Watches Education - Watch Brands

A. Lange & Söhne was first established in 1845 by Adolph Lange in Glasshutte. The firm established itself as makers of distinctive and fine timepieces - its pocket watches were prized by European gentry. Following the Second World War, the factory was seized by what was then East Germany. Walter Lange, the company's heir fled. It was only after the German reunification in 1990, that the founder's great grandson, Walter Lange, began reviving the company. With funding from LMH, the newly reformed company set out to restore its fine watchmaking tradition. The company was sold to the luxury conglomerate Richemont in July 2000. Although its watch parts may be cut with exceptional precision by the most advanced computer-aided machine tools, they are still finished, decorated and engraved by the skilled hands of some of the world's finest watchmakers.

Jules Audemars and Edward Piguet were both in their early twenties when they founded Audemars Piguet in 1875. In 1972 AP launched a line of mechanical watches with hexagonal screws that fastened a porthole-like bezel. Thus was born the Royal Oak, in honor of the British Royal Navy's line of ships bearing the same name. The Royal Oak is among many of the most specialized and complex watches produced by this famous manufactory.

Since the 16th Century the famous Baume name has been associated with prestigious watchmaking. In 1918, William Baume and Paul Mercier consolidated their businesses and the Baume & Mercier name was born. In 1964 they introduced the greek Phi symbol as their corporate emblem. It represents the brand's high standards of workmanship, attention to detail and commitment to quality. The Baume & Mercier brand has received almost every major international watchmaking award.

Established in 1735 by its founder Jehan-Jacques Blancpain, this master watch manufacturer is renowned for its horological complications. The company is also well-known for its Fifty-Fathoms watch, selected by the US Navy and worn by Jacques Cousteau in his award winning film. In 1984, Blancpain launched the world's smallest movement, followed shortly thereafter in 1989 by the launch of the world's thinnest movement.

A pillar of watchmaking tradition, Breguet has a long and distinguished lineage. Its founder, Abraham-Louis Breguet is considered by many as the father of watchmaking. Indeed, he is one of the greatest horologists of all time. Since 1775, clients have included Napoleon Bonaparte, Marie-Antoinette, Winston Churchill, Alexander Dumas, Princes, Dukes, Sultans and Kings. Breguet's influence on watchmaking is unequalled. He perfected the self-winding watch, created the first oil-free escapement, incorporated the first shock absorber into a timepiece, developed perpetual date mechanisms, and invented and patented the Tourbillon. Signature Breguet styling is evident in today's masterpieces; blue steel hands, guilloche engraving, and the fluted caseband.

It was 1884 when 24 year old Léon Breitling founded the watch manufacturer that would become the standard-bearer for pilots and navigators worldwide. As a pioneer in aviation timekeeping, Breitling has continued to produce wristwatches of distinction. Breitling's renowned Chronomat, introduced in 1942 was the first watch to incorporate a circular slide rule. A Breitling timepiece is instantly recognizable for its large case and disctinctive bezel.

Sotiro Bulgari emigrated from his native Greece to Italy in 1879. His first shop opened in Rome in 1884. Then, in 1905, with his two sons Constantino and Giorgio, he opened his flagship Bulgari store on Via Condotti; it remains there to this day. Bulgari-Bulgari, first introduced in 1977, is the brand's most unmistakable design. It features the Bulgari name engraved twice around the bezel.

The Cartier name conjures up images of aspiration, wealth, royalty and the finest of jewelry manufacturing. Cartier's wristwatches are no exception. The Tank and Pasha are instantly recognizable the world over. The Cartier dynasty has its beginnings in 1847, in Paris, by Louis-Francois Cartier. Soon thereafter, Cartier was supplying the royal French court. In 1874 Louis-Francois's son Alfred took the reigns and helped to expand the venerable jeweler, adding watches to the distinguished catalog of finery. In 1899, the third generation Cartier, Louis, joined the enterprise. Cartier formed a joint venture with Edward Jaeger - the Jaeger in Jaeger-LeCoultre - to produce movements for Cartier. In addition, Cartier used the movements of other esteemed watch manufacturers including Vacheron Constantin, Audemars-Piguet, and Movado. Cartier continues to produce innovative and stylistic watches and enjoys great popularity around the world.

From pocket watches to jewelry watches, Chopard has been manufacturing reliable timepieces since 1860. It was in that year that Louis-Ulysse Chopard set up his Swiss Jura-based factory. After being in the Chopard family for three generations, the company was acquired in 1963 by the Scheufele family, whose hands-on ownership has transformed the prestigious brand. Chopard is a long-time sponsor of the Italian road-race, the Mille Miglia. Each participant receives an individually engraved timepiece from the Mille Miglia line.

Established in 1908 in Bienne, Switzerland, Concord is renowned for luxury, innovation, and the quest for slim timepieces. Its greatest achievement to date must surely be the ground-breaking Delirium IV wristwatch. Measuring just less than 1mm thick when it was unveiled in 1980, it was the world's thinnest watch. Concord's regular product introductions, penchant for luxurious materials, and technical achievements in watchmaking, ensure that its clientele are always at the forefront of fashion and watchmaking mastery.

Since its inception in 1955, in La Chaux de Fonds, the Corum brand has come to signify originality with its striking and elegant designs. Corum is perhaps most famous for its flagship "Admiral's Cup" line which has maritime pennants instead of numbers marking its colorful dials.

In 1911, Eugene Blum took his initials and his wife's family name, Levy, to coin "Eugene Blum Et Levy" - EBEL. In 1914, just three years after its formation, the brand won a coveted gold medal at the Swiss National Exhibition. The family company has been successfully producing sought-after wristwatches ever since.

Franck Muller graduated from the renowned watchmaker's school in Geneva, his hometown. Although he began producing watches a decade earlier, it was only in 1991 that he established the company that bears his name. Franck Muller is an accomplished and highly-skilled watchmaker that produces some exceptional timepieces, most of which are of limited edition.

Since 1791 when J. F. Bautte created his first ultra-thin timepieces, this Geneva master watchmaker has produced exceptional timepieces. Constant Girard developed the wristwatch concept in 1880 after German Emperor Wilhelm I ordered the novel timepieces for the German navy. Although not immediately popular, the concept eventually took off and in 1930, sales of wristwatches exceeded pocketwatches for the first time.

In 1845, Ferdinand Lange founded his first watch manufactory in Glashutte, but the name Glashutte Original only appeared in 1921. Following the Second World War, Glashutte's region of Erzgebirge became part of East Germany and together with other watch manufactures was united into Glashutter Uhrenbetrieb Gub. But in 1990, the fall of the Berlin Wall saw a reunified Germany and Glashutte took over its old facilities. The Karree, Glashutte's austere rectangular wristwatch, helped re-launch the manufacture. Glashutte is regarded as one of the finest complication manufacturers and since its re-ascension has assumed the higest tier of watchmaking excellence.

Founded in 1868 by an American, Florentine Jones, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, IWC is probably best known for its world-beating complicated timepieces. IWC is a fully integrated Watch Manufacture; creating and assembling its own movements, parts and watches all under one roof. IWC continues to contribute significant technical advancements in the world of watchmaking, including anti-gravity and anti-magnetic movements.

Since 1833, when the inventive Charles Antoine LeCoultre established this venerable watchmaker, it has produced some of the most outstanding and innovative timepieces. It wasn't until 1931, however, that the Jaeger-LeCoultre brand rose to international fame. It was then that the Reverso - an ingenious reversible watch - was unveiled to the public.

Longines established its first factory in Switzerland in 1897, but can trace its roots back to 1832. It is world renowned for producing elegant and technically superior timepieces, and for being associated with legendary pioneers that include aviator Charles Lindbergh. Longines produces high-quality watches with both quartz and mechanical movements.

Established in 1881 by a young watchmaker named Achille Ditesheim, it was only in 1905 that his company became known as Movado - Esperanto for 'always in motion'. Movado produced the first rectangular mechanical wristwatch in its frenetic innovation period during the 1930s. Then, in 1961, Movado introduced its flagship Museum Watch, so named because it appeared in 1959 in the New York Museum of Modern Art's permanent exhibit.

Omega is famous for being the first watch on the moon and the preferred choice of secret agent James Bond. The Swiss watchmaker's prestigious history extends back to 1848. An Omega watch is at home at the depths of the ocean, at the polar caps, and even in space. Omega has long enjoyed an intimate involvement with the US Space Program. Today, Omega is renowned as the brand synonymous with Swiss watchmaking.

Philippe Charriol brings celtic interpretations to its watch collection. Established in 1983, it is a relative newcomer to the field of luxury watchmaking.

Four generations of Piaget have headed-up this esteemed watchmaker since its formation in 1874. However, Piaget is perhaps more famous for its movements and parts, than for the watches produced under its own name. Since the 1960s, Piaget has garnered renown for its bejeweled watches and ultrathin movements.

Rado traces its roots to Lengnau, Switzerland, and to three diligent brothers who in 1917, began producing watch movements within their parents' home. In 1947, Dr. Paul Luthi joined the growing company to expand their Exacto brand. Further expansion was achieved after the company's rebranding and the birth of the Rado name. In 1962, after lengthy experimentation with new-age materials including tungsten and titanium carbide, Rado produced the scratch-resistant Diastar. Through continuous innovation, today's Rado watches are made of ceramic. The patented ceramic is formed by mixing various powders, binding agents and color additives into pressed molds that are fired and polished to an adamantine luster with diamond powder.

Since the 1860s, Edouard Heuer and the company that he founded have been responsible for some remarkable watch making achievements. Heuer introduced the 1/10th second time measurement and the flyback mechanism. In 1985, the TAG group acquired the company and subsequently renamed it TAG-Heuer. The firm has had strong affiliations with the Olympic Games, Formula 1 racing, and numerous sporting personalities. TAG-Heuer's current watch collection boasts stylish sporting designs that feature advanced quartz and mechanical movements.

Few watchmakers require a book of operating instructions to accompany their timepieces. But the Ulysse Nardin dynasty is no ordinary watchmaker. Since 1846, Nardin and his descendents have produced award winning timepieces. These coveted watches are produced in extremely limited quantities. Ulysse Nardin's technical achievements are legendary. Its watches of the last thirty years have been exemplary. Among its many celebrated watches, are the Astrolabium Galileo Galilei (an automatic watch only 9mm thick that indicates the height and direction of the sun, moon and stars), the Planetarium Copernicus (displaying the solar system), and the Tellurium (that projects the earth in a geographically accurate perspective from the North Pole).

Vacheron traces its history back to 1755 when Jean-Marc Vacheron established his watchmaking firm in Geneva. Francois Constantin joined in 1819 creating Vacheron & Constantin. In 1974, Vacheron & Constantin officially dropped the ampersand from the company name, although its wristwatches had already engraved with the newer title since the 1950s. Among its multitude of watchmaking firsts, Vacheron Constantin invented the winding crown. Today, Vacheron Constantin manufactures superb complications and exquisite wristwatches coveted by even the most discerning collector.

Founded in 1865 by its fastidious owner, Zenith, as its name connotes, represented the pinnacle of watchmaking perfection. Goerges Favre-Jacot and his company was one of only a few watchmakers that manufactured complete watches. Morever, he produced these watches using up-to-date machinery and tools that he built himself. Zenith has garnered more than 1,500 international watchmaking awards and continues to produce wristwatches of distinction.