What qualifies a watch brand as being the best ?

[demonwatchlover]

What makes a watch brand the best ?

This thread is not about watch brands but the reason what qualifies a watch brand to be the best, is it because the mark it has left on watch history, brands such as legendary watch makers Patek, Rolex, VC, JLC, AP, Piaget, IWC, Brequet.

but what about things they have done lately ? Rolex has a history, the Oyster case amongst other things, JLC has a long history as well, it makes the worlds smallest automatic movement amongst other innovations including the mechanical alarm. Why would some consider Rolex better than JLC, because of its marketing ? I own a Rolex and a JLC, and as far as reliability goes, I would say that both are equal in reliability, fit and finish hands off to the JLC, durability I would give to the Rolex, complexity of the watch and movement goes to the JLC,

Which of these attributes do you prefer and which deem the watch as the best ?


If you were choosing a watch for its reliability, durability, the argument could easily be made towards purchasing a Rolex, Omega.

If you were choosing the best watch in regards to its fine detail, complications, and reliability you may choose JLC, Patek or VC

If you were choosing a watch for affordability, which would include durability and reliability you might choose Oris, Hamilton


It is hard to define the best watch since not all watches fall into the same category, can you compare dive watches to pilot watches, tool watches to dress watches, and everything that falls in between ? Can you compare a watch with a long history like Hamilton and compare to a similar tier watch like EPOS that has a short history.

Then you can make price comparisons, take two dress watches the Patek Caltrava is a beautiful classy watch but so is the Omega DeVille, I would say on average that the Caltrava is a nicer watch, but also cost thousands of dollars more, so is it really the best watch, maybe for the money the DeVille is a better choice ? What if the cost of the watch has no bearing, then sure the Caltrava is a better watch.

I don't think anyone can say what the best watch manufacturer is because there is to many qualifiers in the mix.

[boscoe]

I think Seiko is the world's best watch manufacturer.
And here's what makes it the best brand.
It makes EVERY part of ALL it's watches in house. Has made technological breakthroughs throughout it's history - including recently. It manufacturers and develops quartz, mechanical/automatic, kinetic and the revolutionary spring drive movements. Stellar fit and finish - throughout it's model range, which covers all styles of watches.
I'd rather have a hand-built Grand Seiko (or Spring Drive) than any Patek, regardless of cost.
Seiko is the reason the Swiss watch industry nearly died. The company does a fantastic job and delivers quality at exceptional price points. The company also understands customer service.

Rolex, by contrast, rests on the laurels of its rich history but hasn't made a technological breakthrough in decades. The company is a marketing machine.

Patek has lost my respect by manipulating the price of vintage pieces to prop up the outrageous cost of its new offerings. And what have they done lately?

To judge "best brand" I use a balance of history, technology, innovation, fit and finish, marketing, corporate philosophy. Seiko scores highest with me.

[talktime]

Interesting post and one that requires great thought.

As mentioned, you really must break it down into watch types. i.e. the best manufacturer of dive watches (and 'best dive watch' is also broken down further based on the intended use) because if best means deepest, then 11,000+ winner goes to Bell & Ross. That's a quartz model, and if you say deepest automatic, that's the Rolex Sea Dweller (I think so anyway).

Dress watch? Well, Rolex is the best known (marketing machine), but what defines the 'best' in a dress watch? most creative use of precious metal and/or gems? Best design (visually)? This is also very subjective. The play on the emotions of the buyer are what fuel the dress watch market, and those who know good craftsmanship will see 'beyond the brand' to the real watch inside...

Pilot watch? Classic pilot watches (like the IWC offerings) are very different than what is commonly referred to as pilot watches from Breitling, with their complications and slide rule technology.

Military watch? Easy to read, rugged and no-nonsense. Sinn springs to mind first, but there are many at various price points. If legibility under zero-light is of a paramount concern, Ball and Luminox come to mind, with the auto/quartz bases covered respectively.

WAY to difficult a question.

BUT, I'll offer this: who makes the broadest offerings in both style, function, quality and price? Swatch Group. From the "Cheap and cheerful" plastic Swatch to the Omega line to the fantastic Breguet offerings, they have all the bases fairly well covered I think...