Explore the horological map with us and discover which countries are renowned for exquisite watchmaking.
Today, we can keep track of time using modern technology. We only need to reach for our hand-held devices to stay up-to-date. But watch enthusiasts don’t like to do that.
Luckily, the luxury watch industry lives to see another day thanks to us watch fans. The truth is, we prefer the thought of an actual watch to tell the time. How’s that for 21st-century conversation?
Not all humans want to glare at a phone screen all day. We like timepieces, and we like to learn about their history.
Have you ever wondered which countries make the best watches?
Can anyone go to-to-toe with the Swiss when it comes to watchmaking?
We’re going to look at what country makes the best watches.
In Which Country Are the Best Watches Made?
The luxury watch industry is positively booming. Not only can you find a watch for every eventuality, but you can also find a watch brand that specializes in any kind of watch.
Breitling, for example, is a master of the chronograph. Junghans offers Bauhaus-style timepieces. Garmin specializes in smartwatches and fitness watches. Or how about the complexity and elaborately crafted timepieces from Richard Mille?
A brief conversation about watches would tell you that most luxury brands come from Switzerland. But many emerging brands across the globe deserve more credit. Some are just as long in the tooth as the most famous Swiss watchmakers. In contrast, micro brands, manufacture watches on a much smaller scale.
So, we’ve established that many watch brands are of Swiss origin. Omega, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Jaeger-LeCoultre are just a few examples of Swiss watches that spring to mind. But does that necessarily mean that Swiss brands are always better quality?
To explore what country makes the best watches, Let’s take a look at the top watchmaking countries.
Top Watchmaking Countries
Let’s take a look at which countries have a reputation for producing superior wristwatches.
Switzerland
We can’t not talk about Switzerland when discussing traditional watchmaking. Many opt for a Swiss watch manufacturer when looking to buy their first watch.
The country is indisputably one of the top watchmaking countries, with a plethora of brands renowned for their superior horological craftsmanship.
While the association between quality timepieces and Switzerland embeds itself in the consciousness, accidents in history have also played a part in its success.
During 1491, Catholics were displacing France’s Protestant communities. As, at the time, most of the world’s best watchmakers lived in France some Protestant makers moved to Scandinavia, some moved to Holland, and others to England. Most, however, hopped over the border to Switzerland.
Then, in 1541, another turn of events occurred. Geneva experienced its religious upheaval. Calvinist austerity banned jewelry.
Of course, having no other skills, jewelry makers turned their attention to watchmaking, and the industry grew further. Watchmakers dropped with the arrival of both World Wars, too.
Switzerland — a neutral nation — began producing military equipment, and the advent of wristwatches introduced a whole new way to enjoy timekeeping.
Many generations have passed since the upheavals of the 15th and 16th centuries, but the skill required to craft watches is just as precise and specialist. Even today it is a common belief that watchmaking is still a regional thing.
Even the President of the Federation of the Watchmaking Industry shares this opinion. Undeniably, there are qualities in the Swiss that give them the edge over watchmaking, whether that be culture or typography.
The Swiss never really lost their skills in watchmaking. Even the machinery and the skilled hands to man became factors in dominating the global industry.
Brands like Breitling, IWC Schaffhausen, Chopard, Raymond Weil, Tudor, and TAG Heuer all have Swiss origins.
Other Swiss brands go back hundreds of years and are some of the oldest in the industry. These include Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, and Omega.
Japan
Japan, home to Seiko and Grand Seiko, can claim plenty of watchmaking success. It became one of the first places that mass-produced quartz-powered watches during the 1970s.
This period in horological history is what we refer to as the “quartz crisis”. The mass production of these movements sent many traditional Swiss brands to an early demise.
Many watchmakers couldn’t contend with the popularity of the affordably produced quartz movement. Luckily, the tables turned again, and some brands reclaimed their power during the 1990s.
Seiko makes kinetic movements and Spring Dive technology that is super accurate. The latter combines the precision of the mechanical movement with the efficiency of a quartz.
Other technological advancements in Japanese watchmaking come from the likes of Citizen. Its Eco-Drive technology leads the way forward in terms of solar-powered watches. By capturing light and converting it into energy, Citizens solar-powered watches are affordable, long-lasting, and pretty environmentally friendly.
Germany
Glashutte is to Germans what Geneva is to Switzerland. The biggest Saxon brands operate here. Perhaps Germany needs more of a mention in conversation? It is the nation of engineers, after all.
Popular watchmaking brands from Germany include Nomos and A. Lange & Sohne, not to mention the world’s largest manufacturer during the 1900s — Junghans.
Today, many watches incorporate traditional decorative techniques in their movements. The Glashutte stripes, hand-engraved balance cocks, and three-quarter plates are just some examples.
Britain
Britain is the underdog in the art of Haute Horlogerie. Brands like Graham and Brovet have English origins. What’s more, British clockmaker John Harrison himself made the first marine chronometers.
Bremont is now a leading watchmaker in Britain. Its 35,000 sq ft watchmaking facility, named The Wing, is where Bremont makes every one of its exquisite watches.
France
Perhaps the most famous French watchmaker of all is Abraham-Louis Breguet. Beginning his career in Paris, he served a royal clientele and made exceptionally beautiful watches.
You’ve heard of the tourbillon, right? It was no other than Breguet who founded the concept.
Other Watch Brands Across The Globe
Of course, the list of countries involved in watchmaking today could go on forever. Every corner of the globe has had a go at creating its timepieces. Historically, Panerai holds Italy’s reputation for exceptional craftsmanship.
The brand specializes in producing watches for military use and developing innovative luminous materials. The United States is also worth checking out, thanks to the likes of Hamilton and RGM.
The Takeaway: Explore Watches From Across the Globe
Watch purchases are no longer a consequence of a “need” for timekeeping. For most people, there’s also no real need for a mechanical timepiece anymore.
Luxury watches, however, whether sourced from Switzerland, Germany, or Japan, are a passion purchase. Some are impulsive buys, and others have taken years to save for.
As we know, Switzerland is by far the most dominant force within the luxury watch industry. Hundreds of years of history have led to the reputation of the country and its technical timepieces.
But we don’t always remember that other brands are competing on a par in terms of quality and accuracy.
Whether you choose the authentic roots of Switzerland or the affordability of a watch from China, one factor remains important. Enjoyment.
So long as the watch on your wrist makes you smile, its origins matter very little. That said, a little bit of history goes a long way in enhancing the watch-wearing experience.
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