Luxury watches are destined never to go out of fashion. Even though we now have clocks on our phones, nothing beats the exceptional elegance of a beautifully crafted timepiece. Suddenly, checking the time becomes a rather exciting endeavour.
A proper mechanical watch isn’t simply a way of tracking time. A premium time-keeper is an emotional investment. A treasured possession. And it will most likely go on to become a prized family heirloom.
Not forgetting that a designer watch is also an enduring symbol of taste and class. Because what says luxury like a Rolex? What conveys distinction and fashion flair quite like a Patek Philippe?
A high-end watch is a display of impeccable craftsmanship. It’s a testament to centuries-old traditions and engineering techniques. In fact, the best watch brands create miniature works of art.
By wearing a luxury watch, you are also joining a truly exclusive club. After all, these are the watches worn by presidents, Hollywood stars, and royalty.
But how to choose the best luxury watch for you? How to decide between a traditional and refined timepiece and something more cutting-edge and avant-garde?
A good place to start is with this list of the 55 best luxury watch brands today. This list was created based on detailed research to identify the luxury brands that enjoy a global reputation for delivering high-quality timepieces. A demonstration of exquisite craftsmanship, incomparable aesthetic sensibility, and a passion for pushing boundaries have distinguished these brands as the best luxury watchmakers today.
The best luxury watch brands of 2021
- Rolex
- Patek Philippe
- Audemars Piguet
- A.Lange & Söhne
- Omega
- Blancpain
- IWC Schaffhausen
- Jaeger-LeCoultre
- Chopard
- Piaget
Read on for the ultimate list of the top high-end watches by some of the world’s most exclusive brands. You’ll also find a guide to buying a luxury watch, information about whether luxury watches make good investments, a detailed explanation of how to care for and maintain your luxury watch, and our answers to the most frequently asked questions related to the watch industry.s ad will end in 4
1. Rolex
If there’s one watch brand out there that everybody knows, it’s Rolex. The very name has become a byword for luxury and exclusivity. Wearing a Rolex is more than just wearing a watch. It’s a statement of power and prestige. There’s a good reason why people still buy Rolex watches despite the Apple Watch dominance in the global industry.
From its classic collection to its dive and yacht-master watches, Rolex applies its decades of horological experience and technical know-how to the question of creating quality swiss timepieces that owners can carry with them all their lives—and pass on to their children.
Rolex watches have been worn to some of the most remote places on earth; into wild and challenging terrains, down into the depths of the ocean, and up onto lofty mountain peaks. If you needed proof that a Rolex isn’t just a fashion accessory, then this is it.
The company was the first to patent a waterproof watch: the famous Oyster model. They also brought the first self-winding watch to the market in 1945. A Rolex is also one of the favoured timepieces of the world’s most famous spy, James Bond—further evidence of Rolex’s commitment to all things daring and intrepid.
The brand prides itself on its dedication to quality, on continuously improving its offerings, and on delivering enduring excellence to its loyal customers. In a world of mass-market consumerism and disposable fashion, this is a brand whose designs are guaranteed to last a lifetime. In fact, Rolex watches can actually appreciate in value over time. Just look at our list of the most expensive Rolex watches and the history behind each model to see how good of an investment the swiss watch brand can be.
Globally recognised and highly coveted, Rolex’s status as one of the best luxury watch brands in the world sees few competitors.
Most popular model: the Rolex Submariner
2. Patek Philippe
Switzerland has become synonymous with luxury watches and one of the top Swiss watch brands of all time is Patek Philippe.
The last family-owned independent watch manufacturer left in Geneva, the company was founded in 1839, and has remained in the hands of the Stern family since then. This continuity of ownership allows Patek Philippe to maintain its unique identity. The brand takes its creative freedom seriously.
Indeed, it’s Patek Philippe’s unparalleled approach to design that has allowed the swiss manufacturer to achieve status as one of the best watch companies in the world.
Unanimously declared by experts to be responsible for some of the finest timepieces in existence, Patek Philippe watches are created on the basis of decades of knowledge and horological understanding. What makes a Patek Philippe watch so special is the fact that each detail has been finished by hand by a dedicated master craftsman. Just look at the brand’s mechanical chronograph watches to see how far Patek Philippe can push the boundaries of complications. These are also some of the most expensive watches on the planet.
But while the brand is proud of its heritage, the company is also innovative and future-facing, combining skills acquired over its 177 years in existence with high-tech equipment and machinery.
The company also collaborates with artisan craftsmen to develop unique one-of-a-kind models that go on to become some of the most coveted timepieces on the market.
Indeed, another reason for the brand’s appeal is the fact that less than 1 million Patek Philippe watches have been created since 1839. That’s very few, and this scarcity makes them highly sought-after.
On a constant quest for perfection, the very name Patek Philippe has become a guarantee of reliability and star quality.
Most popular model: the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711
3. Audemars Piguet
Audemars Piguet is one of the most famous high-end watch companies in the world. Created in the Vallée de Joux of the Jura Mountains in Switzerland by Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet, AP watches now travel the world on the wrists of the rich and famous, including the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jay-Z, and James LeBron.
What secured AP a seat at the table among the most successful global watch brands was its Royal Oak model. Introduced in 1972, the Royal Oak was the first stainless steel sports watch to be marketed as a luxury timepiece, combining style and durability for the first time ever.
The first customer to buy a Royal Oak was the Shah of Iran. The timepiece has since gone on to become the brand’s flagship model—highly prized and worn by men and women alike.
While not as much of a household name as Rolex, perhaps, Audemars Piguet offers something else to would-be wearers: a sense of exclusivity that can only come with being slightly under the radar.
Effortlessly stylish, an AP watch is a demonstration of true creativity and artistry. While many wristwatch brands boast about their level of precision or incredible durability, AP pays just as much attention to impeccable finishes, intricate motifs, and eye-catching engravings.
Its independent spirit makes Audemars Piguet a seductive alternative to more well-known brands and the company’s collection of luxury mechanical watches feel inventive, innovative, and thoroughly modern.
If you want a luxury watch that distinguishes you as an Haute Horlogerie connoisseur, then an AP watch is for you.
Most popular model: the Royal Oak
4. A.Lange & Söhne
The first German luxury watch brand on our list, at A. Lange and Söhne, excellence and perfection is a priority at every stage of the process. The company prides itself on the dedication of all its workers and their commitment to consistently delivering the best.
At the heart of A. Lange and Söhne is a unique history. Founded in 1845, the company was expropriated after the Second World War. It wasn’t until after the reunification of Germany in 1990 that it would return.
It was Walter Lange, great-grandson of original founder Ferdinand A. Lange, who opened the doors to business again—launching the company back on its path to watch-making success.
With an intuitive understanding of aesthetics and an unwavering commitment to precision, A. Lange & Söhne’s designs stand out from the crowd of luxury watches with their distinct appearance that is very different to that of the Swiss watch brands.
Take the Lange 1, for example, first released just after the rebirth of the company. The company’s signature model, it is remarkable for its unusual and visually appealing asymmetric dial.
Watchmakers at the company spend three years at watchmaking school before they start work.
They are behind the peerless quality of A. Lange & Söhne timepieces, which can last a lifetime and be passed down through generations.
The brand’s watches have become the favoured timepieces of both celebrities and royalty, from Brad Pitt to Alexander II of Russia. One of the company’s many claims to fame is the fact it was the first watch-making business to create a wristwatch with a three-disc jumping numerals mechanism.
In short, A. Lange & Söhne is all the evidence the world needs that not all the best luxury timepieces are Swiss.
Most popular model: the Lange 1
5. Omega
The first brand from the Swatch Group on our list, Omega has been delivering exceptional luxury watches to horophiles and watch collectors for more than 170 years.
Omega watches have travelled to the North Pole, been launched into space, and descended into the depths of the ocean in submarines. As a consequence, Omega has gained a reputation as one of the successful wristwatch brands in the world.
Founded in 1848 in a small Swiss village under the name Louis Brandt & Fil, the company launched its first series-produced caliber—the ‘Labrador’—in 1885. In 1892 they introduced the world to a minute-repeating watch—the first of its kind. In 1894, they produced the Omega caliber, whose success prompted a change of name to the Omega Watch Company.
Since then, the pace of success has hardly slowed for Omega. Indeed, Omega watches have broken several precision records. At the 1931 Geneva observatory trials—nicknamed the Olympics of watchmaking—Omega came first place in all six categories.
Meanwhile, the Omega Speedmaster Professional was the first watch to be worn on the moon—on the wrist of Buzz Aldrin. To this day, most American astronauts will only wear an Omega Speedmaster.
It’s certainly an illustrious history. Need more persuasion as to the enduring appeal of an Omega watch? They’ve been worn by the likes of the king of rock ‘n’ roll, Elvis Presley, and American president, John F. Kennedy.
For incredible performance and timeless design, an Omega watch has you covered. With name recognition in spades and a supreme standard of quality, your search for a luxury timepiece could easily end here.
In short, it’s no coincidence that the Omega is Greek for greatness and perfection.
Most popular model: the Omega Speedmaster
6. Blancpain
Perpetual calendars, tourbillons, carousels, and chronographs—the level of intricacy of the mechanisms contained within a Blancpain watch are astounding. Creating one requires an almost unimaginable capacity for precision.
It also requires time. Indeed, only 30 watches are produced in the Blancpain workshop each day. This means there are only a limited number out there, which brings Blancpain to an incredible level of exclusivity, propelling the Swatch Group brand into the very top tier of luxury watches.
For Blancpain, nothing beats traditional Swiss craftsmanship for mechanical watches. For this reason, you won’t find a single digital component in a Blancpain timepiece. Furthermore, all Blancpain watches are created with balance springs made from silicon. This improves performance and precision, and, importantly, creates magnetic resistance.
Decorative adornments are the finishing touch to a luxury watch—and they are what distinguishes Blancpain from competitors. Ornamentation includes etchings and miniature portraits in enamel, plus the integration of innovative materials such as Japanese shakudō, an ancient metal alloy, and binchōtan, a type of charcoal.
Dedicated to upholding the impeccably high standards associated with Haute Horlogerie, Blancpain takes pride in its heritage and the great tradition of watch-making. But innovation also occupies a central place in the company. Blancpain is known for creating certain unique complications, including a Carrousel Volant Une Minute, and an annual calendar combined with a GMT function.
If you’re looking for a unique time-keeping device that will reliably keep the time for decades, plus offer some fashion punch on the side, a Blancpain watch is not an indulgence but an exceptional investment.
Most popular model: the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms
7. IWC Schaffhausen
When shopping for a luxury watch, it’s easy to get bogged down in the details: the mechanics and the complex internal workings. But at the end of the day, you also need to ask: does it look good? Does it complement your personal style?
An IWC Schaffhausen watch is that rare thing: a luxury accessory that marries flawless functionality with exceptional design.
The International Watch Company (IWC) was founded in 1868 by a Bostonian: Florentine Ariosto Jones. The company created a name for itself by bringing together innovative new American production techniques with the traditional skills of master Swiss watchmakers. The result? World-class watches that stand out both aesthetically and in terms of reliability.
While the majority of Swiss watch manufacturers are located in the west of the country, IWC Schaffhausen is located in the east, where it makes use of the Rhine river for hydropower.
Indeed, for eco-conscious consumers, a major advantage to an IWC Schaffhausen watch is the company’s commitment to sustainability. They were the first Swiss luxury watchmaker to produce a sustainability report to Global Reporting Initiative Standards, setting out their sustainability targets.
But that means nothing if the watches themselves don’t quite meet the necessary standards. Fortunately they do—without question.
Taking advantage of cutting-edge technology to deliver the highest level of precision, and combining this peerless engineering with the efforts of progressive designers, IWC Schaffhausen brings the best in global watch-making to your wrist.
There are 6 IWC watch families: Pilot’s Watches, Portugieser, Ingenieur, Aquatimer, Da Vinci and Portofino. This range includes everyday watches, sports watches, and watches that can only be described as minor works of art—sure to be a conversation starter.
An IWC watch is that dream combination of sophistication and durability. Effortless elegance alongside peerless quality and precision make an IWC watch one of the best on the market.
Most popular model: the IWC Portugieser Chronograph Ref. 3714
8. Jaeger-LeCoultre
If you’re looking for a luxury timepiece that will definitely turn heads, then you want to begin by browsing the collections of high-end watch brand, Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Jaeger-LeCoultre is known within the industry for its inventiveness. In fact, JLC has developed over 1,200 individual calibers and holds 400 unique patents—a testament to its capacity for cutting-edge design.
Take, for example, the brand’s Reverso collection, born in 1930 at the peak of the Art Deco movement. With its legendary rectangular design, it’s a horological great—and the perfect unisex watch.
Or what about the aptly named Grande Complication—known as one of the world’s most complicated watches? The company is also responsible for the world’s smallest mechanical movement, named the Calibre 101.
Many luxury watchmakers pride themselves on their respect for and adherence to tradition. Sometimes this can feel a bit old-fashioned and outdated. JLC represents a more progressive choice, having gained a reputation for being one of the most creative and imaginative watchmakers in the industry.
The brand is still exceptionally prestigious though, and you can be assured of the high quality of each watch thanks to the 1,000 Hour Test each one undergoes. This is a program of internal certification, and includes movement testing before and after the casing of the watch. The 1,000 Hour Control engraving on the back of a JLC watch is guaranteed that it has passed this rigorous program.
A Jaeger-LeCoultre watch is precise, dignified, and marks the wearer out as a true luxury watch connoisseur. The company offers up to eight years warranty—but this is a safety net you’re unlikely to ever need.
Most popular model: the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso
9. Chopard
Known for its contemporary and playful designs, Chopard offers a fashionable and creative timepiece for style-savvy shoppers. Indeed, for luxury dress watches that will have everyone’s eyes on your wrist, Chopard is the luxury watch brand you need to know about.
Founded in 1860, Chopard was originally famous for making ladies’ watches and pocket watches. Today, as well as watches, the company also makes high-end jewellery for an upscale clientele.
Chopard is most famous within the watch industry for its Happy Diamonds Line, one of the company’s most highly-prized and recognisable collections, launched in 1976.
And it hasn’t stopped bringing out gorgeous watches ever since. Check out the wonderfully feminine Imperiale collection, for example: delicate, ethereal, yet nevertheless durable.
And if you’re all about a timepiece that sparkles, then check out the L’Heure du Diamant collection. It doesn’t get more luxurious than these fabulously opulent watches. It certainly is the hour of the diamond.
But a Chopard watch is not simply a decorative watch. Some movements in the L.U.C. collection, for example, have a sixty-five-hour power reserve, allowing them to run for a very long period without slowing.
Or there’s the Mille Miglia collection, for example, born from a partnership with the Mille Miglia race in Italy. Or the brand’s new sport-chic Alpine Eagle collection, inspired by the Alps, and designed to have the strength and resilience comparable to a bird of prey.
You might also take a look at the brand’s Classic Racing watches: serious, down-to-earth, and demonstrating Chopard’s well-attested capacity for extreme precision and performance.
For a state-of-the-art luxury watch—one highly-coveted by those in the know—it’s definitely worth your time browsing Chopard’s collections. A Chopard watch offers wearers a function-packed watch—that also happens to be an impeccably sophisticated accessory.
Most popular model: the Chopard L.U.C Full Strike
10. Piaget
Many luxury watches tend towards the bulkier end of the spectrum. For many people, they want something more low-key, understated, and less obtrusive on the wrist. Piaget took up the challenge.
Indeed, Piaget is most famous for being a pioneer in ultra-thin watch calibers. This is the company behind both the world’s thinnest manual wind watch and the world’s thinnest automatic watch. Today, Piaget is known for its slim and pared-back designs—the last word in horological elegance.
Piaget makes jewellery as well as watches and this might explain the brand’s innate grasp of aesthetics.
In fact, it’s this embrace of powerful and unique design that makes a Piaget watch so special. Demonstrating an exquisite marriage of style and function, Piaget pays just as much attention to the visual appeal as the inner mechanics of its watches. A Piaget watch may be less well-known than a Rolex but it’s no less iconic.
But that’s not all. Piaget is also celebrated for its incredible attention to detail and precision engineering—all required to deliver flawless micro-mechanics on this scale. A Piaget watch demonstrates that a watch is far more than just a timekeeping device: it’s a display of human ingenuity.
With a rich 140-year-long history, Piaget showcases feats of pure artistry, elevating the brand to the ranks of the top 10 luxury watch brands in the world. Whether you’re looking for something for special occasions or something you can wear every day, then Piaget has a watch for you.
Most popular model: the Piaget Altiplano Ultimate
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