W.O.W. Guide: Top 10 Watch Brands

Cartier, Omega & Rolex all make the list for the Top 10 Watch Brands

There are a multitude of reasons why you would ever choose to wear a watch. It could be sentimental, an heirloom passed down through generations as a reminder of where you have come from. It could be to mark a particular moment in your life, such as a birthday, to mark that promotion you just earned or even to commemorate the birth of a child. It could be as a fashion accessory to gain the attention of others, or it could just be for help telling the time. Whatever the reason for wearing a watch, there are some brands that appeal to us more than others. Some brands know how to consistently get it right and push beyond the rest in terms of design, function and technical innovation and then some are just a name synonymous with “making it”. Stooped in heritage the top brands have been around the block more than a few times surviving wars, pandemics, market crashes and even the technological advancement of smartwatches and smartphones. Then there are some which are newcomers to the industry that are doing something completely different older brands just never thought of.

Every year the financial firm Morgan Stanley releases a report on the watch industry that offers insight into the performance of the top brands to see who is top dog when it comes to luxury timepieces. There are always companies which retain a seat on the top table but sometimes there are brands which unexpectedly rise to the challenge of their larger competitors. As of now the top 10 watch brands are Rolex, Cartier, Omega, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philipe, Richard Mille, Longines, IWC, Breitling and Vacheron Constantin. Today we’re going to take a look at the Top 5 of these brands according to Morgan Stanley’s report that was released earlier this year and look at a brief overview of their history.

Rolex

Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220

We start at the top with the most well-known watch brand in the world - Rolex. Originating in London company founders Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis specialised in timepiece distribution, placing Swiss movements in British cases and selling them on to jewellers under the company name Wilsdorf and Davis. Though it wasn’t until a name change and move to Geneva after World War I that things really started taking shape and they became the company we all know and love today. From its humble beginnings Rolex has gone on to produce some of the most iconic watches the world has ever seen including the Submariner, the Datejust, and Explorer among many others. They have over 500 patents and can boast industry firsts such as the first waterproof case with their screw down crown on the Rolex Oyster in 1926. Rolex is the watch choice of many celebrities, features in blockbuster movies, is mentioned chart topping hits and is known the world over to those with no real knowledge of the watch industry. There is no denying the enormity of Rolex and they have sat comfortably as the leader of the pack for many years.

You can shop our selection of vintage Rolex watches here.

Cartier

Cartier Santos Ref. 2961

Owned by the Swiss Richemont Group, Cartier is the biggest jewellery manufacturer in the world and it all began when a 29 year old Louis-François Cartier took over his old master’s workshop in 1847. As time went on it became a family affair and it was Louis’ grandchildren who eventually took the brand global, opening boutiques in both London and New York and most notably developing the Cartier Santos wrist watch. Originally designed for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, he was frustrated by the bulkiness of his pocket watch and wanted something that would enable him to check the time more easily whilst flying, a job for which the Santos excels. Later, after time spent on the Western Front, Louis’ grandson decided to design a watch inspired by the Renault FT tanks he had seen in action and that watch was the Cartier Tank, Cartier’s most well-known and successful model that has taken on many shapes and forms over the years. A brand with rich heritage, Cartier are known for the style and sophistication they bring to their designs whether it be their watches, handbags, rings or other fashion accessories and will no doubt remain revered by celebrities, royalty and the general enthusiast for many years to come.

Take a look at our vintage Cartier watches here.

Omega

Omega Seamaster Ref. 14701S.C - Solid 18K Gold

Today the wrist watch form is largely taken for granted and whilst it’s invention was seemingly inevitable, it was the Brandt brothers who invented the first minute-repeating wristwatch model in 1892. A widely admired model, it was two years later in 1894 that they would design a movement that became even more revered in the industry, so much so that they named their company after it; Omega. From the beginning Omega would pride themselves on their precision and innovation and it would be this dedication to their core values that would bring them continued success and even send them to the moon. The Omega Speedmaster and Seamaster are their most notable models but Omega’s Constellation and Deville ranges are also highly collectable among vintage enthusiasts. Omega has been the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932 and now is the official watch of James Bond having featured in every movie since 1995. Their high flying success never halted their innovation and in 1999 they revolutionised the traditional watch movement with their Co-Axial escapement that offered a higher degree of reliability compared to other modern movements. We’re sure that this will not be the end of Omega’s storied history in the industry and it’s only a matter of time before they change the game again.

Check out our vintage Omega watches here.

Audemars Piguet

Founded by Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet in 1875, Audemars Piguet has extremely high standards when it comes to crafting timepieces and is unique in remaining as a family-owned company to this day. It was in the 1970s at the dawn of the quartz crisis that AP decided to diversify to help stay competitive and employed the help of Gerald Genta to create one of the most sought after watch models of all time. It was at the Swiss Watch Show in 1972 that the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak was unveiled. Alongside Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe they completes the holy trinity in the watch world all offering unparalleled levels of finishing and innovation that other companies could only dream of.

You can find our selection of other vintage watches here.

Patek Philippe

For just under 200 years since 1839 Patek Phillippe has been at the forefront of the watch industry and has a prestigious history in technological development. A large proportion of Patek Philippe innovations have gone onto shape the industry and to this day they continue to innovate through their Advanced Research Department. One of their more recent developments is a movement that is  reliant on silicon that can provide increased durability, improved anti-magnetic properties and that requires no lubrication making servicing less of a hassle. Patek Philippe's most notable model, the Nautilus, was designed by Gerald Genta for a similar reason that AP employed him for the Royal Oak, to combat the rising popularity of quartz wristwatches and to this day the Patek Philipe Nautilus is a highly sought after model with many iterations of the original form. Currently the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 holds the title of the most expensive watch ever sold at auction for 31 million CHF and another 8 of their models hold spaces in the top 10 of most expensive watches ever sold at auction.

Looking into a very brief history of the brands mentioned above it’s clear to see why they all have continued success. Due to their heritage and long standing histories a lot of the brands’ vintage models are easily attainable and are available at a fraction of the cost of diving into the inflated ‘new’ market.

If there are models you wish of owning you can reach out to us and find your perfect model here. If you like this blog, check out our others which can be found here.

Written by Piers Mansell for Watts On Watches.