Your Watchmaker Top 10

[keygold]

Hello All,

I am a new member here and just wondered what the general consensus was as to the Top 10 of Watchmakers in the world, in terms of premium brand, quality and history, rather than quantity.

My view is as follows: ( have I got it wrong or missed any out )?

1. Patek Philippe
2. Vacheron Constantin
3. Rolex
4. Jaeger LeCoultre
5. Panerai
6. Ulysse Nardin
7. Audemars Piguet
8. Lange and Sohne
9. Corum
10. Omega

Kind Regards

Warren

[Neil.C]

No Seiko? :shock:

[nejo]

Mine would be:

1. Kari Voutilainen
2. Vacheron Constantin
3. Audemars Piguet
4. Patek Phillipe
5. Glashütte Original
6. Zenith
7. Rolex
8. Jaeger LeCoultre
9. IWC
10. Omega

[wosk]

Hello All,

I am a new member here and just wondered what the general consensus was as to the Top 10 of Watchmakers in the world, in terms of premium brand, quality and history, rather than quantity.

My view is as follows: ( have I got it wrong or missed any out )?

1. Patek Philippe
2. Vacheron Constantin
3. Rolex
4. Jaeger LeCoultre
5. Panerai
6. Ulysse Nardin
7. Audemars Piguet
8. Lange and Sohne
9. Corum
10. Omega

Kind Regards

Warren

Well I think it's really hard to make a list, but I think Seiko should be up there and Corum shouldn't be in the list at all

[keygold]

I had never heard of Kari Voutilainen (excuse my watch maker ignorance) and had completely overlooked IWC.

[KavKav]

Hi Warren and welcome!
My top 10 as follows:-

1. Patek Philippe.
2. Lange and Sohne.
3. Breguet.
4. Vacheron Constantin.
5. F.P. Journe.
6. Jaeger LeCoultre.
7. Blancpain.
8. Glashutte.
9. Audemars Piguet.
10. Rolex.
:D

Greubel Forsey would have been third and Kari Voutilainen sixth but have been excluded as they are too 'specialist'. :wink:
It could be said, and with some justification, that IWC deserve a place but I have excluded them to mark my disapproval of the relatively low quality of the movement in their Portofino 'entry watch' :bounce:

[keygold]

Thank you for the welcome, it is appreciated. I included Corum because they have brought out over 30 years some very unique watches and pushed the boundaries with some, unfortunately some have pushed the boundaries of good taste! But I believe they deserve merit for trying something new.

[nejo]

Hi Warren and welcome!
My top 10 as follows:-

1. Patek Philippe.
2. Lange and Sohne.
3. Breguet.
4. Vacheron Constantin.
5. F.P. Journe.
6. Jaeger LeCoultre.
7. Blancpain.
8. Glashutte.
9. Audemars Piguet.
10. Rolex.
:D

Greubel Forsey would have been third and Kari Voutilainen sixth but have been excluded as they are too 'specialist'. :wink:

Hard to put all great watchmakers on a list.. See that I forgot, Lange, Breguet & Blancpain which all make truly amazing watches.

[keygold]

It is amazing how easy it is for certain brands to slip your mind.

Should we only list the brands that we have owned and worn? Anything else, is another man's POV :cry:

[Chairman LMAO]

1. Patek Philippe.
2. Jaeger LeCoultre.
3. Elizabeth Duke.
4. Audemars Piguet
5. Lange and Sohne.
6. Breguet.
7. Vacheron Constantin.
8. F.P. Journe.
9. Blancpain.
10. Marina Militare.

[KavKav]

1. Patek Philippe.
2. Jaeger LeCoultre.
3. Elizabeth Duke.
4. Audemars Piguet
5. Lange and Sohne.
6. Breguet.
7. Vacheron Constantin.
8. F.P. Journe.
9. Blancpain.
10. Marina Militare.

:shock: :shock: :shock: Each entitled to their opinion! :wink:

[KavKav]

Should we only list the brands that we have owned and worn? Anything else, is another man's POV :cry:

That would be a list of equal interest, but this list is the top 10 as perceived by members based on their individual awareness and knowledge. :D

[MuRph77]

In my "own favourites" order, not nec quality order ;-)

1. Rolex
2. Breitling
3. Omega
4. Panerai
5. Linde Werdelin
6. IWC
7. Audermars Piguet
8. Franck Muller
9. JLC (not Justin Lee Collins, although I am a fan)
10. Bell & Ross

Should we only list the brands that we have owned and worn? Anything else, is another man's POV :cry:

That would be a list of equal interest, but this list is the top 10 as percieved by members based on their individual awareness and knowledge. :D

Sorry, but I still can't get my head round this, my knowledge and awareness tells me nothing about watches I have not tried. :idea:

[roadkingrider]

My top 10 in no particular order:

1. Audemars Piguet
2. Chopard
3. IWC
4. Chronoswiss
5. Girad-Perregaux
6. Glashutte Original
7. Paneria
8. Patek Philippe
9. Jaeger-LeCoultre
10. A. Lange & Sohne

My list is based on my limited knowledge of watches that appeal to me and that I would like to own.

[keygold]

I had completely forgotten Franck Muller as well!

[mrteatime]

should this rather be watch producers? rather then watchmakers?

[tertius]

A quick go at my view of the top 10 (with a brief justification of 1-3):

1. Jaeger-LeCoultre (versatility; creativity; range of movements, style, materials and pricing make them #1.)
2. Patek Philippe (history, great range and the name)
3. A Lange & Sohne (precious metal cases only otherwise would be 1. or 2.)
4. Vacheron Constantin
5. Girard-Perregaux
6. Glashutte Original
7. Seiko
8. Zenith
9. Breguet
10. IWC

[ryanb741]

1. Patek Philippe
2. F-P Journe
3. Breguet
4. Seiko
5. Rolex.
6. Blancpain
7. Omega.
8. Greubel-Forsey
9. IWC
10. Lange & Soehne

[Dave in Wales]

No Seiko? :shock:

What no Philippe Dufour? :shock:

What criteria does one use to create such a list.....

Desirability
Innovation,
Beauty,
Reliability,
Value for money,
Longevity

My fathers Regent c.1960, cost maybe £20, never serviced. STILL works and keeps reasonable time.

IMHO....Watch lists are meaningless.

Dave

[Chartman69]

Whats the point, everyone will have different opinions and if you havnt had all of the top ten it means nothing.

[keygold]

A quick go at my view of the top 10 (with a brief justification of 1-3):

1. Jaeger-LeCoultre (versatility; creativity; range of movements, style, materials and pricing make them #1.)
2. Patek Philippe (history, great range and the name)
3. A Lange & Sohne (precious metal cases only otherwise would be 1. or 2.)
4. Vacheron Constantin
5. Girard-Perregaux
6. Glashutte Original
7. Seiko
8. Zenith
9. Breguet
10. IWC

Hello Tertius,

No Rolex in your list. Any reason?

[zenmonk]

What do you guys make of maurice Lacroix? here for the long haul or a new pretender that won't cut it. Some nice looking pieces though.

[studs]

For simplicity I have chosen just three criteria that I hold to be very important in categorising the prestige of (specifically) a Manufacture:

Being first with a technology or attribute (self explanatory)
Holding superlatives among peers (having undisputed bests in a given horological field at a given time)
Having a long and distinguished history (again self explanatory)

So, in no particular order...

Breguet
Patek Philippe
Vacheron Constantin
Zenith
Jaeger LeCoultre
Blancpain
A. Lange & Söhne
Rolex
Seiko
Longines

Obviously your Omegas and Breitlings etc. etc. could easily jump in and out of this list over specifics, but in terms of Manufacture, I think the list is pretty robust... no doubt YMMV! :)

[Omegamanic]

No Casio?

[Mrcrowley]

Hello All,

I am a new member here and just wondered what the general consensus was as to the Top 10 of Watchmakers in the world, in terms of premium brand, quality and history, rather than quantity.

My view is as follows: ( have I got it wrong or missed any out )?

1. Patek Philippe
2. Vacheron Constantin
3. Rolex
4. Jaeger LeCoultre
5. Panerai
6. Ulysse Nardin
7. Audemars Piguet
8. Lange and Sohne
9. Corum
10. Omega

Kind Regards

Warren

AP at 7 :shock:

[TheGreenManalishi]

MM at No10? what the.....?

[Puller]

For simplicity I have chosen just three criteria that I hold to be very important in categorising the prestige of (specifically) a Manufacture:

Being first with a technology or attribute (self explanatory)
Holding superlatives among peers (having undisputed bests in a given horological field at a given time)
Having a long and distinguished history (again self explanatory)

So, in no particular order...

Breguet
Patek Philippe
Vacheron Constantin
Zenith
Jaeger LeCoultre
Blancpain
A. Lange & Söhne
Rolex
Seiko
Longines

Obviously your Omegas and Breitlings etc. etc. could easily jump in and out of this list over specifics, but in terms of Manufacture, I think the list is pretty robust... no doubt YMMV! :)

Hamilton...1st battery watch
Harwood...1st automatic...?

[constantin14]

1. Lange and Sohne.
2. Patek Philippe
3. Breguet.
4. Vacheron Constantin.
5. Jaeger LeCoultre,
6. Glashutte.
7. IWC
8. Zenith
9. Eterna
10.Omega.

[studs]

Hamilton...1st battery watch
Harwood...1st automatic...?

...Obviously your Omegas and Breitlings etc. etc. could easily jump in and out of this list over specifics, but in terms of Manufactures, I think the list is pretty robust... no doubt YMMV! :)

I suppose we could always say "Top 100"... and if dredging up names like 'Harwood', we'll need to! :D

[tertius]

A quick go at my view of the top 10 (with a brief justification of 1-3):

1. Jaeger-LeCoultre (versatility; creativity; range of movements, style, materials and pricing make them #1.)
2. Patek Philippe (history, great range and the name)
3. A Lange & Sohne (precious metal cases only otherwise would be 1. or 2.)
4. Vacheron Constantin
5. Girard-Perregaux
6. Glashutte Original
7. Seiko
8. Zenith
9. Breguet
10. IWC

Hello Tertius,

No Rolex in your list. Any reason?

Well, I suppose the simple answer is because there is no one in the list that I rate below Rolex, however, its just my opinion and is hardly meant to be definitive. Certainly my 5-10 are very much open to discussion, indeed Blancpain and AP are also missing.

The characteristics that most influenced my list (and by definition meant that Rolex were not included) were: creativity in movement design and development; complications; variety in styles. Different people will look for different features and have a different list.

I deliberately excluded the niche makers like Greubel Forsey or Richard Mille, but looking again at my list I might question the inclusion of Zenith at the expense of Blancpain.

[stix]

Hamilton...1st battery watch
Harwood...1st automatic...?

...Obviously your Omegas and Breitlings etc. etc. could easily jump in and out of this list over specifics, but in terms of Manufactures, I think the list is pretty robust... no doubt YMMV! :)

I suppose we could always say "Top 100"... and if dredging up names like 'Harwood', we'll need to! :D

What's your aversion to Harwood? He is acknowledged as conceiving, producing and patenting the first self winding watch in 1923.

Oh sorry, my top ten is:

1. Seiko
2. Seiko
3. Seiko
4. Seiko
5. Seiko
6. Seiko
7. Seiko
8. Seiko
9. Seiko
10. Seiko
:D

[ktmog6uk]

1. patek phillipe
2. vacheron constantin
3. jlc
4. ulysses nardin
5. omega
6. rolex
7. seiko
8. citizen
9. tissot
10 precista

siko and citizen because they produce watches of quaility right across the range, tissot because i have a soft spot for tissot autyos and the pr516 chono. and eddie because of the dreadnaught, arguably one of the best divers ever made.

[studs]

What's your aversion to Harwood?...

I don't recall saying I actually had one... and after reading your list I'd be tempted to say "why, what's yours?" :P

[stix]

What's your aversion to Harwood?...

I don't recall saying I actually had one... and after reading your list I'd be tempted to say "why, what's yours?" :P

You didn't, it was your phrase" dredging up", that was all. No worries.

[med01]

How many make there own workings!

[BigD]

Should we only list the brands that we have owned and worn? Anything else, is another man's POV :cry:

That would be a list of equal interest, but this list is the top 10 as percieved by members based on their individual awareness and knowledge. :D

Sorry, but I still can't get my head round this, my knowledge and awareness tells me nothing about watches I have not tried. :idea:

I am with you on this, the OP is your Top 10 and I only know about the watches I have/have tried. Otherwise it is percieved quality based on third party opinion, advertising and the like.

My top 10... In terms of quality that I can quantify fit, finish, balance etc of the watches I own

1. Patek Philippe
2. Rolex
3. Omega
4. Panerai
5. Mont Blanc
6. Tag Heuer
7. Seiko
8. Casio
9. CWC
10. Sector

[Parabola]

Oh sorry, my top ten is:

1. Seiko
2. Seiko
3. Seiko
4. Seiko
5. Seiko
6. Seiko
7. Seiko
8. Seiko
9. Seiko
10. Seiko
:D

Yeah!!! :D Love a bit of Seiko action

[Griswold]

No Timefactors?

[Rascasse]

Ok, here goes....

1. Patek Philippe
2. A. Lange & Sohn
3. Vacheron Constantin
4. Brequet
5. Audemars Piguet
5. Blancpain
6. Jaeger LeCoultre
7. Ulysse Nardin
8. IWC
9. Glashutte Original
10.Rolex

Also GP & Zenith deserve a special mention.

[BigD]

No Timefactors?

Dont own one so cant comment, although I would imagine they are very good :wink:

[evain]

very interesting topic

[tribe125]

1. Patek Phillipe
2. Jaeger Le-Coultre
3. A Lange & Sohne
4. FP Journe
5. Audemars Piguet
6. Vacheron Constantin
7. Breguet
8. IWC
9. Blancpain
10. Rolex

[constantin14]

stix wrote:
Oh sorry, my top ten is:

1. Seiko
2. Seiko
3. Seiko
4. Seiko
5. Seiko
6. Seiko
7. Seiko
8. Seiko
9. Seiko
10. Seiko

Too much Seiko!!!!!
I like Seiko (for example: Grand Seiko, Seiko chrono 6138-3002) but...