The Top 10 Most Popular Watch Brands

The Watch Pages went live in 2020, and each year, we take a look at the Top 10 most popular watch brands that you are searching for – and the 10 most popular watch brands in 2022 were in alphabetical order:

The Top 10 Most Popular Watch Brands

Audemars Piguet

Audemars Piguet was founded in 1875 in the heart of the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland, and is one of the few remaining big independent brands. It is the oldest watch brand still managed by descendants of the founding families and one of the most popular watch brands on the market today. Audemars Piguet was the first company to release a high-end sports watch in steel, the Royal Oak, which is still one of the brand’s best-sellers today. The Royal Oak was designed by Gerald Genta in 1972 and helped the brand rise to its current prominence in the watch market. Another claim to fame is manufacturing the first-ever minute repeater movement in 1892. In 2019 they launched a completely new collection: The Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet, which features a three-piece designed round case with an octagonal mid-case. Only 45’000 watches are produced annually, making Audemars Piguet very exclusive watches indeed.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date

Hublot

Founded in 1980 by Carlo Crocco, Hublot is one of the youngest major watch brands. The brand is named after the French word for “porthole,” and the first watch ever created by Crocco featured the first natural rubber strap in watch-making history. In May 2004, Jean-Claude Biver joined the company as CEO and unveiled the brand’s new flagship collection, the Big Bang Chronograph, the following year, which received a multitude of prestigious awards worldwide. The Big Bang remains one of their best sellers today.

In 2008 Hublot was bought by the LVMH Group, which also owns watch brands like TAG Heuer, Bvlgari, and Zenith. Hublot is very active in partnerships and was actually the first watch brand to sponsor soccer, starting with the Swiss National team. Hublot was also the first brand to match a rubber strap on a luxury gold watch. Contrary to most brands, each of the 90+ Hublot boutiques is unique, each one taking its inspiration from its location; for example, in a Swiss ski resort, you will find yourself entering a cozy chalet.

Hublot Big Bang Unico Sorai
Hublot Big Bang Unico Sorai

IWC

Swiss watch brand IWC Schaffhausen was actually founded by an American in 1868. Florentine Ariosto Jones was a watchmaker and an engineer from Boston. He made the decision to sail to Switzerland to find a place to produce high-quality watches. He started the first true production facility for watchmaking, harnessing the power of the Rhine River in Schaffhausen, as his business partner Johann Heinrich Moser had figured out how they could use hydropower. During its early years, IWC produced pocket watches with a digital “Pallweber” display, as well as wristwatches for women and men.

Since 2000 IWC is owned by the Richemont Group and is known for its complications, pilot’s watches, Aquatimer dive watches, and the beloved Portugieser and Portofino collections. The Aquatimer was the first watch to be water-resistant to 2000 meters. Their Big Pilot’s Watch is probably their most recognizable timepiece with the iconic onion crown and large dial.

IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41. (Ref. IW388102)
IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41. (Ref. IW388102)

Jacob & Co

Jacob & Co was founded in 1986 by Jacob Arabo, a diamond designer. He quickly built a following with celebrities all over the world. His clients ranged from Jay Z, 50 Cent,  Elton John, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, and Rihanna. As an avid watch lover, Jacob decided to start producing his own watches in 2002. His first collection was the Five Time Zone which featured bold colors and a quartz-powered multi-time zone technology. He was also well known for his diamond-studded men’s watches before moving on to more technical pieces.

In 2007 Arabo opened Jacob & Co. SA in Geneva, Switzerland, and shortly thereafter introduced his first milestone watch, the Quenttin, which features a vertical movement with a lateral-side tourbillon and a 31-day power reserve stored in seven barrels. The introduction of the Astronomia featured below caused a sensation in the watch industry. The Astronmis depicts a vision of the celestial world with planetary indications in constant motion under the control of a triple-axis tourbillon.

Jacob & Co Astronomia, most searched watch
Jacob & Co Astronomia, most searched watch

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Nestled in the mountains of Le Sentier, Switzerland, Jaeger-LeCoultre was founded in 1833 by Antoine LeCoultre, who was renowned for a host of watchmaking innovations. His manufacture was the first one in the Vallée de Joux, bringing together the different watchmaking metiers all under one roof, a revolution at the time. As of today, the manufacture has patented over 430 inventions, created 1’300 calibers, and reunites 180 different watchmaking crafts.

Since 2000, the company has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Swiss luxury group Richemont. Jaeger-LeCoultre is world-famous for its Reverso watch, which was invented in the early 1930s for polo players. It features a case that swivels out from a holder and reverses on itself. It is also known for its high complications, Master Control watches, and Metiers d’Arts.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Calendar
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Calendar
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Calendar
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Calendar

Omega

Omega SA, which was created in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1848 under a different name, has evolved to become one of the world’s most well-known and adored watch companies. It legally acquired the name Omega Watch & Co. in 1903, although its timepieces have been distinctive since the beginning. Omega is known for producing high-quality, high-performance timepieces, such as its Seamaster watches, which have set diving records, and its Speedmaster watches, which have gone into space as part of the NASA program.

The Seamaster first appeared on the wrist of James Bond in the film Golden Eye and remains today the official watch of Bond. The Speedmaster made history in 1962 when astronaut Wally Schirra wore a Speedmaster on the Mercury Sigma 7 Mission, making an Omega watch the first ever worn in space. The Omega Speedmaster was also there on Buzz Aldrin when he walked on the moon in 1969. Omega is about offering top-quality, high-performance watches.

Omega Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday 2 Ultraman
Omega Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday 2 Ultraman

Panerai

Panerai was founded in Florence, Italy, in 1860 by Giovanni Panerai. To this day, Panerai is one of those unique and recognizable brands that are popular with many. Their most famous models are the Radiomir and the Luminor. The Radiomir was designed in 1938 as a diving watch for the Italian Navy and became part of its standard equipment for many years. In 1949, Panerai made a move to reformulate its glowing dial paint and trademarked its new luminescent chemistry as Luminor.

In 1993 they unveiled their first three models available for the public to buy. An unexpected marketing boost came when the actor Sylvester Stallone, who discovered the brand while shooting the film “Daylight” in Rome, purchased a Luminor Marina and wore it on camera. The rest, as they say, is history!

Panerai Luminor Due TuttoOro Deep Marine Blue Dial
Panerai Luminor Due TuttoOro Deep Marine Blue Dial

Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe is the last independent, family-owned Genevan watch manufacturer in existence today and is considered by many watch aficionados to be one of the most prestigious watch brands. Patek Philippe creates and engineers all of the components they need for their movements and cases, which are assembled and finished in-house. The company has been owned by the Stern family since 1932 and is today managed by Thierry Stern, President, and his father, Philippe Stern, who is an Honorary President. Patek Philippe holds the world record for the most expensive timepiece ever sold at auction – in 2019, the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime sold for $31 million at the Only Watch auction.

Patek Philippe Grand Complications 5320G
Patek Philippe Grand Complications 5320G
Patek Philippe Complications 7121/200G
Patek Philippe Complications 7121/200G

Richard Mille

Richard Mille founded his watch brand under his own name in 1999 after having worked for many years at a number of French watchmaking companies. The first-ever Richard Mille watch was the RM 001 Tourbillon, limited to 17 watches. Each Richard Mille model has a reference number, but they were not all released in chronological order, as some took longer to develop than others. Richard Mille is one of the most popular watch brands of the “newcomers” in the watch industry, and his watches are often the holy grail for many collectors.

True adventurers and watch enthusiasts can’t get enough of Richard Mille. His watches use seriously advanced materials, some that have never been seen before in the watch world, and highly sophisticated mechanics. Richard Mille insists that his brand ambassadors (tennis players, golfers, racecar drivers, and more) wear their watches when playing the sport of their choice – showcasing the fact that they can withstand anything thrown at them. The Richard Mille collection includes adventure watches, dive watches, and high complications – all with daring colors and three-dimensional architecture.

Richard Mille RM 35-03 Automatic Rafael Nadal
Richard Mille RM 35-03 Automatic Rafael Nadal
Richard Mille RM 35-03 Automatic Rafael Nadal
Richard Mille RM 35-03 Automatic Rafael Nadal

Rolex

Founded by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in 1905 –Rolex is a brand that needs no introduction. They are arguably one of the most famous names in watchmaking, as well as one of the most popular watch brands in the world. Rolex invented the first waterproof watch and was the first watchmaker to earn the chronometer certification for a wristwatch. A Rolex Daytona 1969, previously owned by Paul Newman, was sold at auction for $17.8 million in 2017 and was the most expensive watch ever sold at auction until 2019.

Rolex Yacht-Master 40
Rolex Yacht-Master 40