There are many reasons to buy a luxury watch.
Some choose a watch that compliments their lifestyle and the various uses they have for a watch, while others are drawn to the luxury element; the high value, the prestige and status, and the look of the watch that they choose.
Regardless of the reason for choosing a high end designer watch, the beauty of the market today is that buyers have a plethora of brands, models, and finishes to choose from. So much so that the brand you opt for is really just the start.
Top Luxury Watch Brands to Choose From
There are lots of different watch brands to choose from, that are considered part of the luxury sector. These include Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille, and others. However, it’s the four named here that appear the most frequently in roundups of the watches that fetch the highest value at auction, that have the longest waitlists, and that are considered the best investments.
Let’s take a closer look at why that is.
What Makes a Watch Brand Luxury?
The top luxury watch brands are renowned for their quality, their approach to using only the finest materials, and of course the exceptional craftsmanship that props up every innovation and release.
Both Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe have famously leaned on designer Gerald Genta for their most prominent models and designs, while Rolex is famous for its professional series and A-list ambassadors, and Richard Mille has carved out a niche in the modern watch market.
All of these brands signify luxury through their design, the unrivalled quality of their watches, and of course the price tag and coveted status that ensures supply is never equal to demand.
Whether you’re looking for a vintage model that harks back to the early days of one of the watch markets more timeless brands, or you want something newer from a limited edition collection, the top brands retain their position through a balance of marketing, reputation, and pricing.
Features to Look For When Choosing a Watch
Now that you know a bit more about the top watch brands on the market, and the one we would recommend focussing on for your own luxury watch investment, what exactly should you look for in a specific watch?
There are some designs that boast highlighting features while others owe their popularity to being timeless. The Oyster Perpetual is one of the most famously simple models, in contrast with the Patek Philippe Nautilus which was the world’s most expensive stainless steel watch on release, and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak which became the first every luxury sports watch.
Regardless of these features, some of the most important ones to consider when buying a watch for yourself include the size of the watch, the bracelet type, the colour palette of the bracelet and watch face, any added functions beyond telling the time, whether the watch is waterproof, and any other intricate details that may enhance the value of your piece.
It’s also worth noting that some of the top watch brands work with celebrity ambassadors and partners to create and release exclusive and limited edition watches. You need only consider the fat that the Paul Newman Daytona sold for the highest ever auction price, to know that celebrity partnerships elevate even the most luxurious of watches to new heights, making this worth considering if you are drawn to the luxury and prestige of a designer watch.
Balancing Lifestyle with Luxury
Some buy a designer watch that they plan to wear every day, while others buy watches for the purpose of adding them to a collection.
Similarly, while some of the luxury watches designed by prominent designer brands are built with specific functions in mind, others are more versatile and simpler in design.
As a buyer, the best thing you can do when choosing a watch is to consider your budget and what you are willing to spend, before deciding if you are drawn to specific brands, features, or models as explored above. There’s an audience for every watch model and finish, with most of the top brands creating individual timepieces for different categories of buyer – through size, dimensions, colour palettes, and more.
Most important of all is to match expectation with availability – finding out which luxury watches are available via your chosen reseller, which have all the authentication information you need, and which match your budget.
