including price being one of the criteria.
High watchmaking
1
Breguet
One of the most prestigious brands began its history in Paris in 1775. Among the owners of watches of this brand were European monarchs, rulers of states, world celebrities and athletes.
Watchmakers «Breguet» have developed many technologies that are widely used in modern watch manufacturing. The brand became part of the large Swatch Corporation in 1999.
2
Audemars Piguet
In 1875, two enterprising young men, Edward-Auguste Piguet and Jules-Louis Audemar, opened a watch-making company in the small town of Le Brassus.
Over time, their brainchild firmly took a leading position in the market for luxury watches. Masterpieces of the Audemars Piguet brand along with art objects are on display at the British Museum.
You can read about other beautiful watches worthy of the most prestigious exhibitions on our site most-beauty.ru.
3
Blancpain
The most famous watch company today began with a small watch workshop in 1735, when the village watchmaker Jean-Jacques Blanpen decided to start his own business.
The eldest son of Jean-Jacques transformed the workshop into a factory, and since the 30s. years of the twentieth century, watches were produced under the brand name "Rayville Ltd." In 1983, the brand was revived under its original name, and after 9 years joined the Watch Group.
4
Patek Philippe S.A.
Having moved to Switzerland, two Poles Anthony Papek and Francois Chapek in 1839 founded a watch manufacturing company. It was they who released the first bracelet watch, and also patented the perpetual calendar and chronograph.
In 1932, the company received its current name. If you ask yourself how to choose a Swiss men's watch at the highest price, then this prestigious brand will definitely come first. This is the most expensive serial watch in the world.
5
Jaeger-lecoultre
Throughout its history, the brand has produced many exclusive watches and patented more than 400 inventions. It all began at the beginning of the XIX century, when the watch factory Jaeger-LeCoultre was founded in the town of La Santier.
Now the brand, on the account of which there are many prestigious collections and unique watches, collaborates with many international organizations, including UNESCO.
6
Vacheron constantin
Clients of Jean-Marc Vasheron were the wives of Napoleon. He founded his company in September 1755. In 1819, Francois Constantine began working in the company, and the brand was added with another surname in the name.
Today, producing about 20 thousand hours a year, the brand is considered one of the most prestigious, expensive and traditional watches.
7
Breitling
The founder of the brand in 1884 was the German Leon Brightling, who opened his own watch company in Saint-Imier.
After the death of the founder, his business was continued by his son Gaston, who glorified the company by creating a unique chronograph. They were actively used by the air forces of Britain and France. And today the brand is the undisputed leader in the aviation industry.
8
Perrelet
In modern watchmaking, it is a trendsetter and an initiator of new ideas. Although their products, as it does not sound trite, are time-tested. It all began in 1777, and now the company's products are real art.
Keeping pace with the times, the brand, paying tribute to traditions, never ceases to amaze the world with new collections of exquisite mechanical watches.
Premium class
The argument does not cease, Japanese or Swiss watches are better. Each has its own advantages, but perhaps after meeting this rating, the choice of buyers will fall on the Swiss manufacturer.
1
Longines
The founder of the company Auguste Agassi in 1832 sold clockworks in a small shop in the town of Saint-Imier. In 1867, Auguste's nephew registered the rights to the trademark, who got all the rights to the company.
Among the owners of the watches of this company were famous people of the era, including Albert Einstein. Now the Longines watch adorns the wrists of movie stars, great athletes and politicians.
2
Baume et mercier
Now the brand is part of the prestigious watch group “Richemont”, and back in 1542, Louis-Joseph Bohm invented his own watch movement, which marked the beginning of the era of mechanical watches.
The great-grandchildren of the inventor in 1810 opened their own brand, and their watches were sold in all parts of the world. Today they can be bought at 3,000 stores on all five continents.
3
Tag heuer
The sign of this company can be seen not only on watches, but also on smartphones, glasses and chronographs. In 1860, the company was founded by Eduard Hoyer, and in 1867 they received a patent for a gear wheel, which is now used in almost all prestigious Swiss watches.
The company is the sponsor of Formula 1, and its face is the leading racers and stars of world cinema. Their reliability and sophistication are highly regarded by politicians.
4
Raymond weil
A relatively young company that immediately occupied its niche in the production and sale of prestigious watches. They founded the company in 1976, and today it is one of the last, not incorporated into the corporation, independent company for the production of premium watches.
The headquarters is located in Geneva, and offices operate in 90 countries. Many people prefer Raymond Weil because of its reliability and quality.
5
Oris SA
The company was founded in the suburbs of Basel in 1904, and after 21 years a factory was already built, at the entrance of which the name “Oris” was adorned.
The company, time-tested, creates chic collections in different styles, from strict sports models to sophisticated romantic ones. For some time, she worked closely with the team of Formula 1 Williams.
7
Ulysse nardin
Skillful and experienced watchmaker, master Ulysses Nardan, sold his own watch in 1846, and this year marks the beginning of a new brand that has established itself as a manufacturer of reliable movements.
Looking at the Ulysse Nardin watch model, breathlessness of sophistication and beauty dies. Reliability is added to these qualities, and in many lines an eternal calendar and determination of time in GMT are inserted anywhere in the world.
The most sought after
If we consider men's and women's watches by such a criterion as the frequency of purchase, then we can distinguish the most popular brands.
1
Rolex
In 1905, this popular watch first entered the market under the brand name Wilsdorf and Davis, and today everyone knows it under the name Rolex.
Now the brand produces 1.5 million watches a year, and in 2017 they sold the most expensive Rolex Daytona watches from the 1968 line. Watches owned by racer Paul Newman sold for $ 17,752,500.
2
Omega
It all started in 1848 with an ordinary watch workshop in the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds, in which Louis Brand began assembling watches.
In 1894, the Omega line was created. The name was taken the last letter of the Greek alphabet, symbolizing completeness. The watches of this brand have traveled to space and descended into the depths of the oceans. A real cool watch from Switzerland, since 1995 has been adorned on the James Bond hand.
3
Tissot
Models of this company can rightfully lead the Top 10 best budget men's and women's watches. And they appreciate them for innovative ideas.
Father and son Tissot founded the brand in 1853, and from a small workshop, in a short period, the company became one of the most popular for the production of relatively inexpensive and reliable watches.
4
Maurice Lacroix
When, at the foundation of the company, in 1975 they searched for her name, they searched for a harmonious word. The choice fell on the name and surname of one of the employees of the company.
The company patented a number of inventions, including in 2008 the first among others to produce watches with mechanical memory. Users prefer a wide selection of assortment.
5
Roamer
Luxury watches of various copyright calibers have long won the love of beauty connoisseurs, and it all began in 1888. It was then that the now popular Roamer brand was founded.
The company has been producing prestigious watch lines for a long time, and buyers note a harmonious combination of price, beauty and quality.
6
Rado
When the whirlwinds of revolution are raging in Russia, Schlup & Co. was founded in the small Swiss city of Lengnau. for the production of watches that were immediately exported to the United States.
In 1957, the first watch movements appeared on the market, on which the name “Rado” was engraved. The same company is launching the world's first watch that cannot be scratched.
7
Chopard
When Louis-Ulysses Chopard was 24 years old, he began producing pocket watches and chronographs, and founded his own company. In 1860, and in a short period, Shopar became the main supplier of precision chronographs on the railway.
The quality of its products was appreciated in many countries of the world, and today products of this brand have won many awards, becoming, among other things, “Hours of the Year 1997”. In addition to watches, the company specializes in creating exclusive jewelry.
Fashion Category
Many manufacturers do not rely on mechanisms, but on the external design of products. There are many of these lines, but we have chosen the most popular ones.
1
Chanel
The first watches, more like jewelry, appeared under this brand in 1932, and in 1987 in the Swiss city of La Chaux-de-Fonds began mass production, specializing mainly in the manufacture of watches for women.
The most popular and famous was the J12 line, created in an elegant sports style, from an unusual material - black ceramics.
2
Chaumet paris
Original and sophisticated, this watch has absorbed French charm and Swiss reliability. The trading house is not afraid to experiment.
But, despite all the experiments, the Chaumet Paris House clock remains true to the eternal Swiss tradition. The main thing is that they have long been loved not only by stylish men and beauties of Switzerland, but also have become popular in different parts of the world.
Summary
So our list of Swiss watch brands has come to an end, and as you can see, it is difficult to distinguish which Swiss watches are the most prestigious. Watches, like jewelry or perfumes, must be selected individually, so everyone decides for himself how to choose a Swiss watch based on his tastes, fashion trends and the size of the account on a bank card.
Article author: Valery Skiba