A luxury Swiss watch is renowned the world over as the gold standard in horology, its the very definition of timeless excellence. We couldn’t list down all the brands on a single post hence we have broken them down into a series.
Just like the unrelenting tradition of watch making that has been etched into the Switzerland culture for centuries where watchmakers have passed down their artistry to subsequent generations, we promise to maintain the same zeal in providing exceptional content periodically.
Omega
OMEGA has built its reputation on revolutionary watch movements as seen from their Master Chronometer watches, which have earned that designation by passing tests approved by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology.
They have maintained a minimalistic sporty design for their watches and the creative use of rare materials and alloys to enhance the watches’ aesthetic appeal and improve their quality.
Omega has been considered as James Bond’s favourite watch and it holds the title of being the first watch on the moon as it was worn by buzz aldrin on the Apollo flight. Its famous models are the seamaster, constellation, speedmaster and de ville. The Omega De Ville Central Tourbillon is a sublime expression of the art of watchmaking boasting to be the only Central tourbillion wristwatch in the world.
IWC (Schaffhausen)
Founded in 1868 in the town of Schaffhaussen. IWC stands for the international watch company, which sounds so American, that’s because it is. Florentine Ariosto Jones was an American watchmaking pioneer who partnered with qualified Swiss watchmakers, and used revolutionary technology to manufacture watch movements of the highest possible quality He christened the company International watch company.
More than 150 years later, IWC still produces watches that meet the highest possible technical benchmarks.
With accolades such as the IWC II Destriero Scafusia which was touted as the most complicated wristwatch in the world at the time of its launch. Its popular watch models are Portofino, da vinci, portugieser, ingenieur and aquatimer.
Breitling
Breitling’s history goes back a long way when Léon Breitling founded the company in 1884, ever since it has been known for its high grade aviator chronographs with a multitude of additional functionality.
All its watches are designated as chronometers after having passed the stringent certification by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres. Breitling is a favorite for pilots and adrenaline junkies.
Its popular models are the Chronomat, Navitimer, Superocean, Transocean, Emergency, Breitling for Bentley, Avenger.
Rolex
Arguably the most famous luxury Swiss made watch, Rolex history dates back to 1905, where young lad Hans Wilsdorf at the age of 24 founded a company in London which specialized in the distribution of timepieces.
He equipped his watches very precise watch movements manufactured by a Swiss watchmaking company in Bienne.
His quest for quality and precision resulted to Rolex being the first wristwatch in the world to receive the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision in 1910.
He later moved his company to Geneva, Switzerland to be associated with the watch capital of the world.
The Rolex oyster 1926 was the first waterproof wristwatch. Models such as the rolex Datejust have transcended changes in fashion, aesthetically maintained an elegant look which has spanned several eras making it one of the most recognized and recognizable of watches since 1945.
Tag Heuer
Tag Heuer purports its brand as one which defies the time-honored conventions of Swiss watchmaking, charting its own path which has led it to ever higher levels of precision and performance.
Founded in 1860 by Edouard Heuer, its square shaped watches were deemed unconventional since the revolutionary launch of the Heuer Monaco in 1969.
It was the first time a chronograph with a square case hit the market and shook the Swiss watchmaking world to its core. A year later, legendary actor and Motorsports enthusiast Steve McQueen wore it while shooting famed film Le Mans that hit theaters in 1971 and catapulted the Monaco to iconic status.
It has accolades such as the Tag Heuer Mikrotimer Flying 1000 which was the world’s first-ever mechanical chronograph to measure and display 1/1,1000th of a second.
The Tag Heuer Carrera Mikrotourbillons is also the world’s fastest and most accurate double tourbillon.
Zenith
Zenith might not be well known to the uninitiated but it’s held in the highest regard by luxury watch aficionados. Founded by Georges Favre-Jacot in 1865.
He was a shrewd businessman who revolutionized watch production by uniting all the watchmaking professions under one roof, thereby inventing the very concept of a Manufacture.
Colloquially called the brand with a guiding star, Zenith has carved its reputation as a leader in luxury watchmaking with its first pocket chronograph in 1899 as well as the Defy El Primero 21 which its second hand sweeps with 1/100th of a second accuracy. Its well-known watch models are the chronomaster, elite, pilot, and the el-primero.
Breguet
The founder Abraham Louis Breguet is considered the greatest watchmaking genius in history.
With numerous inventions such as the tourbillon and the Breguet spiral which are the mode of operation in the watch industry today, its illustrious history is as glamorous as the craftmanship emloyed in all of its watches.
Its famed watch is the no 160 which pays homage to Marie-Antoinette, it is considered as one of the most complicated watches in the world. Other famous watch models from Breguet are: Reine de Naples, tradition, Classique, Héritage, Marine, Type XX.
