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WATCH BRANDS BREIF HISTORY
Dec
History is Important
Watchmaking is a fascinating field that has been around for centuries.
The importance of watchmaking lies in its ability to create timepieces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The watchmaking industry has evolved over time, with new technologies and materials being introduced to improve the accuracy and durability of watches.
Omega:
Founded in 1848 in Switzerland, Omega is the official timekeeper of the Olympics and has adorned the wrists of astronauts during the Apollo 11 mission.
The Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch is a legendary timepiece because it’s the first watch worn on the moon by astronaut Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.
The Omega Speedmaster was the only watch qualified by NASA for all manned space missions and extravehicular activity (EVA). After the Apollo 11 landing, the Speedmaster became forever known as “the Moonwatch”.
Their watches blend sportiness with sophistication, and their well-constructed movements are highly regarded.
Rolex:
A true icon, Rolex was founded in 1905. The company registered Rolex as the brand name of its watches in 1908 and became Rolex Watch Co. Ltd. in 1915.
In 1910, a Rolex watch was the first wristwatch in the world to receive the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, granted by the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne.
Rolex is the most recognizable watch brand in the world and its watches are known for their accuracy, water-resistance, and longevity.
The Submariner model, worn by James Bond, is a classic.
Tudor:
Renowned for their precision, quality, and affordability. The brand was founded in 1926 by Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex, as an entry-level brand to complement Rolex.
The brand has a rich history of producing watches for professional divers and the military.
Today, Tudor is a sister company to Rolex, and both companies are owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation.
Patek Philippe:
Established in 1839, Patek Philippe crafts exquisite timepieces that are often considered investment pieces.
Patek Philippe is one of the most respected watch brands in the world and their attention to detail, intricate complications, and timeless designs set them apart.
Audemars Piguet:
Founded in 1875, Audemars Piguet gained fame with the Royal Oak collection created by Gerald Genta in the 1970s. Their Code 11.59 line also appeals to A-listers. These watches are both luxurious and statement-making.
Vacheron Constantin:
Vacheron Constantin is a Swiss luxury watch and clock manufacturer that was founded in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron, an independent watchmaker in Geneva.
This brand is referred to as one of the Holy Trinity of Watches, alongside Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet.
Some of the brand’s most popular models include the Patrimony Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Ref. 43175 and the Overseas World Time Ref. 7700V.
Breitling:
Breitling was founded in 1884 by Léon Breitling.
Breitling has a long history of producing iconic watches, such as the Navitimer, which is a pilot’s watch with a circular slide rule that can perform various calculations . Breitling also has a distinctive style, with large cases, bold dials, and polished finishes.
A brand that combines precision, performance, and elegance, with a motto of “Instruments for Professionals”. Breitling watches are designed for adventurers, pilots, and surfers who seek a bold and stylish statement.
Oris:
Oris is a Swiss watch brand that was founded in 1904.
Oris is known for its commitment to the diving community with the Aquis Date and aviation-inspired watches, especially the Oris Big Crown, which was launched in 1938 and featured a large crown that made it easy for pilots to adjust the watch while wearing gloves.
Oris has a motto of “real watches for real people” and supports various environmental and social causes through its watches and partnerships.
Tag Heuer:
Known for its sporty and stylish designs since 1860,
Heuer took out his first chronograph patent in 1882 and five years later came up with the oscillating pinion, the part that allows chronographs to be stopped and started, which is still used today
TAG Heuer offers a wide range of luxury watches, each with its own unique features and configurations. Some of their best models are the Monaco, Carrera, Aquaracer and Formula 1.
Raymond Weil:
Known for being a Swiss luxury watchmaker. The company was founded in 1976 in Geneva by Raymond Weil and Simone Bédat. It is one of the last family-owned luxury watchmaking brands in the world.
Each watch undergoes 350 checks to ensure high quality and consumer satisfaction.
They offer a variety of elegant and refined timepieces, many of which are inspired by music and the arts.
Cartier:
Founded in 1847, Cartier is renowned for its elegant and sophisticated watches.
The Tank and Santos collections are iconic, and their blend of artistry and craftsmanship appeals to discerning collectors.
Jaeger-LeCoultre:
Established in 1833, sophisticated, complex, and prestigious. Jaeger-LeCoultre is a Swiss brand that is known for its mastery of complications, such as tourbillons, perpetual calendars, and minute repeaters. Its Reverso model has a face that flips over to protect itself.
Breguet:
Historic, elegant, and refined. Founded in 1775. Breguet is one of the oldest watch brands in the world and its watches are famous for their guilloché dials, blued steel hands, and coin-edge cases.
Blancpain:
Blancpain is a Swiss luxury watch brand that was founded in 1735 by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain. It is one of the oldest watchmaking companies in the world and is known for its innovative and elegant designs.
Some of its most famous collections are the Fifty Fathoms, the Villeret, the Léman, and the L-Evolution.
Blancpain was the official timekeeper for the first manned spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin in 1961.
Zenith:
Zenith is a Swiss luxury watchmaker that has been in business since 1865. The company was founded by Georges Favre-Jacot in Le Locle, Switzerland when he was just 22 years old.
Zenith is one of the oldest continuously operating watchmakers and is best known for the high beat El Primero movement.
They offer elegant and innovative timepieces for both men and women, combining noble watchmaking traditions with avant-garde innovations.
IWC Schaffhausen:
The company was founded in 1868 by an American engineer named Florentine Ariosto Jones.
The company has a rich history of innovation and precision, and its watches are known for their exceptional quality and durability
IWC Schaffhausen has six lines of watches: Aviator, Portugieser, Ingenieur, Aquatimer, Da Vinci, and Portofino.
The company’s focus on aviation timepieces remains central to IWC today.
Hamilton:
Founded 1892 in the USA (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) and began producing pocket watches.
The Hamilton Watch Company ended American manufacture in 1969 and became integrated into the Swatch Group.
Hamilton played a vital role in this change by providing accurate timekeeping for the railroad industry.
In the 1960s, Hamilton began making military watches exclusively, leading to the creation of the MIL-W-46374. This design inspired the modern and ever-popular Khaki Field mechanical watch.
A Swiss watch brand that has been producing watches since 1832.
Panerai:
Bold, distinctive, and robust. Panerai is an Italian brand that was originally a supplier of watches for the Italian Navy and its watches are known for their large size, luminous dials, and cushion-shaped cases.
U-Boat:
They are known for their unique design and quality. The brand was founded in 2000 by Italo Fontana, who drew inspiration from his grandfather’s designs for the Italian Navy.
U-Boat watches feature a large crown on the left-hand side of the case and a distinctive look that conveys a sense of reliability and power.
The watches are assembled in Tuscany, Italy, and feature Swiss movement.
Tissot:
A Swiss watch brand that was founded in 1853.
Tissot introduced the first mass-produced pocket watch as well as the first pocket watch with two time zones in 1853 and the first anti-magnetic watch, in 1929–30.
Tissot watches are a great choice for those who want an affordable, functional, and stylish watch with a rich history and heritage.
Longines:
Founded 1832, a company with a long and rich history, focusing on elegance and tradition.
Longines positions itself in the entry to mid-tier of Swiss watches and is known for classic, well-made timepieces that offer a good balance between price and quality.
The company is responsible for many innovations and inventions over the years and has contributed to pushing the Swiss watch industry forward.
Grand Seiko:
A Japanese watch brand that was founded in 1960 with the goal of creating the “ideal” watch with standards of precision, durability, and beauty that would lead the world.
The Spring Drive movement was invented by Grand Seiko themselves back in 1998. The goal was to build an “everlasting” watch that would run on a mainspring yet deliver the same one-second-a-day precision as its electronic counterparts.
The Spring Drive movement is a hybrid movement that combines the best of mechanical and quartz technology. It uses a quartz oscillator to regulate the speed of the watch’s mechanical movement, resulting in a watch that is incredibly accurate and precise.
Seiko:
Founded in 1881, Reliable, versatile, and innovative. Seiko is a Japanese brand that makes watches with various movements, such as quartz, mechanical, solar, and kinetic.
Seiko also invented the first quartz watch and the first digital watch.
Citizen:
A Japanese electronics company primarily known for its watches and is the parent of American watch company Bulova. The company was founded in 1918
Their watches are known for their innovative technology, craftsmanship, and sustainability.
The brand has a long and rich history of constantly innovating, inventing, and improving its products.
Bulova:
An American timepiece manufacturing company that was founded in 1875 by Bohemian immigrant Joseph Bulova. The company makes watches, clocks, and accessories, and it is based in New York City.
The company also developed the Accutron watch, which used a resonating tuning fork as a means of regulating the time-keeping function.
Bulova was the first company to air a television commercial, which aired on July 1, 1941, during a baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies.
The company was sold to Citizen Watch Co. at the end of 2007.
Casio & Casio G-Shock:
A Japanese watch brand that has been making reliable, easy-to-use tickers since 1974.
Casio watches are a great choice for those who want an affordable, functional, and stylish watch with a rich history and heritage.
In 1983 Casio G-Shock was founded by Casio engineer Kikuo Ibe, who wanted to create a watch that could withstand a hard fall and continue working.
The first G-Shock watch, the DW-5000C, was released in 1983 and was designed to be shock-resistant and water-resistant up to 200 meters.
Watchmaking is a fascinating field that has been around for centuries.
