The 25 Best Luxury Watch Brands of All Time

A good watch is a timeless investment. Here is our list of icons.

With the advent of the digital age and the rise of smartphones, some speculated the timepiece would go the way of the pocket watch and become obsolete. A similar conversation came up again when the Apple watch was born. But those who have wondered about the fate of the traditional timepiece may have been missing the point. Yes, phones have given us a very efficient way to keep track of the hours, but has the appeal of a watch—especially a luxury one—ever really rested solely on practicality?

It is as much a signifier of status and taste—and, as auction records prove time and again, an excellent investment. But of course not all are created equal. Heritage watch brands exist for a reason, and many have been mastering their craft for centuries. So, where should you start? “Watch collecting is a journey,” dealer and Graal founder Zoe Abelson recently told T&C. “For your first watch, figure out a budget and what you want out of it.”

We’re here to help. Consider this an essentials list of the top luxury watch brands you should have on your radar as you begin your search for the perfect heirloom. Want to get even more specific? Consult our lists of the best men’s luxury watch brands as well as the best watches for women. And once you have narrowed down your choices, we have even prepared a few pronunciation lessons to consult before making that purchase.

Piaget

Founded in: 1874 | Price: $26,500 USD | Made in: Switzerland

Georges-Édouard Piaget set up his first workshop on his family farm in the village of La Côte-aux-Fées in the Swiss mountains in 1874, launching the brand that is now famous for offering the thinnest automatic watch in the world.

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