Luxury watches are easy to notice and express the status of the owner. However, there are many people who don't know which luxury watch brand to choose from.
In such a situation, don't you think it would be easier to choose a watch that suits you if you knew the brand's ranking (position)?
So, in this article, we would like to introduce the criteria that determine the "grade" of a watch, as well as the rating ranking. Please read to the end!
What are the rating criteria?
Grading Criteria 1: Precision
Most luxury watches are mechanical and extremely complicated to make.
Luxury watches can be broadly divided into battery-powered (quartz) and spring-powered mechanical watches. Mechanical watches are extremely complex, with craftsmen carefully crafting hundreds of tiny parts that are then assembled to complete a single watch.
In addition, there are not many brands that have the technology to produce models with complex mechanisms such as perpetual calendars, so brands that produce them with high precision can be said to be of high prestige.
Rating criterion ②: Design
Another important point is that there are models with timeless designs that continue to fascinate fans for years. A watch that goes in and out of fashion and loses value cannot be said to be of high quality. A truly high-quality watch is one that continues to be highly valued over time.
In addition, luxury watches often use "luxury materials" such as diamonds . One of the characteristics of luxury watches is that the value of the materials themselves does not decrease.
Grading Criteria 3: Manufacture
As mentioned above, mechanical watches are made up of hundreds of extremely small parts that are assembled together. Making all of these parts in-house is called a "manufacture, " and it is very costly because they must manage all of the small parts and quality control in-house. However, on the other hand, it can also be said that the fact that they have the technical ability and corporate strength to make this happen gives them a high status in the watch industry.
Rating criterion 4: Contribution to history
Brands that have achieved great feats that are engraved in the history of watches, such as "inventing a new mechanism" or "making an impact on the watch industry with innovative design and technology," can be said to be of a high status. They don't just create trends, they also contribute to the development of the watch industry, and it is because of these achievements that the watch industry exists today. In sports, for example, athletes who break world records are still considered great athletes, even if their records are subsequently broken.
Rating Ranking Top 5
Well, sorry for the wait. From here, we will introduce the brands ranked according to the above criteria.
1st place: Patek Philippe
First, let's start with Patek Philippe, one of the three major watch brands in the world. It is said to be one step ahead of the other three major watch brands in the world, and boasts an overwhelming status .
Its features are "the highest level of precision" and "noble design."
As proof of the precision of Patek Philippe watches, almost every watch that Patek Philippe has ever sold has been awarded the Geneva Seal.
(*) Geneva Seal: A mark of quality for Swiss watches that meets the standards set by the Swiss government and the Canton of Geneva. In addition to precision, there are also specifications for manufacturing methods and finishing.
Not only that, in recent years they have created the "Patek Philippe Seal" with their own unique standards that are stricter than the Geneva Seal , and they only make watches that meet these standards .
Next, regarding the design, you can see this by looking at the photo as an example. It is simple, yet the balance between the round shape and the hands is exquisite, drawing the viewer in. No matter how much you look at it, you will never get bored of the design .
Since its founding in 839, Patek Philippe has been loved by many aristocrats and artists, including Queen Victoria of England and Tchaikovsky.
Furthermore, the company makes efforts to maintain high value even for second-hand watches, such as by buying back used watches at a fixed high price, so that the value will never decrease .
2nd place: Audemars Piguet
Next up is Audemars Piguet, one of the three biggest watch brands in the world.
The most distinctive feature of the brand is its history .
Founded in 1875 by two men, Jules-Louis Audemars and Edouard-Auguste Piguet, the brand was named after them. Since its founding in 1875, Audemars Piguet has remained a family-run business . With a history of "preserving its lineage and continuing for a long time without being acquired" for over a hundred years, it has become a very popular brand among business owners .
It also has distinctive features in terms of its technology and design .
The company has adopted the philosophy of " combining tradition and innovation " and makes watches based on this philosophy, which is still passed down today.
For example, the Royal Oak in the photo is an exceptional watch at the time of its release, and is extremely popular to this day due to its thinness and water resistance to 50 meters . It is said to be the forerunner of luxury sports watches, and is a model that embodies Audemars Piguet's philosophy , combining high technical and design capabilities. Incidentally, this octagonal bezel is said to be modeled after the portholes of the British ship Royal Oak.
3rd Place: Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin is the last of the three major watch brands in the world.
This brand has notable achievements in the areas of history, technology, and design.
First, let's talk about its history. Vacheron Constantin was founded by Jean-Marc Vacheron in 1755. It is the oldest watch brand, having been in business for over 260 years since its founding .
Next, let's talk about technology. In 1935, they produced the world's most complicated "Grand Complication" wristwatch, with 820 parts, as a gift to the King of Egypt, and in 2015, they released the "Ref. 57260," which is said to be the most complicated watch in history . Amazingly, the "Ref. 57260" took eight years to design and manufacture, and is equipped with 57 complicated mechanisms by combining cutting-edge technology and traditional methods.
Lastly, "design." In 1979, they released the "Calista," which used a total of 118 diamonds, totaling 130 carats. It took more than 6,000 hours to make, and was the most expensive at the time .
By the way, the brand has registered the trademark "Maltese cross" as a symbol that embodies its pride, and it is used on the dial, crown, lugs, etc.
4th place: Jaeger-LeCoultre
Next on our list is Jaeger-LeCoultre.
In 1833, founder Antoine LeCoultre set up a workshop to manufacture machines for manufacturing wristwatch parts, and Jaeger-LeCoultre was founded. Jaeger-LeCoultre then invented the Million Meter, a machine capable of measuring in microns. This was the most advanced technology at the time, and dramatically improved the accuracy of watches .
This led to the creation of an advanced production system, which has enabled the company to successfully manufacture over 350 different movements over the course of 60 years, many of which are models equipped with complex mechanisms.
Since 1902, the company has manufactured most of the movements for Patek Philippe, and has also supplied movements to Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet.
For these reasons, Jaeger-LeCoultre is also known for having the " highest level of technical expertise ."
The photo shows Jaeger-LeCoultre's flagship model, the Reverso series. Reverso means "rotating" in Latin, and the watch's distinctive design allows it to be turned inside out. It was designed to protect the windshield (glass) during polo matches, which were popular among the upper class, and has been loved by the upper class ever since. It is still a model that top-class people should wear today.
5. Breguet
The last one I'd like to introduce is Breguet.
It was founded in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet, a genius watchmaker who is said to have " advanced the history of watches by 200 years ." Many of the mechanisms and exterior styles that are now commonplace were invented by Breguet. It is said that he invented or improved about 70% of the mechanisms found in modern wristwatches .
For example, a typical mechanism is the "automatic winding" mechanism that is now installed in most luxury watches. Breguet was the first to realize a reliable automatic watch. There are also many other mechanisms, such as the "perpetual calendar" and the "tourbillon."
Exterior styles include unique ones such as "guilloche", which engraves a regular pattern into the dial, and "coin-edge decoration", which gives the sides of the case a jagged finish.
~ Summary of articles ~
The criteria for rating watch brands are:
- Precision and practicality
- Design
- Manufacture
- Contribution to history
was.
When ranked according to this criteria,
- Patek Philippe
- Audemars Piguet
- Vacheron Constantin
- Jaeger-LeCoultre
- Breguet
have become.
Each brand has its own characteristics and history, and is a great brand, but Patek Philippe is definitely a cut above the others.
If you want to buy luxury watches at a low price, be sure to come to Commit Ginza!
- "I want to sell my unused luxury watch for as much as possible."
- "I want a thorough assessment."
- "I want to buy from a store with a good track record."
- "I want to buy luxury watches at low prices."
If you have these requirements, Commit Ginza is perfect for you!
Commit Ginza is a watch store that operates on the concept of "buy high, sell low" in the used watch market, where prices are said to be difficult to understand.
Our experienced watch appraisers assess the watches to determine the market value and set the appropriate price. We also strive to maximize the profit margins of our stores and improve customer satisfaction.
As a result, the commission rate for deposit sales is only 3% (industry average is 10%).
