To celebrate the world of Haute Horlogerie and the upcoming BaselWorld – The World Watch and Jewellery Show, we decided to take a look at the top 10 watch brands in the world.
Undoubtedly, Rolex is one of the most commercially powerful brands in the world. Even my 94 year old grandmother knows what a Rolex is. While watch connoisseurs like to snob it, there is no denying that this company demands respect in terms of its iconic culture, marketing prowess and turnover.
The most expensive watches made by Rolex:
1942 Rolex Chronograph – € 1 Million
Eric Clapton’s 1971 Rolex Daytona – € 450.000
Rolex GMT 116769TBR – € 350.000
Founded in 1839, the Geneva based family run firm is as renowned for its precision and craftsmanship as it is for its rare and exclusive timepieces. The company has built its empire on the image of a sophisticated gentleman who belongs to a very elite club of old money.
Most expensive watches by Patek Philippe:
Super-complication Watch: € 9 Million
Watch Ref. 1527: € 5 Million
Caliber 89: € 4 Million
See also: Inspirational Ebooks That Will Improve Your Design Projects
The crème de la crème of Haute Horlogerie since 1775, Breguet combines exceptional expertise in the mastery of complex grande complication watches. That coupled with an incredible past history that includes Marie Antoinette and Napoleon makes Breguet stand out in a league of its own. Breguet also pioneered watch-making technologies such as the tourbillon (a mechanism to improve accuracy by escaping gravity)
Most expensive watches by Breguet:
Grande Complication Marie-Antoinette Number 160 – at least € 10 Million
Duc d’ Orleans Sympathique – € 6 Million
Antique Number 2667 – € 3 Million
Often snubbed by watch connoisseurs for their brash designs and lack of innovative features, you cannot, however, deny the history and legacy behind Panerai. In 1860, Govanni Panerai opened the first Panerai store in Ponte delle Grazie in Florence, which also played the role as a workshop and the city’s first watchmaking school. Although very popular a few years back, it has definitely slipped down the luxury watch hierarchy. Perhaps a younger design team and a more savvy marketing team will restore the brand to its former glory.
Most expensive watches by Panerai
Kampfschwimmer Watch – € 850.000
Marina Militare Black Seal Watch – € 300.000
Slytech Watch – € 300.000
See also: Boca do Lobo & COVETED Magazine: Top 100 Interior Designers 2017
As the creator of the first wristwatch, ‘the Santos de Cartier by Louis Cartier,’ the brand has acquired a huge legacy of watchmaking expertise. Today the brand is synonymous with elegance, refinement and superb craftsmanship.
Most expensive watches by Cartier:
Phoenix Décor Secret Watch – € 2 Million
Extra Large Ballon Bleu Tourbillon Diamond Watch – € 500.000
Extra Large Tortue High Complication Platinum Watch – € 350.000
A major player in watchmaking history since 1833, Jaeger-LeCoultre is the first manufacturer to have been established in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland. Today, Jaeger-LeCoultre is undoubtedly one of the most prolific in-house movement manufacturers.
Most expensive watches by Jaeger-LeCoultre
Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie – € 2 Million
Master Grand Tourbillon – € 530.000
Reverso Complication a Triptyque – € 500.000
See also: Boca do Lobo Presents the Ultimate Form of Art and Crafts
IWC is one of those brands that everyone simply loves! Continually churning out strong, focused timepieces, IWC is one of the most respected watch brands out there. Catering for those who appreciate a no frill design performance watch, the brand has become immensely popular over the past 10 years.
Most expensive watches by IWC
Siderale Scafusia – € 600.000
Grande Complication Platinum – € 318.000
Grande Complication Perpetual – € 240.000
The youngest luxury watch brand on our list, Hublot was founded in 1980 in Switzerland by Maksim Kuts. Since then, the brand was bought by the French luxury goods powerhouse LVMH Moet Hennessy. Its success is largely due to the fact that it has broken every watch convention by being one of the first to introduce the gold Hublot watch with the first natural rubber band. Hublot’s motto is simple and admirable: precision, high quality, elegant and sporty combined in one timepiece.
Most expensive watches by Hublot
The Hublot $5 million – € 4 Million
Million Dollar Black Caviar Bang – € 800.000
Bigger Bang Diamond Tourbillon Limited Edition – € 180.000
See also: 10 Interior Designers To Follow
Founded in 1875 in Le Brassus, a village in the Joux valley region in the heart of the Swiss Jura, Audemars Piguet has become renowned for its legendary spirit of innovation. Audemars Piguet is the oldest Manufacture of Haute Horlogerie never to have left the hands of the founding families.
Most expensive watches by Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak Complication: € 750.000
Jules Complication: € 700.000
Jules Grande Complication: € 630.000
One of the oldest Swiss watch manufacturers, Blancpain has been contributing to the development of luxury mechanical watchmaking since 1735. The interesting thing about this company is that it has vowed never to produce a quartz movement watch (perhaps to set it apart from the rest of the rat pack.) Each piece has a single watchmaker, thus ensuring the quality and coherence in the creation of each timepiece.
Most expensive pieces by Blancpain:
Tourbillon Diamants – € 1.4 Million
1735 Grande Complication – € 850.000
Carrousel Volant Une Minute Watch – € 350.000
All of these exquisite pieces are a perfect fit for our most recent Private Collection, where you can find a selection of safes distinguished for their haute craftsmanship and hyper-refinement, following a new hyper luxury trend. All of them are customizable with certified watch winders, humidors, safe drawers and safe boxes according to our clients’ needs.
Don´t miss the chance to subscribe our newsletter in order to receive our latest news and articles.
