If You’re Planning to Invest in a Luxury Watch This Year, Use This List as a Guide

Every guy has his passion.

Sneakerheads, wine snobs, foodies, and …watch guys.

You know everything there is to know about watches, and care about all the finest details.

I am definitely not a watch guy, so we had to get some help from a watch expert to let us know what the best luxury brands of watches to know about for 2017 and put together this list.

Best Luxury Watches in 2017

Let us know what we missed, what you like, etc. in the comments.

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1. Audemars Piguet

The luxurious Swiss watches by Audemars Piguet are one of the most unique models on the market. Founded in 1875 by Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet, this luxury brand produces 36,000 of their impressive timepieces a year. In fact, Tiffany & Co and Bulgari use this brand’s movements. Recognized as the first to create the first steel luxury sports watch, this was dubbed the Royal Oak in 1972. In 1993, the brand later created the first oversized watch named the Royal Oak Offshore.

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2. Vacheron Constantin

Vacheron Constantin is one of the first manufacturers of luxury watches. It was founded by Jean-Marc Vacheron in 1755, in Geneva Switzerland. This brand of fine watches is a member of the Richemont Group. Vacheron Constantin’s watches truly reflect their heritage. This brand is well known for it’s rigid detailing, at the same time accompanied by traditional shapes and styling. Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have worn their watches, along with other noted historical figures like Harry Truman and Pope Pius IX.

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3. Patek Philippe

The Swiss brand, Patek Phillipe & Co was founded in 1851. The watches takes pride in its complicated mechanics and traditional styling. This luxurious brand have been worn by royalty throughout history. Classic and unique with their distinctive signature style, this brand keeps their marketing unchanging with their effective promotional campaigns.

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4. Blancpain

An auxiliary of the Swatch Group, luxury watch brand Blancpain was much like the other brands founded in another era; 1735. Blancpain evolved and experienced growth during the 19^th century and since then, they have been modernizing production and innovation of their watches. Blancpain has a wide range of different watches available; including minimalistic designs as well as more elaborately styled pieces.

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5. Chopard

Highly recognized for their Swiss watches, Chopard is not only known for their unique timepieces, but also for their jewellery. Founded in 1860 by Louis-Ulysse Chopard, a Swiss watchmaker, Chopard is attributable for its classic look and great detailing. With state-of-the-art technological influence and well-established craftsmanship, Chopard is coveted because of its sophisticated models. With a clear design aesthetic and innovative development, Chopard has grown into a worldwide luxury brand.

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6. IWC Schaffhausen

Established in 1868, IWC Schaffhausen has specialised in premium Swiss watches. This watch manufacturer combines precision engineering with exclusive design. With its classic shape and superior material, this luxurious watch is quickly noticeable. The brand also has expressed a desire to create watches with the highest standards while responding to the environmental challenges of today as well as supporting landmark projects around the world.

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7. Rolex

Rolex is internationally acclaimed and coveted by society. It is the most identifiable luxury watch brand for as long as it exited. Prized for its timeless form and function, Rolex watches are rampant in popular culture. Its British origins are still represented in this brand’s consistently classic designs. Rolex is internationally prominent and has been featured on Forbes’ list of world’s most powerful global brands. Making 2,000 watches per day, Rolex is the largest single luxury watch brand in the world.

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8. Ulysse Nardin

Ulysse Nardin has been in continuous production since its creation in 1846. This brand specializes in wristwatches, writing instruments and accessories. The materials used in this products are visually distinctive and so as the uniquely colored leathers used in many of their produce. The craftsmanship of the Ulysse Nardin watches is also internationally renowned for their work with modernized materials and manufacturing.

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9. Jaeger-LeCoultre

The luxury Swiss watch brand, Jaeger-LeCoultre presents timepieces boasting faces with distinctive and complex detailing. Since 1833, this brand has sustained the initial envisions for the brand, which was innovation and unique clarity. The classic elements of these watches are particularly appealing because they can be worn again and again.

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10. Panerai

Founded in 1860 in Florence Italy, today Panerai’s headquarters are located in Milan Italy. With an international clientele, the Italian company is known for its bold styles and simplistic numeral and design elements.

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11. Piaget SA

Piaget SA was founded by Georges Edouard Piaget in La Côte-aux-Fées, Switzerland. This luxurious brand is well worn and loved for their thinner watch styles. Their materials are also undeniably unique. Flaunting dials made in precious stones such as lapis-lazuli, turquoise, onyx and tiger’s eye. Piaget announced in 2014 their Altiplano 900P watch, which is the world’s thinnest hand-wound mechanical watch.

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12. Cartier

One of the most iconic watch and jewellery brands globally, Cartier is well received due to its popularity in the mainstream press and celebrity culture. Founded in 1847 in Paris France, the brand’s popular watches speak for themselves, flaunting a distinguished and classic distinction. Represented through its high-end materials and typical roman numerals, this luxury watch brand is a safe bet for many, and is worth the splurge.

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13. Breitling

Founded in 1884, luxury watch brand Breitling is known for its watches’ excellent durability and precision. The watches are inspired by aviation, with many of the watches including features used by fighter pilots. The brand also designed watches specifically made for divers, giving to its versatility and innovation in watch production.

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14. Bell & Ross

Luxury French brand, Bell & Ross is founded by Bruno Belamich and Carlos A. Rosillo. Launched in 1992, its design is highly influenced by Aircraft instruments. Most known about this fine watch company is the square shaping that frames many of its watches’ faces. Its aesthetic boasts modern influence and can be identified by its sporty and athletic references.

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15. Omega

Another influential Swiss luxury watch brand, Omega has earned its stripes with its historical work as well as contemporary status as a leading luxury brand for timepieces. In 1917, it was elected by Britain’s Royal Flying Corps as the official timekeepers for combat units. The American army shortly followed suit in 1918.

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16. Bremont

Inspired by Aviation, the Bremont Watch Company may be based in Britain but have expanded their brand and production across the world. Since 2002, founding brothers, Nick and Giles English have upheld the inspiration that made their watches famous: aircraft themed and mechanically focused models. With classic curves and proportionate faces, these watches are true ambassadors of this British company’s image and branding.

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17. TAG Heuer

This Swiss watch manufacturing company also produces eyewear, mobile phones and accessories.  The TAG Heuer name is an abbreviation of ‘Techniques d’Avant Garde’ and Heur refers to the founder, Edouard Heuer. While the watches have evolved over the decades, they still possess a persisting sports-like look. With a range of chronographs and memorable timepieces available, this brand boasts a technological appeal and premium functionality.

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18. Seiko

Seiko was founded in Tokyo Japan in 1881 and incorporated in 1917. It is well known for its function and style alike. This brand produces both quartz and mechanical watches that are to die for. The Japanese luxury brand has evolved over the years and has expanded into eyewear as well as jewelry and interestingly enough, printers.

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19. Louis Moinet

Inventor of the Chronograph, Louis Moinet was not only a craftsman of watches but a horologist, sculptor and painter. His name and branding were revived by founder and creative director of the Louis Moinet brand, Jean-Marie Schaller. This luxury brand is located in Switzerland and boasts itself on its incorporation of exotic materials and innovative technology in all of its timepieces.

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20. A.Lange & Sohne

A.Lange & Sohne was founded in 1845 by Ferdinand Adolph Lange. The brand favours mechanical movements as opposed to quartz movements. Its cases are interestingly made in different tones of gold, like yellow gold, rose gold, white gold and platinum. The brand is well known for its iconic styling and superior quality.