Watches are about more than just being punctual, in recent decades they’ve become synonymous with status, value and prestige, telling the world something about the wearer, as well as the time.
In this article, we’re delving into the rich histories of the world’s most popular watch brands and giving you a fascinating insight into the heritage and evolution of these iconic timepieces.
The Fascination with Luxury Watches
Luxury watches have age-old appeal, although at the start of the 20th century, you’d be more likely to see someone wearing a watch on a chain attached to their belt or the classic pocket watch.
It wasn’t until World War I when the wristwatch really came into its own as a practical and reliable solution for soldiers to tell the time, and the popularity of wristwatches has only grown in the intervening century.
As innovative watchmakers continued to discover ways to develop and improve wristwatches, iconic brands, such as Breitling, OMEGA and TAG Heuer became household names that were synonymous with dependability and luxury.
Today, the world’s leading luxury watchmakers continue to craft high-quality watches suitable for modern wearers whilst retaining that connection to their watchmaking history and commitment to fine craftsmanship.
Rolex: The Pinnacle of Prestige
It would be impossible to discuss popular watch brands without mentioning the prestigious powerhouse that is Rolex.
Founded in London in 1905 by German-born Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, the brand we now know as Rolex began its life as ‘Wilsdorf & Davis’.
Three years later, the company registered ‘Rolex’ as a trademark, wanting a brand that could easily be pronounced in any language, and they opened their first Swiss offices, where they would eventually relocate entirely.
Rolex is now the leading watch manufacturer worldwide and iconic lines such as the Submariner – first launched in 1953 as a diver’s watch – continue to be the first-choice of timepiece for many powerful and influential people.
Worn by leaders at the top of their game, from presidents and prime ministers to film stars and rappers, Rolexes are a symbol of power, confidence and precision. The brand is also associated with sportsmanship and athleticism thanks to its sponsorship of major sporting events such as tennis, golf, sailing and show jumping.
OMEGA: Timing the Universe
When young watchmaker Louis Brandt opened a small workshop in the Swiss village of La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1848 he could hardly have known that his name would go on to be one of the biggest names in watchmaking history and still be a globally recognised brand nearly 200 years later.
First recognised at the 1900 Universal Expo for innovation and advancements in watchmaking, OMEGA received the Grand Prize and would soon become the go-to choice for timekeeping at sporting events due to the accuracy and precision of their watches. To this day, OMEGA is closely associated with sports and has been the Official Timekeeper for almost every single Olympic games.
In 1965, the OMEGA Speedmaster became the first ever watch to be qualified by NASA for space flight and was worn by astronauts during the 1969 moon landing, cementing the brand’s legacy and association with space exploration.
Breitling: Aviation’s Watchmaker
Founded over 140 years ago in Switzerland by Léon Breitling, the Breitling brand launched their first chronograph wristwatch in 1915 at the suggestion of Léon’s son, Gaston.
The evolution was continued by Willy Breitling, Léon’s grandson who came up with the idea of an additional push-button feature that would reset the stopwatch function in order to time successive events, which has become the standard for modern-day chronographs.
In 1938 Breitling founded an aviation department to meet the need for reliable onboard instruments and began manufacturing chronographs for aircraft. By the 1950s Breitling had developed a wrist-worn chronograph for pilots that allowed them to make all the necessary flight calculations and could be manipulated even when wearing gloves.
This would soon become the official timepiece of the world’s largest piloting club and Breitling’s association with the aviation industry was sealed.
Due to the brand’s rich history and reputation for quality, preowned Breitling watches remain highly sought after by collectors and aviation enthusiasts alike.
TAG Heuer: Speed and Innovation
TAG Heuer was founded in 1860 by Edouard Heuer who opened his first watch shop in Saint Imier, Switzerland.
From their 1919 ‘Solunar’ model, that allowed hunters and fishermen to track tide times and moon phases to the 1963 ‘Heuer Carrera’ designed for sports and motor racing, the brand has grown from strength-to-strength with each generation.
By sponsoring Swiss Formula One champion Jo Siffert, TAG Heuer became the first non-automotive logo to appear on a Formula One car and thus cemented its decades-long relationship with the racing industry.
The company continues to be at the forefront of new technology and innovations in watchmaking, and in 2015, launched the first Swiss luxury smartwatch. The brand is also a firm favourite among celebrities, having been sported by film stars like Leonardo di Caprio, Dwayne Johnson, Cameron Diaz and Uma Thurman to name just a few.