There are plenty of luxury watch brands on the market to consider, but after doing my research for months, I know exactly what makes a luxury watch good and I also know the best brands to pick.
After starting to build my collection of watches, I found that the Panerai Luminor Chronograph Daylight (link to eBay) and the Breitling Wings (link to eBay) are my top picks. I believe that both watches are the perfect dichotomy, and are recognizable and extremely well-crafted: the Panerai Luminor Daylight provides a formal look that keeps you covered for special events, while the Breitling Wings provides a more flashy look for day-to-day wear.
What To Look For When Buying A Good Luxury Watch
- Materials – Choose a luxury watch that is made out of high-quality materials. For example, brushed stainless steel, gold, and other precious metals are great materials for the case, bracelet, and internal moving parts. Also, keep an eye out for the quality of leather straps and bands.
- Movement – Choose a luxury watch with a high-quality movement. A quartz(battery-operated) movement is usually more accurate, but automatic movement demonstrates the intricacy and passion behind the watch manufacturing process. I generally recommend automatic over quartz.
- Watch Size – The size of a watch is extremely important for wearability purposes. If a watch doesn’t fit you well, then it can look off-putting whenever you put it on. Here are my recommendations for every watch size:
- Smaller wrists (14cm to 18cm) – 38 mm or below to 42 mm case diameter (these sizes are also considered “unisex”)
- Larger wrists (18cm+) – 44mm to 46+ mm case diameter
- Style – Choose a luxury watch that accentuates your style and look. If you’re simple and classic, look for a timepiece with a minimal look. If you’re someone who likes to stand out a bit more, then look for a more flashy watch.
- Purpose – Consider what you’re going to use the timepiece for. Buy a watch that is best suited for your needs.
- Diver/Athletic? – Consider a dive watch or sports watch for activities.
- Formal Attire? – Consider watches with a high-end leather strap for a classy look.
- Everyday Wear? Consider a reliable watch that’s easy to wear.
Best Luxury Watch Brands To Consider
- Rolex – Rolex is by far the most popular watch brand in the world and is one of the most recognizable brands ever. Watches from Rolex are top tier, and they are always a brand you should consider if you’re looking to buy a luxury watch.
- Omega – Omega is a mainstream watch brand that makes a wide variety of exquisite timepieces, and I most certainly recommend them.
- Panerai – The Panerai Luminor Chorograph Daylight (link to eBay) gets my pick for the best timepiece. After using it for years, I absolutely love the brand’s simplistic design, and the craftsmanship behind their watches compete with the top watch brands in the world.
- Patek Philippe – Part of the “Holy Trinity” or “Big Three” of watches, Patek Philippe has been a pillar in the watch industry that has influenced for decades. When it comes down to craftsmanship, timekeeping, and complications, Patek Philippe is extremely hard to beat, and it is one of my goals to attain a Patek watch in the future.
- Audemars Piguet – AP is one of the most sought after brands in the luxury watch industry right now, and the Royal Oak model is one of the hottest watches on the market. Also part of the “Big Three”, Audemars Piguet has impeccable craftsmanship and attention to detail.
- IWC – IWC (International Watch Company) is an extremely underrated luxury watch brand in my opinion. Their high-quality materials, in-house movements, and stylish design puts them near the top of the luxury watch industry, and I plan to buy one of their watches in the future.
- Breitling – Breitling is one of my favorite luxury watch brands, and their Wings watch (link to eBay) is my top pick from them. Breitling is known for their flashy design and intricate dials, and I couldn’t recommend them enough after wearing their watch for years.
- Tudor – Tudor is a brand that has rivaled Rolex for years. If you want a brand that produces high quality watches similar to Rolex, but you want to show others that you’re a real watch enthusiast, I recommend the Tudor brand.
- Vacheron Constantin – The final brand of the “Big Three”, Vacheron Constantin is adored by watch enthusiasts, collectors, and professionals because of their excellent luxury watches.
- TAG Heuer – TAG Heuer is one of the most affordable luxury watch brands on the market right now. If you are someone with a tighter budget, then I definitely recommend TAG Heuer.
- Cartier – While Cartier is known for making jewelry, they also manufacture amazing and iconic timepieces as well. The Cartier brand is credited for coming up with the “wristwatch” and have iconic watch models such as the “Tank” and “Santos”. I definitely recommend Cartier.
- Jaeger-LeCoultre – JLC has been known for making amazing timepieces, and is primarily known for one of the most iconic watches ever, which is the “Reverso”. They are an extremely reputable brand, and well-respected among watch enthusiasts.
In one of my best articles, I compared the average price of all of these top luxury watch brands against each other. If you want to see the average price of all of these luxury watch brands and the best watch models under each brand, you can check out my full, in-depth article by clicking right here!
Maintenance and Servicing Luxury Watches
When you buy your luxury watch, it is essential to keep it in the best condition for as long as possible, which is why servicing and maintenance are so important and helps your watch last for years and years. I will provide a list of resources to help you keep your watch lasting for as long as possible:
- How Often You Should Service A Luxury Watch: click here to view my in-depth article
- Where You Should Store A Luxury Watch At Night: click here to view my in-depth article
- What To Do If Your Watch Gets Stolen: click here to view my in-depth article
- What Is A Watch Overhaul: click here for the article