Some of these watch brands are older than your great-great-great grandfather. Check them out.
It’s hard to imagine a time when sundials and water clocks were the only reliable method of timekeeping. It might sound baffling, but they were pretty accurate methods for their time.
And to think that we’re never more than an arm’s reach away from a cell phone now?
Are you wondering what the oldest watch brand is and when the story of watchmaking began? This article lists some of the oldest watchmakers in history and follows the evolution of watchmaking technology throughout the ages.
What Is the Oldest Watch Brand?
To answer the question “What is the oldest watch brand?”, we must first unravel the fascinating history of watchmaking. The first mechanical clock was conceptualized in England in the year 1275.
The innovative minute repeater was a revelation and was followed by an astronomical clock and an hourly chime clock.
Then, about half a century before the Swiss watch industry was born, the pocket watch arrived.
The First Pocket Watches
The pocket watch trade took off in the 1540s. After reformer, John Calvin, the leader of the Protestant Reformation movement in Switzerland, banned jewelry, pocket watches were the loophole.
Even more interesting is the fact that early pocket watches only showed an hour’s hand. The minute hand wouldn’t be added until 1680.
Typically, they were worn around the neck as a pendant before complimenting a waistcoat.
Glass was added to the pocket watch in the early 1600s.
These intricately crafted instruments were popularized as jewelry accessories by women during this period.
The First Wristwatches
The first version of a wrist-worn timepiece came about in 1810. Abraham Louis Breguet developed a watch for the Queen of Naples. It would later lead to the brand’s Reine de Naples watch.
Although Breguet was making watches during this time, the company was not officially founded until 1775 – 40 years after Blancpain.
(Below: A Breguet de Naples watch inspired by the first wrist-worn watch)
Founded in 1735, Blancpain is the oldest registered watch brand in the entire world.
The Proliferation of Men’s Wristwatches
During the 19th century, the production of wristwatches ramped up.
Brands were working out the best way to source cheaper materials to keep production costs lower.
As a result, mass production came into full swing.
The following century became an important period in the history of watchmaking.
Several prestigious brands were beginning to emerge and were showing the world the full breadth of their talents.
For example, Girard Perregaux began manufacturing watches for German Naval officers, and Cartier put itself on the map for its first pilot’s watch.
During the First World War, many soldiers realized they couldn’t fight and hold a pocket watch simultaneously. The wrist-worn version would be the only way forward.
As a result, men strapped on watches with pocket watch movements — these were some of the earliest men’s wristwatches. They eventually became part of the Officers Kit for soldiers.
In the 1920s, mechanical watches were joined by the first automatic watches. At the same time, Rolex’s innovative Oyster case marked the first waterproof watch. At this point, Breitling had already mastered the chronograph.
In 1931, the first watch with a reversible case was invented. Its name was the Reverso by Jaeger-LeCoultre.
The First Quartz Watches
During the 1970s, watchmaking culture changed once more, and the quartz battery was born. It took the industry by storm, wiping out many traditional Swiss watchmaking companies.
Quartz movements were cheaper and quicker to make, offering a more accurate way of tracking time.
Eventually, authentic watchmaking brands gained back their strength.
Today, you can find so many kinds of watches, from automatic to quartz to manual winding and even solar-powered ones.
Brands are experimenting with new case materials in a bid to create the most scratch-resistant, lightweight, or environmentally friendly watches possible.
Some of the Oldest Swiss Watch Brands
It might surprise you to learn that some of the oldest Swiss watch brands are still around today. Given the fascinating heritage of watchmaking, it would only be fair to explore some of these in this article.
Some of the names you see below helped shape the history of watchmaking. They are among some of the most iconic and influential companies to have ever existed.
Let’s get started.
Blancpain
As I mentioned, Blancpain is the oldest watch brand in the world. Founded in 1735 in Villeret, it has left an indelible mark on watchmaking history and is still going strong.
During the 1960s, it became part of SSIH (Sociéte Suisse pour l’Industrie. Horlogère). Then came the quartz crisis which dampened the manufacturing of mechanical watches. Then, a movement manufacturer named Piguet acquired the company.
(Below: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms)
With the new ownership, the company entered into a frenetic period of production.
Today, Blancpain is owned by the Swatch Group and is located in Le Brassus. It has experienced great success with its Fifty Fathoms line, not to mention many ultra-thin timepieces.
Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin is the oldest watch manufacturer to have remained in continuous production. The company was founded in 1755 and has been a subsidiary of the Richemont Group since 1996.
You may recognize examples of Vacheron Constantin’s work in designs like the iconic Overseas watch. The model is a descendant of the brand’s 222 model.
This luxury sports watch has a set of unmistakable design codes that capture the culture of the steel sports watch era.
(Below: Vacheron Constantin Overseas watch)
Other notable lines include the Historiques collection, which nods to some important milestones in the brand’s history. Another noteworthy line is the Metiers d-art collection.
These models celebrate the revival and sustenance of some of the oldest decorative watchmaking techniques in history.
Breguet
Breguet was founded in 1775 and now spans four centuries. Abraham-Louis Breguet’s self-winding “perpetuelle” watches brought him significant fame, the first of their kind in the world.
Breguet also became known for his design. The famous Breguet hands have gone on to feature in many watches created by prestigious brands over the years.
(Below: Breguet’s traditional approach to watchmaking)
Some of his other remarkable inventions include the gong spring (1783), the “parachute” shock protection system (1790), and the Breguet balance spring.
Patek Philippe
Patek Philippe is known for defining its quality criteria. The entire watchmaking community recognizes it as the strictest in the industry. Every part of the watchmaking process is carried out and tested in-house.
This includes the movement manufacturer, case, and dial. Patek Philippe is respected for its exceptional quality and craftsmanship. Some of its most famous watch designs include the porthole-inspired Nautilus, created by Gerald Genta.
Its designs are highly priced and make for particularly good investment pieces.
Audemars Piguet
Swiss titan Audemars Piguet was founded in Switzerland in 1875.
Nestled in the serene landscapes of the Vallee de Joux in Le Brassus, the iconic Royal Oak was conceptualized in 1972. It marked a significant chapter for the brand, becoming one of the most sought-after timepieces in history.
(Below: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak)
The Royal Oak remains the ultimate embodiment of the sports watch.
The Royal Oak Offshore (released in 1993) is a chunkier chronograph version but just as distinctive in design.
Seiko
Although not Swiss, Seiko certainly deserves to be on this list of the oldest watch brands in history. They’ve produced some of the most instantly recognizable designs and played an important role in the dawn of quartz movements.
The brand also offers a huge selection of affordable watches. Seiko has been around since 1881 and has produced some unfaltering sports watches and robust dive tools.
(Below: Seiko Prospex)
Its cutting-edge technology is commendable, with watches powered by automatic, quartz, spring drive, manual, and solar-powered movements.
Seiko is known for its mass production of quartz movements throughout the 1970s and 80s. Although it put many Swiss brands out of business, this part of watchmaking history has become important.
Rolex
Rolex is the most recognized watch brand on the planet. Many, however, don’t realize how old it is.
The brand was founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and became the name attached to icons like the Submariner — the world’s first “waterproof” watch.
(Below: Rolex Datejust)
The concept of the brand’s innovative Oyster case has formed the backbone of pretty much every watch thereafter. The brand also released the sporty Cosmograph Daytona — the ultimate dream watch for many enthusiasts.
Other notable Rolex watches include the Datejust, released in 1945, and the brand’s many patented innovations. Some of these include the world’s first self-winding mechanism with a perpetual rotor.
Conclusion: So, How Old Is the Oldest Watch Company?
The title of the oldest watch company in history goes to Blancpain. Founded in 1735, it’s staggering to think how far technology has come over those 288 years.
Think back to a time before the telephone. Before the television. Before electrical light, airplanes, radios, and computers were a thing. Now, look down at your wrist. That’s how old the concept behind the watch you’re wearing really is.
Today, watches are a desirable, delightful commodity. Yet some of the youngest brands in the industry are taking inspiration from classic designs from yesteryear. If that’s not the greatest testament to the story of timekeeping, I don’t know what is.
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