When it comes to the best luxury watch brands, there are a few key players that immediately spring to mind — Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, and Audemars Piguet among them. However, the best luxury watch brands go beyond the oft-mentioned names, including heritage stalwarts like A. Lange & Söhne, Blancpain, Breguet, and Vacheron Constantin as well as lesser known gems like Arnold & Son, Greubel Forsey, and Glashütte Original.
While you can find excellent—and elegant!—watches at every price point (some of our favourite watches clock in at under $1000), this article delves into the vast world of high-end watch brands. Distinguished from the masses by their heritage, provenance, impeccable craftsmanship, and quality materials, these luxury watch brands produce some of the most exquisite timepieces on the market — with prices to match.
Here, we delve into the best luxury watch brands across key conglomerates like the Swiss-owned Swatch, Richemont, and Sowind; French-owned LVMH; and Japanese-owned Citizen Group, as well as some of the notable independently owned brands.
The best luxury watch brands in 2025
1. Cartier


Dubbed the “jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers” by King Edward VII, Cartier is perhaps best known for its jewellery and dress watches, including timeless styles like the Tank, Panthère de Cartier, and the covetable and impossible to acquire Crash. While founder Louis-François Cartier founded his eponymous brand as a jeweller in Paris in 1847, it was his grandsons Louis, Pierre, and Jacques who established the brand name worldwide.
The first Cartier watch arose as a result of a request by pioneering aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, who made an entreaty to his friend Louis Cartier to produce a watch he could easily read during flights. Louis Cartier presented the resultant watch to Santos-Dumont in 1904; the square wristwatch being a novel concept during a time when pocket watches were the norm. The Cartier Santos was first introduced to the public in 1911—making it the first wristwatch marketed towards men—and later spawned the Tank in 1919, with the art deco icon remaining one of the most influential watches to this day.
Cartier is a natural choice for design-led horologists and the style set alike, with the luxury watch brand’s Tank and Panthère remaining go-to choices. While Cartier’s use of quartz movements in some of these styles has garnered some derision from mechanical calibre purists, the French manufacture has of late displayed its superior savoir faire through haute horology pieces with complicated in-house calibres such as the Masse Mystérieuse and Santos-Dumont Rewind (which sees the clock run in reverse).
Established in: 1847
Founder: Louis-François Cartier
Headquarters: Paris, France
Owned by: Richemont Group
Notable models: Tank, Santos de Cartier, Ballon Bleu, Panthère, Crash
2. Jaeger-LeCoultre




Since its establishment almost two centuries ago in Le Brassus, Switzerland, Jaeger-LeCoultre has earned the acclaim of being “the watchmaker’s watchmaker.” The title isn’t lightly bestowed; Jaeger-LeCoultre has produced over 1400 unique calibres and patented 430 inventions, and has an illustrious history of supplying movements to some of the most lauded heritage luxury watch brands in the world, including Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe. Aside from its pioneering complications, Jaeger-LeCoultre is undoubtedly best known for creating the Reverso, with the iconic dress watch conceived as the first purpose-built sports watch; originally designed for British polo players in colonial India.
Established in: 1833
Founder: Antoine LeCoultre
Headquarters: Le Brassus, Switzerland
Owned by: Richemont Group
Notable models: Reverso, Duomètre, Master Ultra Thin, Polaris
3. Audemars Piguet




One of the few family-owned luxury watch brands on the market today, Audemars Piguet was founded by childhood friends Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet in 1875. While Audemars Piguet initially primarily supplied movements to other watch brands, the Swiss manufacture made a name for itself by earning accolades like the world’s first minute-repeater movement designed for wristwatches in 1892, the first jumping hour watch in 1921, and the first automatic tourbillon calibre in 1986.
However, Audemars Piguet is undeniably best known for creating one of the most covetable steel sports watches in the world, the Royal Oak. Since its inception in 1972, the octagonal Gérald Genta-designed timepiece has become a cornerstone in the Swiss manufacture’s lineup, begating sub-collections such as the Royal Oak Offshore and complicated Royal Oak Concept pieces. In 2019, Audemars Piguet diversified its lineup with the addition of the 11.59 collection. Initially posing a new entry point to the brand, 11.59 has come into its own of late, acting as a canvas for Audemars Piguet’s mechanical experimentation and innovation.
Established in: 1875
Founders: Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet
Headquarters: Le Brassus, Switzerland
Owned by: Audemars Piguet Holdings SA (private)
Notable models: Royal Oak, Royal Oak Offshore, Code 11.59
4. Patek Philippe




For horological aficionados and the uninitiated alike, Patek Philippe remains a paragon of haute horology. One of the most pre-eminent luxury watch brands both in technical prowess and popularity, independently owned Patek Philippe was founded in 1839 and has been under the helm of the Stern family since 1939. The Swiss manufacture is known for its grand complications, which combine several complications including annual calendars, minute repeaters, and chronographs. Its Calatrava and Golden Ellipse lines are among the best dress watch styles, but it’s the brand’s sporty Nautilus design (another Gérald Genta creation) that has achieved mainstream recognition.
Established in: 1839
Founders: Antoni Patek and Adrien Philippe
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Owned by: The Stern family
Notable models: Nautilus, Calatrava, Aquanaut, Golden Ellipse
5. IWC Schaffhausen




The first—and only—Swiss watch company founded by an American, IWC (an acronym for ‘International Watch Company’) Schaffhausen is one of the few watch brands headquartered in the northeastern region of Switzerland. While the brand’s American founder Florentine Ariosto Jones’ vision was to produce high quality pocket watches for the American market, IWC Schaffhausen is best known for its tool watches. The brand has several ties to military history past and present; Big Pilot’s watches were worn by pilots during World War II and the Spitfire series is based on the Mark 11 worn by British RAF pilots, while the Top Gun series is created in collaboration with the US Navy Fighter Weapons School.
While its tool watch styles like the Top Gun, Big Pilot, and Mark XX collections are popular for their clean designs and highly legible layouts, the brand also does dressier styles well, as evidenced by the Portugieser collection.
Established in: 1868
Founder: Florentine Ariosto Jones
Headquarters: Schaffhausen, Switzerland
Owned by: Richemont Group
Notable models: Portugieser, Big Pilot, Mark XX
6. Rolex




A veritable household name, Rolex is almost synonymous with the word ‘watch’. Founded in London by German entrepreneur Hans Wildorf in 1905 and based in Switzerland since 1919, Rolex has been one of the most influential watch brands since the mid-20th century, with many of its timepieces serving as the reference point for dress and tool watch styles the world over. Some of the most popular Rolex models include the Daytona, a chronograph with origins in the automotive world; the Submariner, inarguably the blueprint for hundreds of dive watches after it; and the Day-Date, a dressier style sported by so many politicians and world leaders that it’s colloquially known as ‘The President’.
Established in: 1905
Founders: Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Owned by: Privately owned (Rolex Group)
Notable models: Submariner, Daytona, Day-Date, GMT, Perpetual 1908
7. Vacheron Constantin




One of the oldest watch manufactures in the world, Vacheron Constantin has operated continuously since its founding in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron. The brand was responsible for creating the world’s first horological complication in 1770 (a clock that displayed the time and the date) and, since 2015, has held the accolade of the most complicated mechanical watch ever made with the Reference 57260 which boasts 57 complications.
Aside from its movement innovation, Vacheron Constantin is responsible for some of the most beautiful yet underrated watches on the market. The manufacture’s Patrimony dress watches exude design purity, while the Historiques American 1921 is an art deco icon with a twist (literally — its diagonally oriented dial allows the time to be read without turning the wrist). The brand also competes with Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe for a slice of the sports watch market with the Overseas and 222 models.
Established in: 1755
Founder: Jean-Marc Vacheron
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Owned by: Richemont Group
Notable models: Patrimony, Overseas, Historiques American 1921, 222
8. A. Lange & Söhne




The nonpareil of German watchmaking, A. Lange & Söhne is known for its labyrinthine hand-finished movements, often paired with impeccable dials and precious metals. Although the manufacture dates back to 1845—when it was founded by Ferdinand Adolph Lange in Glashütte—A. Lange & Söhne in its current incarnation is just over three decades old, having been relaunched by Walter Lange (Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s great-grandson) and Günter Blümlein in 1990. With a commitment to manufacturing original movements in its Glashütte headquarters, A. Lange & Söhne has made a name for itself thanks to models like the Lange 1, Zeitwerk, and Datograph, as well as its debut sports watch model, the Odysseus, which launched in 2019.
Established in: 1845 (relaunched in 1990)
Founder: Ferdinand Adolph Lange (relaunched by Walter Lange and Günter Blümlein)
Headquarters: Glashütte, Germany
Owned by: Richemont Group
Notable models: Lange 1, Zeitwerk, 1815, Odysseus
9. Omega




Whether it’s because it’s James Bond’s watch of choice, was on the moon first, or because of its link to the Olympics, Omega is inextricably linked to several pop culture moments. While Omega was responsible for some of the earliest tourbillons and minute repeaters designed specifically for wristwatches and was the first brand to use the co-axial escapement in its movements, the brand is best known for its Speedmaster Professional. Affectionately dubbed the ‘Moonwatch’, the Speedmaster Professional was sported by Buzz Aldrin and was the first watch worn on the moon (Neil Armstrong left his on the rocket).
The Swiss manufacture has partnered with the Olympics since 1932 and frequently releases special edition timepieces with the Games, however it’s the brand’s partnership with the James Bond franchise that’s cemented its certifiable cool boy status. Both Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig’s Bonds have worn variations of the Omega Seamaster.
Notably, Omega was also responsible for creating one of the first automatic timepieces for women; the Ladymatic which launched in 1955.
Established in: 1848
Founder: Louis Brandt
Headquarters: Bienne, Switzerland
Owned by: Swatch Group
Notable models: Speedmaster, Seamaster, Constellation, De Ville
10. Richard Mille




It’s pronounced ‘Ri-CHAR-d’. One of the few luxury watch brands founded in the new millennium, watchmaker Richard Mille’s eponymous brand has made a name for itself by staunchly defying convention. Inspired by the automotive and aeronautical industries, Richard Mille timepieces make use of advanced materials and technologies to produce lightweight movements with striking designs, housed in the brand’s signature tonneau-shaped cases. Richard Mille designs are polarising and often controversial, but there’s no denying their technical adroitness and watchmaking savoir faire, albeit in a non-traditional manner. The brand has been buoyed by celebrity partnerships with the likes of Rafeal Nadal and Alain Prost.
Established in: 2001
Founder: Richard Mille
Headquarters: Les Breuleux, Switzerland
Owned by: Privately owned (Richard Mille SA)
Notable models: RM 001, RM 11, RM 52-01, RM 27-04
11. Blancpain




Alongside Vacheron Constantin, Blancpain is one of the oldest luxury watch brands in existence. A key issue of contention in the horological world—and there are many!—surrounds whether the Rolex Submariner or Blancpain Fifty-Fathoms was the first purpose-built diver’s watch; the latter claiming to have preceded the Submariner’s release in 1953. Regardless of who came first, there’s a lot to love about the high-end Swiss watch brand, with Blancpain one of the few manufactures to have never used a quartz movement (even its collaboration with Swatch employs the SISTEM51 automatic movement).
Blancpain produces all its movements in-house, with one of the highlights of its comprehensive lineup being the Villeret collection, with the dress watch lineup comprising everything from pared-back time-only models to a tourbillon with digital hour and retrograde minutes displays.
Established in: 1735
Founder: Jehan-Jacques Blancpain
Headquarters: Le Brassus, Switzerland
Owned by: Swatch Group
Notable models: Fifty Fathoms, Villeret, L-evolution, Bathyscaphe
12. Breguet




One of the oldest and most prestigious high-end watch brands. Breguet was founded in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet, the watchmaker responsible for the invention of the tourbillon which was patented in 1801. Breguet was also responsible for creating the first watch to be wound by its crown in 1830 (prior to that they were wound with a key) and is thought to have made the first ever wristwatch in the world in 1810, in response to a commission from from Caroline Bonaparte, the Queen of Naples (this design language continues to this day in the Swiss manufacture’s Reine de Naples collection).
Aside from its horological innovations, Breguet is known for creating some of the most elegant dress watches to exist. Breguet has introduced elements of design that have long been part of the watchmaking lexicon, with Breguet hands (slender hands with an open circle near the tip) and Breguet numerals (an elegant font that’s almost italicized and lies somewhere between cursive and printed) coopted by luxury watch brands the world over.
Did you know that a tourbillon isn’t a complication; it’s a regulatory mechanism? Read more about tourbillons and discover the best tourbillon watches here.
Established in: 1775
Founder: Abraham-Louis Breguet
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Owned by: Swatch Group
Notable models: Classique, Marine, Tradition, Reine de Naples
13. F.P. Journe




F.P Journe is the eponymous brand of one of the most legendary independent watchmakers of all time, François-Paul Journe. After graduating from the Paris School of Watchmaking in 1976, François-Paul Journe worked as an independent watchmaker and restorer of complicated timepieces for brands like Cartier, Chaumet, and Piaget before launching F.P. Journe in 1999. The brand’s motto is “Invenit et Fecit,’ which is Latin for ‘invented and made’, referencing how the company designs and builds the entirety of each movement under the one roof. Inspired by late watchmaker George Daniels, F.P. Journe’s timepieces nod to oldschool watchmaking and often include anachronistic mechanisms, like the resonance system in the Chronomètre à Résonance.
The brand has also invented completely new systems, such as the resonance chronometer. Some of the most notable F.P. Journe watches are the Tourbillon Souverain and Sonnerie Souverain, with some of the brand’s design signatures including short blued teardrop-shaped hands, silk rope-patterned crowns, unique dial composition, and a use of gold across its in-house calibres.
Established in: 1999
Founder: François-Paul Journe
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Owned by: Independently owned (F.P. Journe SA); Chanel has 20% stake
Notable models: Octa, Resonance, Tourbillon Souverain, Sonnerie Souverain
14. Hublot




Having been around for less than half a century, Hublot is among the youngest luxury watch brands. Much like fellow (relative) newcomer Richard Mille, Hublot has a distinct love it or hate it design aesthetic, with the avant-garde Swiss manufacture’s watches defined by bold lines and esoteric materials like carbon fibre, ceramic, transparent sapphire, and unique gold alloys. Its distinct aesthetics are paired with visionary techniques that push the boundaries of traditional watchmaking, as seen in the MP-10 which eschews a dial, hands, and oscillating weight in favour of a roller display wound by two linear weights with a tourbillon and circular power reserve.
Hublot’s tagline is ‘Art of Fusion’, which the brand has epitomised since its inception when founder Carlo Crocco made waves for being the first to pair a gold case with a rubber strap with the Classic Fusion. Other popular Hublot models include the Big Bang, which features an in-house skeletonised movement visible dial-side; and the Spirit of Big Bang which is housed within a tonneau-shaped case.
Established in: 1980
Founder: Carlo Crocco
Headquarters: Nyon, Switzerland
Owned by: LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton)
Notable models: Big Bang, Classic Fusion, Spirit of Big Bang, MP-10
15. Parmigiani Fleurier




Independent watchmaker Michel Parmigiani began his career restoring antique horological instruments before founding his namesake brand Parmigiani Fleurier in 1996, which is financially backed by the Sandoz Family Foundation. One of our favourite luxury watch brands, Parmigiani Fleurier timepieces tend to take on a refined tone, with the luxury watch brand’s designs informed by the golden ratio and prioritising precious metals like gold and platinum. The manufacture’s Toric dress watch collection utilises neutral tones informed by the colour palette employed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, while the Tonda collection offers a refreshingly stylish take on the integrated bracelet sports watch.
Established in: 1996
Founder: Michel Parmigiani
Headquarters: Fleurier, Switzerland
Owned by: Sandoz Family Foundation
Notable models: Toric, Tonda PF, Tonda GT
16. Zenith




Le Loche-based manufacture Zenith was founded in 1865 by 22-year-old Georges Favre-Jacot. The brand’s forward thinking young founder believed that the highest quality watches could only be achieved by controlling the entire watchmaking process and invested in creating a vertically integrated watchmaking operation. In doing so, Zenith became the first manufacture d’horlogerie (or simply, ‘manufacture’). Zenith is best known for its efforts in timekeeping precision, with the manufacture earning recognition for its advancements in chronometry. However, Zenith’s greatest contribution to modern watchmaking is undeniable the El Primero movement; released in 1969, it was the first automatic chronograph movement and was the driving force behind the first Rolex Daytona.
Established in: 1865
Founder: Georges Favre-Jacot
Headquarters: Le Locle, Switzerland
Owned by: LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton)
Notable models: El Primero, Defy, Chronomaster
17. Chopard




A prestigious name in both the jewellery and watch worlds, Chopard was founded by Louis-Ulysse Chopard in 1860 and has been owned by the Scheufele family since 1963. The Swiss luxury watch brand has a surprisingly diverse lineup of watches. Collections like the Happy Sport and Happy Diamonds show off the brand’s more whimsical, jewellery-oriented side, while the Alpine Eagle pays homage to Chopard’s first luxury sports watch (the St Moritz). However, it’s the L.U.C collection that’s Chopard’s most impressive. The name references founder Louis-Ulysse Chopard’s initials and represents the highest standard of Swiss watchmaking, with every element of each L.U.C timepiece made in-house in the brand’s Geneva and Fleurier workshops.
Established in: 1860
Founder: Louis-Ulysse Chopard
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Owned by: Scheufele family (privately owned)
Notable models: L.U.C, Alpine Eagle, Mille Miglia, Happy Sport
18. TAG Heuer




TAG Heuer as we know it today is the result of the Techniques d’Avant Garde (TAG) Group obtaining a majority share of Heuer watches. However, the most iconic TAG Heuer watches come from the pre-TAG era and can be attributed to the work of Jack Heuer, the great-grandfather of Heuer founder Edouard. Jack Heuer was responsible for revving up the brand’s involvement in motorsports and cementing its status as an industry leader in race timing. This era led to the development of iconic watches like the Carrera in 1964 (named after the Carrera Panamericana race) and the Monaco in 1971 (inspired by the Monaco Grand Prix). Of late, TAG Heuer has made strides under the helm of previous CEO Frédéric Arnault with releases like the Carrera Glassbox placing the brand back on the map.
Established in: 1860
Founder: Edouard Heuer
Headquarters: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Owned by: LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton)
Notable models: Monaco, Carrera, Aquaracer
19. Ulysse Nardin




Swiss manufacture Ulysse Nardin holds a special place in maritime history, supplying marine chronometers to many of the world’s navies across the 19th and 20th centuries. Long considered a byword in nautical timekeeping, the current century has seen Ulysse Nardin learn into avant-garde designs such as the Freak, while respecting its maritime heritage with timepieces like the Marine and Diver.
Established in: 1846
Founder: Ulysse Nardin
Headquarters: Le Locle, Switzerland
Owned by: Sowind Group
Notable models: Marine, Freak, Diver, Classico
20. Montblanc




Montblanc has a reputation as a class leader in the realm of writing instruments, but its nascent watchmaking department is also slowly but surely carving out a space for itself. Montblanc’s watchmaking division launched in 1997, but it was parent company Richemont’s acquisition of Fabrique d’Horlogerie Minerva—a Swiss watchmaking brand specialising in high-end mechanical movements—almost a decade later that has elevated the brand’s horological standing. Today, Montblanc timepieces are dually inspired by historical Minerva timepieces and design elements of Montblanc writing instruments, as well as by a love of adventure and exploration.
Established in: 1906 (writing instruments), 1997 (watches)
Founders: Alfred Nehemias and August Eberstein
Headquarters: Le Locle, Switzerland
Owned by: Richemont Group
Notable models: 1858, Star Legacy, Heritage
21. Panerai


You’re either a Panerai guy (or girl!) or not. The Italian luxury watch brand has a distinct design aesthetic, with its cushion case and signature oversized crown guard making it easy to spot a Panerai watch a mile away. Shortly after its establishment as Officine Panerai in Florence, Panerai was commissioned to produce watches for the Royal Italian Navy. The brand’s original dive watch, the Radiomir, was named after the proprietary radium-derived luminescent material applied to the dial to improve legibility underwater. This timepiece was succeeded by the Luminor, which used a more advanced luminescent coating. Panerai timepieces were exclusively available to military personnel until the brand’s acquisition by Richemont in 1997, when they were made available for commercial sale.
Established in: 1860
Founder: Giovanni Panerai
Headquarters: Florence, Italy
Owned by: Richemont Group
Notable models: Luminor, Radiomir, Submersible
22. Breitling


Founded in 1884 by Léon Breitling, Breitling made a name for itself by producing reliable tool watches. In particular, the Swiss watch brand embraced the world of aviation, leading to the development of the Chronomat and the Navitimer. The latter is notable for its use of the slide rule bezel, which allowed pilots to make quick calculations on the fly. Under the leadership of CEO Georges Kern, Breitling has diversified its offering when it comes to size, with many of the brand’s core styles (including the Superocean, Navitimer, and Chronomat) available in a plethora of sizes from 32mm to 46mm, meaning there’s something for every wrist.
Established in: 1884
Founder: Léon Breitling
Headquarters: Grenchen, Switzerland
Owned by: Partners Group
Notable models: Navitimer, Chronomat, Superocean, Avenger
23. Bremont




In just over two decades, British brothers Nick and Giles English—yes, that’s their real surname—have managed to cement Bremont as one of the best luxury watch brands for aviation and military watches. Founded in 2002, the English brothers established the brand to pay homage to their late father, who was a pilot and watch collector. Accordingly, each of the brand’s releases incorporates inspiration from the aviation world, whether it’s the Supermarine dive watch that takes its name from the WWII Spitfire aircraft manufacturer or classic pilot’s watches like the Aviation and MB series. For such a young brand, Bremont has accumulated an impressive roster of partnerships, creating timepieces both for and in collaboration with the British Military of Defence and British marque Jaguar.
Notably, several of Bremont’s special edition releases are exclusively available to those who’ve served on the same aircraft or warship that the watch is commemorating. The limited-edition MBI is reserved for pilots who have ejected from an aircraft using a Martin-Baker seat. Fortunately, the MBII and MBIII are available to all.
Established in: 2002
Founders: Nick and Giles English
Headquarters: Henley-on-Thames, England
Owned by: Privately owned
Notable models: Broadsword, Supermarine, MB
24. Tudor


Want a Rolex without having to pay Rolex prices (or resort to a ‘Rolecks’)? Ole mate Hans Wildorf has you covered. The Rolex founder registered the Tudor name in 1926 before properly launching the company two decades later. Rolex’s baby brother in the truest sense, the ethos behind Tudor was to combine standard (i.e. not in-house) Swiss movements with Rolex-made cases and bracelets, providing a more accessible entry point into the Rolex family. Early Tudor models centred around tool watches, with styles like the Tudor Submariner and Oysterdate drawing comparisons to the Rolex Submariner (duh) and Daytona, respectively. Meanwhile, models like the Tudor Prince and the lesser-discussed Princess reference the Rolex Datejust and Lady-Datejust. However, the past couple of decades have seen Tudor carve out its own design identity. Although nods to its heritage remain present, Tudor has forged an identity separate to that of Rolex’s, with models like the Black Bay 58, Pelagos, and Clair de Rose making for interesting designs in their own right. In fact, Tudor’s second wave success has been so great that certain model’s are almost as difficult to acquire as Rolex’s. Ah, c’est la vie!
Established in: 1926
Founder: Hans Wilsdorf
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Owned by: Rolex SA
Notable models: Black Bay 58, Black Bay Chronograph, Pelagos, Clair de Rose
25. Girard-Perregaux




The somewhat involved history of Girard-Perregaux goes like this: in 1791, Jean-François Bautte established a watch brand under his own name. In 1852, a watchmaker named Constant Girard founded a separate company called Girard & Cie. Two years later Constant Girard married Marie Perregaux and changed the name of his company to Girard-Perregaux. The couple’s son took over Girard-Perregaux in 1906 and later acquired Bautte’s company and merged it into his own, thereby allowing Girard-Perregaux to claim heritage dating back to 1791 despite neither Constant Girard or Marie Perregaux having even been born then.
Mildly dubious year of founding aside, Girard-Perregaux has an irrefutable pedigree when it comes to high watchmaking. The Swiss luxury watch brand’s most notable design is the Three Gold Bridges Tourbillon, with the trio of architectural bridges aiding in increasing the accuracy of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s regulatory mechanism. The invention first appeared in 1867 and was patented in 1884, with the seminal design remaining present in the manufacture’s Bridges collection.
Other core designs include the Laureato, an integrated-bracelet sports watch, and the feminine Cat Eye collection.
Established in: 1791
Founder: Jean-François Bautte; later developments by Constant Girard and Marie Perregaux
Headquarters: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Owned by: Sowind Group; underwent a management buyout from Kering in 2022
Notable models: Bridges, Laureato, Vintage 1945, 1966
26. Glashütte Original




Despite having only been officially established for just over three decades, Glashütte Original has a storied past. The brand’s roots can be traced back to the Soviet Union’s Volkseigener Betrieb Glashutter Uhrenbetriebe (GUB), a state-owned entity that consolidated all East German watchmakers. Following the fall of the Soviet Union and the unification of East and West Germany, the state-owned entity was privatised and led to the formation of Glashütte Original a few years later.
While the watches produced under communism were cheap and lacked aesthetic flair, Glashütte Original timepieces are known for their distinct horological flair and interpretation of Saxon watchmaking tradition. The PanoInverse collection sees the movement flipped and placed dial-side, showcasing the signature Glashütte striped three-quarter plate and hand-engraved balance cock.
Read more about the history of German watchmaking and discover the best German watch brands here.
Established in: 1994
Founder: Heinz W. Pfeifer (purchased the company); UROFA and UFAG (now Tutima) and A. Lange & Söhne were among the seven watchmakers that initially formed GUB
Headquarters: Glashütte, Germany
Owned by: Swatch Group
Notable models: Senator Cosmopolite, PanoInverse, SeaQ
27. Grand Seiko




The Grand Seiko brand arose as a result of the Seiko Group’s desire to prove that it—and Japanese watchmakers as a whole—could produce watches on par with Switzerland’s luxury offerings. The Grand Seiko brand officially launched internationally in 2010 and became an independent brand in 2017. That means that while it’s still owned by the Seiko Watch Corporation, its leadership, design, and production processes are completely separate.
Today, Grand Seiko is lauded for its attention to detail. Dials draw inspiration from the beauty of the Japanese landscape and feature motifs that pay homage to sakura blossoms and birch trees, while the cases and bracelets are distinguished by their elevated finishings. The Japanese luxury watch brand is known for its use of Zaratsu polishing, a technique that provides surfaces with a mirror-like finish.
Established in: 1960
Founder: Seiko Group
Headquarters: Shizukuishi, Japan
Owned by: Seiko Watch Corporation
Notable models: Spring Drive, Evolution 9, Heritage
FAQ
The top ten biggest luxury watch brands in terms of sales revenue are: Rolex, Cartier, Omega, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille, Longines, IWC, Breitling, and Vacheron Constantin.
The best watch brand is a matter of taste. This list details the best luxury watch brands on the market today, but it’s up to you to decide based on your style and preferences.
When it comes to luxury watch brands, the term ‘Holy Trinity’ is used to refer to the three most lauded (and horologicaly advanced) luxury watch brands in the world: Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin.
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Words by Theo Rosen and T. Angel