The World’s Most Famous Watch Brands

The World’s Most Famous Watch Brands

A wristwatch is an amazing thing because it can tell a lot about its owner. This is because, in the modern world, their functions are as numerous as the number of manufacturers.

  • The first and most important is timekeeping. It is perceived as a mechanism—accurate, well-coordinated, and flawless operation.
  • The second aspect is also key—an element of individual style. A wristwatch is an eye-catching accessory that perfectly complements the closet.
  • The third moment is psychological. The presence of watches symbolizes a person who is responsible, punctual, businesslike, and keeps up with the times.
  • The fourth indicator is status, as each watch brand expresses a certain social level of its customers.

But watches are chosen not only for these reasons. Modern models are so perfect and protected from the negative effects of the environment that they become indispensable traveling companions. They practically save your life, helping you in the most difficult situations. To understand the range of these gadgets and sort and catalog them, pseudo-experts make “ratings” in which the first places put men’s and women’s watches of those brands that are profitable to them. Naturally, there can be no question of any fair criteria – this is just hidden marketing.

So, what should you pay attention to? What should be the basis for buying a wristwatch? Most often, they are evaluated by the following parameters:

  • innovative technologies and functions;
  • aesthetic appeal;
  • the total sum of points received from experts;
  • average annual sales turnover;
  • the level of demand among customers;
  • the number of products produced per year;
  • the market value of the brand, and so on.

The criteria are numerous, as some brands offer premium models while others focus on affordable wristwatches for customers with modest incomes. In addition, the length of time a company has been in business is crucial: the older it is, the more exclusive and expensive its products are. Some brands are short-lived and disappear as suddenly as they appear. And the true leaders bask in the glory, achieving global recognition.

We have studied all the nuances and made our list of watches. They are not divided by popularity or cost—only by manufacturers producing them for many years. Famous brands offer elite wristwatches that combine exquisite design, impeccable quality, and long-standing traditions. The companies presented here differ in that they can surprise you, and you only have to buy a wristwatch to be sure of that.

Of course, the question of price is not in the last place because the more expensive the model, the longer it will last, and the more accurate it will show the time. But why do watches have such a high cost? There are several objective reasons for this.

  1. Materials, components, and equipment. Elite watch manufacturers use expensive materials (precious metals and valuable minerals), patented technologies, and elite components. In addition to the famous brand name, the prices for such models can reach significant amounts.
  2. Quality of assembly, labor costs. Premium-class watches are often assembled manually. Given that most of them are produced in Switzerland, where the cost of labor is very high, the price of branded products can eventually jump to the level of prestigious cars. The place of production of components also plays a certain role.
  3. The prestige of the company and its pricing policy. In the elite segment of goods, the cost of wristwatches is dictated by the brand’s marketing. Firms occupying the first place in the rating deliberately set high product prices to demonstrate their exclusivity. They create a shortage of elite watches: they produce them by order and in limited batches, offering to stand in line.
  4. Place of production. The most expensive samples come from Switzerland, where watchmaking traditions are very strong. They are elevated to the rank of national culture, so if the dial bears the inscription “Swiss Made,” it is guaranteed that the watch uses at least 60% Swiss components with premium characteristics.

To make the right choice, we propose looking closely at watch brands, starting with the world’s masterpieces.

Legendary Watch Brands

Legendary Watch Brands

There is a category of manufacturers whose products belong to the highest level. They are equated to works of art or even to the creations of the fashion industry. We have selected the most reputable brands with impeccable reputations and long histories.

Breguet

Breguet Logo

Breguet is a master of watchmaking. It has existed since 1775, when, for the first time, a store selling exquisite products worthy of Parisian nobility and even royalty opened in the capital of France. Abraham-Louis Breguet opened the store, which was named after his family name. Now, the oldest representative of the industry belongs to the Swiss company Swatch Group.

The owner of the watch workshop was once considered a pioneer in his field, as he introduced several key technologies and patented them. Now, these technologies are a signature feature that enhances the uniqueness of branded watches. Among them are the self-winding movement, the precision-enhancing mechanism (tourbillon), and the anti-shock system. These epochal discoveries have influenced the watch’s value: the most expensive one was sold at auction in 2012 for $6.8 million.

Legendary products of the French master adorned the wrists and pockets of many prominent personalities. Napoleon Bonaparte, Gioachino Rossini, Queen Victoria, Winston Churchill, and King George III used Breguet products.

Audemars Piguet

Audemars Piguet Logo

This is also one of the oldest Swiss companies, but it appeared almost a hundred years later than the previous one. It was founded by Edward A. Piguet and Jules L. Odemar in 1875. Today, it retains the family business status and produces about 15,000 hand-built watches annually. Each model has a serial number and the master’s signature.

Audemars Piguet products are also characterized by individual developments introduced over time. These include the minute repeater mechanism and skeleton watches, which the company was the first to introduce. It also offers ultra-thin examples with an automatic tourbillon and the thinnest perpetual calendar.

The flat movement allows for the most elegant, sleek, and compact versions that perfectly adorn the wrist, bringing balance and harmony to the overall look. Many prominent personalities use Audemars Piguet watches made of premium materials: Usher, LeBron James, Tom Cruise, James Corden, and others.

A. Lange & Söhne

A. Lange & Söhne Logo

This elite watch company has two birthdays. The first was in 1845 when Ferdinand Adolf Lange founded it. The second was in 1990, when Walter Lange re-registered it and incorporated it into his company, Lange Uhren GmbH, now owned by the Swiss Richemont group.

Reviving his great-grandfather’s German watch brand, the new owner continued his work, supplementing the signature movement with a decent case. The luxury models are now made of platinum and gold—white, yellow, and pink. The luxury cases use in-house components: the company does not buy parts from third-party manufacturers but creates them. Thanks to this, the brand produces only 5,000 elite wristwatches per year.

Finishing is carried out according to individual standards, so, over the years, the company has become a leader in the “Haute Horlogerie” category. Assembly is done by hand and is always completed by fine-tuning the movement. Among the most famous examples are watches with an asymmetrical dial and without hands, where the time is displayed in separate windows.

Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe Logo

The company, founded by two Polish immigrants, gradually became the watch industry’s maestro, with the center in the canton of Geneva. Its products confidently compete with the products of famous brands, attracting not only beauty but also innovation. Having started from a modest workshop, the company, over time, turned into one of the most prestigious brands because its watches today occupy an honorable place in a special museum.

The company’s founders are Antoni Patek and Adrian Philippe, after whom it is named. The entrepreneurs founded it in 1839. The brand belongs to the Stern family, which has expanded its production base worldwide. Special attention is paid to unique mechanisms, including the most complex ones. Notably, eight of the ten most expensive watches sold are Patek Philippe.

Their distinctive feature is a perfect balance of innovative technologies and traditional design. They are a symbol of prestige, nobility, and high social status. Only gold models encrusted with diamonds are more expensive. Unsurprisingly, representatives of the highest nobility wore these luxury items: Pope Pius IX, the Austrian Emperor, and Queen Victoria.

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Jaeger-LeCoultre Logo

Another oldest brand is the Swiss Jaeger-LeCoultre. It was founded in 1833 when Antoine LeCoultre started producing watches that became luxury accessories. The Richemont Group currently owns the company. Watchmaking’s gradual evolution has peaked, resulting in the original handmade movements, which are luxurious, sophisticated, and innovative.

The technological process has positively impacted the brand: today, its products are in the category of luxury goods of the highest level. In addition, it owns hundreds of patents and inventions and more than 1000 unique developments that have no analogs worldwide. Among them are the most complex wristwatches and the most miniaturized device. In addition, the brand released the legendary Atmos watch with a perpetual movement. The company was also the first to produce watches without a crown.

To guarantee the quality of each sample, specialists apply a special control program consisting of 6 tests lasting 100 hours. These are elite products that skillfully combine ancient traditions and new technologies. One of the unique models is the Reverso rotating watch.

Blancpain

Blancpain Logo

This is one of the oldest Swiss watch brands, having existed for almost three hundred years. The company was founded in 1735 and is still pleased with excellent quality and unique mechanical models in classic design. Luxury items deserve attention not only for their appearance—they have original content, which the manufacturer tirelessly improves.

Blancpain is a part of the Swiss Swatch Group and is considered its leading brand. Its main pride is a diving watch. The novelty was released in 1953 and won the trust of divers. Modern samples are no less unique: they have a carefully designed case with original decorations, behind which hides an impeccable mechanism.

Such attributes emphasize the owners’ high status, impeccable taste, and individuality. The company owns several branded lines, including exquisite creations of precious metals and innovative technologies. Among them are ultra-thin movements, split-second functions, perpetual calendars, repeaters, and tourbillons.

Vacheron Constantin

Vacheron Constantin Logo

It is not just a brand but an entire watchmaking empire with its center, producing luxury products since 1755. Its list includes wristwatches and pocket models of an exclusive level. Currently, the company is a subsidiary of the Richemont group. Throughout its existence, the company has adhered to ancient technologies, which today perfectly fit into modern technology.

Not everyone can afford such watches because the most expensive model costs almost 9000 dollars. Vacheron Constantin’s watches were chosen by the Duke of Windsor, Pope Pius XI, and Napoleon Bonaparte. Among the celebrities of our time, they are preferred by Rick Ross, Kate Bosworth, and Marlon Brando.

This company produces real exclusivity. They create customized movements using the most expensive materials and individual designs. A distinctive feature of this watch is the Maltese cross decorating the dial and crown.

Top Watch Brands

Top Watch Brands

Among wristwatches, we would like to highlight the icons of style – prestigious and iconic, which are worn with awe by all those who shape the world of fashion. These designs are popular, well-known, and coveted. Demand for these brands’ products remains high worldwide and, by its looks, is unlikely to drop in the coming years. So, who are these style icons?

Omega

Omega Logo

This Swiss company can be safely considered legendary, as it has been around since 1848. That is true, but it had a different name: the current one appeared only in 1903 and immediately took its place in the logo. The founder of the watchmaker’s workshop is Louis Brandt, who opened it in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It is now a prestigious brand owned by The Swatch Group.

At one time, Omega produced the only watch certified for use in space. It adorned the wrist of astronaut Buzz Aldrin during his time on the moon. The company also owns waterproof models, which successfully withstood immersion to a depth of 135 meters. Not surprisingly, its products were worn by Jacques Mayo, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and many actors who played James Bond. Seamaster watches have set records for diving in and out of a bathyscaphe.

Hublot

Hublot Logo

Although the Hublot watch company isn’t very old and doesn’t have deep historical roots, its watches form the backbone of fashion accessories. They are hugely popular all over the world due to their unusual design. The porthole-shaped case, metal screws, gold luxury, and rubber straps are the main factors behind their popularity.

Subsequently, they gained a reputation for unusual accessories, with an inventive zest not found in watches from other companies. This is the brand’s hallmark, founded by Italian Carlo Crocco in 1980. Today, it is a subsidiary of the fashion giant LVMH and pleases fans with exquisite, iconic, unique watches in unusual formats. Luxurious minimalism is their advantage.

Rolex

Rolex Logo

These watches are known all over the world. They have become a style icon, emphasizing the owner’s high status and his sense of refined luxury. The founding of Rolex coincided with the beginning of the XX century, so it absorbed the main ideas of its environment and accurately embodied them in its branded products. As a result, its goods quickly spread to all corners of the world, delighting fans of modernized classics.

As with Hans Wilsdorf (the company’s founder), these watches are still hand-assembled today, demonstrating an unrivaled quality standard. At the same time, they are affordable as they are designed for official purposes and everyday wear. The main characteristics of this watch are a large power reserve, water resistance, automatic winding, shock resistance, high accuracy, and, of course, elegance. They are often worn by such world stars as David Beckham, Mark Wahlberg, Kanye West, Orlando Bloom, and Justin Timberlake.

Grand Seiko

Grand Seiko Logo

Grand Seiko wristwatches are a new word in the global market. The brand appeared in 2017, separating from the parent company with an almost identical name. Previously, it was a product line as part of a collection, but then it became an independent brand due to increased demand from luxury watch lovers. Now, it is a top-tier company with its aura.

The philosophy behind these prestigious watches is all about aesthetics. The Japanese company strives to maintain its reputation by giving the dial a three-dimensional look and the case a chased design. The combination of sharp edges, matte surfaces, and mirror finishes gives the brand’s watches a distinctive look and makes them top-notch. But quality comes first: the company carefully selects high-precision movements to measure the time that permeates us perfectly.

Luxury Watch Brands

Luxury Watch Brands

It is unrealistic to cover all luxury watch brands within the scope of this review, as it is a whole universe with its own design rules, beauty standards, and values. We have selected the manufacturers most popular in the luxury watch segment.

IWC

IWC Logo

This Swiss watch company began as a small luxury watchmaking workshop in Schaffhausen. Although it was considered a factory, it occupied a limited space. Its founder was the talented craftsman Florentin Ariosto Jones. He launched production in 1868, and since then, it has continued to please fans of quality wristwatches with a decent assortment. No wonder today, IWC is the center of innovative developments for the Richemont group.

For example, the company has produced watches with a 204-hour power reserve, nine hands, 659 parts, and the Pellaton system. All models are not only technically perfect but also beautiful. This combination has made them immensely popular as they work efficiently, are accurate, and look prestigious. Some models are even considered legendary.

Zenith

Zenith Logo

The origins of this watch brand date back to 1865, when a young watchmaker, Georges Favre-Jacot, opened a small workshop in the town of Le Locle. Gradually, it became a center of production of reliable and ultra-precise watches, as evidenced by the numerous awards received during the brand’s existence. In total, they have collected more than 2,000 awards.

Zenith watches are also recognized for their original design. The collection features models made in classic style, with unique decorations, including many precious stones. These include inlay and other intricate details. The company’s distinctive strategy is to produce its mechanical calibers.

Piaget

Piaget Logo

The brand’s founder is Georges Piaget. He created it in 1875 to produce watch movements. Later, the company switched to producing watches. Today, the firm is part of the Richemont group and offers luxury handmade products. The high price is explained by the individual assembly and the presence of a large amount of decoration, which elevates these products to the status of jewelry.

Each piece is characterized by exclusive details and ultra-thin movements, which cannot fail to please lovers of luxurious insides. The company offers wristwatches with the thinnest minute repeater and the flattest tourbillon. The most famous model features a gold cuff set with 236 diamonds and a lapis lazuli dial.

Chopard

Chopard Logo

This watch company’s Chopard history dates back to 1860 when Louis Ulysses Chopard founded it in the small town of Sonvilliers. His descendants owned it until 1963 when it passed to the Scheufele family. The German master made it extremely popular by setting up the production of elite watches.

It is to him that the brand owes its worldwide fame. The new owner introduced a well-recognized feature—precious stones, freely rotating, sealed in a transparent cover. Of course, this increases the cost of the watch, but it costs tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars not only because of the gems. Each piece hides an ultra-precise chronometric movement.

Ulysse Nardin

Ulysse Nardin Logo

This Swiss manufacturer can even be considered legendary, as its history dates back to 1846. It used to produce marine chronometers, but after its revival in 1983, it switched to a different lineup – luxury wristwatches of high complexity. Like the earlier models, they also became well-known all over the world.

By 1975, the brand had already won 18 gold medals, 2,411 special prizes, and 4,324 name certificates. Although headquartered in Le Locle, the company is part of the French fashion giant Kering and sells its products through a distribution network. All products have an easily recognizable mark – an emblem in the form of the brand’s anchor. The range also includes waterproof models for divers with a permissible immersion depth of up to 200 meters.

Cartier

Cartier Logo

Cartier offers exquisite jewelry and luxury watches. It has produced them for half a century, surprising fans with a beautiful combination of jewelry and wristwatches. Such products are recognizable by their unique charm—delicate, sweet, soft—so it is no wonder that the products of this brand are designed primarily for women.

Exquisite design is embodied in the use of precious stones and precious metals. These watches are so numerous and luxurious that their manufacturers are maharajas, sheiks, dukes, and kings. Almost all of the world’s elite generally choose Cartier luxury watches for themselves. Their prices range from modest to astronomical sums.

Breitling

Breitling Logo

This company, Breitling, was founded by Leon Breitling in 1884 in St. Imier and then moved to Grenchen, where it still operates successfully today. Its product range includes high-precision wristwatches for aviators—so-called commander’s watches—confirmed by COSC quality certificates.

Branded chronometers have protection against moisture penetration, increased durability, and unique bracelets. The latest models also have a radio transmitter to accurately determine the owner’s location. Elite models are so reliable that they can be fearlessly immersed in the seabed and lifted into the clouds.

Premium Class Watch Brands

Premium Class Watch Brands

Elite watch brands do not end there. They form the next category, which includes more affordable models but does not lag in technology from the ultra-expensive ones. This group is numerous and consists of well-known names in the international watch market. These products do not just decorate the wrist: they are devices with excellent technical characteristics and impeccable appearance.

Bell & Ross

Bell & Ross Logo

The French company, relatively young among watch brands, appeared in 1992. It grew out of a university project of founders Bruno Belamich and Carlos Rosillo, who named it using fragments of their surnames. Initially, production was centered in Germany, but after a few years, it moved to Switzerland. However, the headquarters are still located in Paris.

The brand’s main feature is a commander’s watch in a square case. Such clocks are designed for pilots to show accurate time at extreme altitudes. However, other models were added over time, and now the manufacturer produces three types of watches: vintage, marine, and aviation.

They differ in dial layout, movement, and case size. Some of them resemble instruments from an airplane cockpit. Traditional variants appeared later and are also in demand, along with models for divers and pilots. Thus, the young brand has become the best supplier of wristwatches for extreme sports enthusiasts and military professionals. It collaborates with the American SpaceLab, the French Air Force, and elite military units.

Panerai

Panerai Logo

The Italians are no worse than the Swiss in their knowledge of watches. This is confirmed by the Florentine company, which has existed since 1860. It was founded by Giovanni Panerai, who used it as a workshop, store, and training school. It has risen to the world level and belongs to the financial company Richemont SA.

Introducing new technical solutions, pursuing the highest quality, and working hard have turned a simple company into a leader in the watch industry. As a result, during the First World War, the Panerai became the main supplier of watches for the Royal Italian Navy, which influenced their design and functions. This fact had a significant impact on all the company’s activities.

The main feature of Italian watches’ design is the crown protector in the shape of a crescent moon. This solution is favorable from a design and high-tech perspective. It tightly fixes the rotating mechanism, preserves the tightness of the case, and increases the watch’s water resistance even at impressive depths.

Bulgari

Bulgari Logo

Italian brand Bulgari relies on beauty, producing watches, jewelry, perfumes, leather goods, and other fashion accessories. It is not just a company but a huge fashion empire, saturating the market with fashionable things. And wristwatches are one of them. They are unique designs with their character, original, expressive, and unusual, serving as an addition to the image.

The company had existed since 1884 when it was founded by Greek jeweler Sotirios Boulgaris, who named it after his surname in the English version. Later, designers replaced the letter “u” with “v” in the logo, emphasizing the expressiveness of the brand. But its name is still spelled correctly—Bulgari. Now, it is the third most popular brand after Tiffany and Cartier.

Their collection includes stunning watches with diamond, emerald, and ruby finishes. They are made of precious metals and are priced accordingly, which is very expensive. This Italian manufacturer’s favorite theme is the snake. Bracelets in the form of a coiled snake most often complement exclusive dials.

Maurice Lacroix

Maurice Lacroix Logo

The Swiss watch brand Maurice Lacroix was originally a division of Desco von Schulthess, a company founded in 1889 and came into being much later in 1975. Until then, it worked within the corporation to create high-end watches. It was named in honor of one of the board of directors members, who became its founder.

After the release of the first model, the newly formed brand confidently began to conquer the world market. It acquired the production of cases, began to create its mechanisms, and staked on a unique design. As a result, innovative ideas and the old developments of famous masters led to the company’s rise, opening its branches in different parts of the world. Its track record includes many masterpieces with calendar modules, power reserve indicators, and other sophisticated enhancements.

TAG Heuer

TAG Heuer Logo

The first part of this watch company’s name is “Techniques d’Avant Garde,” and the second is the founder’s surname, Edouard Heuer. He started the company in the Swiss town of St. Imier in 1860. This brand is known among fans of extreme sports and high speeds, as its products are designed primarily for racers. Sports watches are very popular, so the brand has repeatedly sponsored automobile, motorcycle, bicycle races, ski competitions, and soccer tournaments.

What makes TAG Heuer chronometers famous is their luxury level and impeccable quality. They are water-resistant, submersible up to 200 meters, and equipped with double clasps, steel bracelets, luminous hands and dial markers, sapphire crystal, screw-down crowns, and unidirectional rotating bezels. They undergo 60 mechanical tests before reaching customers.

Longines

Longines Logo

This Longines existed in 1832 when watchmaker Auguste Agassiz began his workshop with two lawyers, Florian Morel and Henri Reigel. They later went out of business, leaving the company to Agassiz. The brand’s prosperity began with the arrival of Ernest Francillon, an economist and nephew of the founder. An enterprising and clever man, he proposed several innovations that elevated watchmaking to a high level and brought brand recognition.

Since the introduction of the first chronograph movement (in 1878), the company has actively collaborated with various sports organizations and teams. It is an official partner of competitions in equestrian sports, gymnastics, horse racing, skiing, etc. Of course, over time, watches have become more reliable, and their appearance has become more exclusive. This premium brand offers durable, light, thin, and accurate models.

Business-Class Watch Brands

Business-Class Watch Brands

Next, we will talk about more affordable watch brands. They are also characterized by high-quality, branded design and are considered legendary, but they cost less than those described earlier. There are several objective reasons for this:

  • Lower cost.
  • Faster payback.
  • Recent entry into the market.
  • The desire to compete with more prestigious brands.

Tissot

Tissot Logo

The Swiss company Tissot appeared in 1853. Then, Charles-Félicien Tissot and his son Charles-Emile Tissot opened a workshop in Le Locle, which gradually turned into a home mini-factory. It now deservedly represents the best watch brands, as it was the first to produce a self-winding movement. The hands of its dials do not deviate even under the influence of magnetic waves. Many models use various innovative technologies.

The manufacturer is also very serious about the product’s appearance, paying special attention to respectability. Each instance of his wristwatch is a genuine piece of jewelry. The brand’s lineup includes variants with wooden and stone cases, a limited sports series, and watches with a feminine design.

Balmain

Balmain Logo

Pierre Balmain created Balmain in 1945, but it debuted as a watch brand in 1987 when Swatch Group launched the production of Swiss watches. This brand has gained fame thanks to its original design of women’s models. These models are decorated with elegant Arabic ornaments, which makes them bright accessories.

The price range for such watches is very wide, so those who want to buy a refined and fashionable watch with good technical parameters will easily find a suitable copy. The company offers incredibly expensive samples encrusted with diamonds but mostly presents watches in the middle-price segment.

Tudor

Tudor Logo

This is a sub-brand of Rolex: it is its subsidiary, and the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation owns both. The Tudor appeared in Geneva in 1926 but did not fully enter the watch market until 1946. It started producing ultra-protective watches for professional divers and military personnel then.

The young brand initially positioned itself as an affordable alternative to Rolex and always emphasized its connection with the leading manufacturer. This marketing move allowed it to rise quickly and gain the trust of its fans, as its watches are just as reliable and spectacular as the parent company’s wristwatches.

Victorinox

Victorinox Logo

Watches are not Victorinox’s main products. It specializes in producing penknives, equipment, and clothing for tourists. The company has been around for a long time, as it was founded in 1884, focusing on the military direction.

Of course, this is reflected in the quality of the products: before hitting the shelves, watches undergo thorough control and certification. As a result, only the best samples with a three-year warranty get into the stores. The assortment includes both men’s and women’s models. They are regularly updated with new samples using innovative technologies.

Affordable Watch Brands

Affordable Watch Brands

So, we came to the most affordable price segment, whose products are also characterized by high quality and popularity. These products are known for their low cost and excellent design, although not all are Swiss.

Timex

Timex Logo

This is an American watch brand. Since its inception in 1854, it has been focused on ordinary consumers for whom a good thing is important, not prestige. Over the years, the company has remained true to its principles, so it produces inexpensive products, which today are chosen even by celebrities and politicians.

As a result, Timex is among the top five best-selling brands in the world and is recognized as the best in the United States. It has moved away from producing European analogs and found its own identity. Its watches are versatile, highly functional, technological, and practical. They were once considered “watches that glorify the dollar.” That is, they are affordable timepieces for all occasions.

Citizen

Citizen Logo

Although Citizen Japan’s main specialty is not watchmaking, it still does a great job. As a result, it produces high-precision chronometers supported by its proprietary Eco-Drive technology. This ensures that both artificial and natural light sources power them.

In addition, some products are equipped with a built-in radio antenna and can synchronize with satellites. The brightest representatives of this brand also have automatic world time correction and an unbreakable battery with a charge indicator.

Swatch

Swatch Logo

Swatch is a famous Swiss brand. The company was founded in 1983 in response to the quartz crisis that swept the world in the 1970s and 1980s. Three entrepreneurs brought inexpensive battery-powered electronic watches to the market.

Jacques Muller, Elmar Mock, and Ernst Tomke gave the brand a name, hinting that it was a “second watch” (that’s how its meaning is deciphered). The watch was created as a beautiful accessory for everyday use. Today, the company is a part of The Swatch Group, continuing to please fans of fashionable looks with modern models made of durable plastic.

Casio

Casio Logo

The Japanese also excel in the production of stylish and affordable watches. An example is the Casio brand, which has saturated the international market with quartz movements. Founded in 1946, the company produced cell phones, calculators, photo and video cameras, and electronic musical instruments.

Later, digital and analog watches were added to the list of products. Since they are not decorated with diamonds, their prices are quite acceptable. The company presented its debut samples in the 1980s-1990s, choosing the mass consumer segment. It developed models that can withstand incredible loads, have high water resistance, and are equipped with batteries with a 10-year service life. These are modern multifunctional gadgets with innovative technologies.

Orient

Orient Logo

This company got its current name half a century after its foundation. It appeared in 1901 in Tokyo under Yoshida Watch Shop, a wholesale store opened by entrepreneur Shogoro Yoshida. Over time, the brand seriously focused on watches, offering manual and automatic winding mechanical models, solar (light), radio-controlled, and quartz.

Orient has now become a subsidiary brand of the Epson Corporation and manufactures products in its factory. It also produces movements for its watches, making it one of the top three Japanese watch companies. It has several customized developments in micro-mechanics and some excellent electronic models.

Seiko

Seiko Logo

This Japanese watch brand manufactures various electronic devices, including watches, jewelry, optical products, and semiconductors. Strangely enough, these all directly affect chronometers since the manufacturer’s main task is to supply modern, high-tech samples for widespread use.

Seiko was founded in 1881 by Kintaro Hattori, one of the most prominent watchmakers in history. During World War II, it became the main supplier of wristwatches to the Japanese army and produced the first quartz movement with complications.

Conclusion

What is a watch?

For some, it’s a trendy accessory; for others, a practical device; and for yet others, a status symbol. But, putting our hands on our hearts, we must all admit: it’s a universal attribute for measuring time, so the more accurate it is, the better. In modern times, additional features play a significant role in timepieces, although there are enthusiasts who highly appreciate them as works of art.

So, everyone chooses a watch based on their standards, requests, and needs. Which option will be personally yours, time and… will show. Your wallet. That’s why we told you about brands in different price categories. Of course, not all the world’s watch companies are on our list. There are many more, but we have grouped the most outstanding ones into categories. Don’t hesitate – choose the best!