Brands, in order of founding

Nearly three centuries of watchmaking, from Blancpain in 1735 to Richard Mille in 2001.

1. 1735

   Blancpain

   Switzerland

   The oldest registered watch brand; never produced a quartz watch.

   Fifty Fathoms BathyscapheAll Blancpain →
2. 1755

   Vacheron Constantin

   Switzerland

   The oldest watch manufacturer in continuous operation.

   Overseas Self-WindingAll Vacheron Constantin →
3. 1775

   Breguet

   France → Switzerland

   Abraham-Louis Breguet invented the tourbillon, the gong spring and the first known wristwatch (1810).

   Classique 5177All Breguet →
4. 1833

   Jaeger-LeCoultre

   Switzerland

   The 'watchmaker's watchmaker' of the Vallée de Joux, with over 1,200 in-house calibres.

   Reverso Tribute DuofaceAll Jaeger-LeCoultre →
5. 1839

   Patek Philippe

   Switzerland

   The last family-owned Genevan grand maison. Holder of more than 100 patents and the perpetual-calendar wristwatch (1925).

   Nautilus 5711/1AAll Patek Philippe →
6. 1845

   A. Lange & Söhne

   Germany

   Founded in Glashütte, expropriated in 1948, refounded in 1990 by Walter Lange.

   Lange 1All A. Lange & Söhne →
7. 1847

   Cartier

   France

   Jeweller to kings; creator of the Santos (1904), Tank (1917) and Crash (1967).

   Santos de Cartier LargeAll Cartier →
8. 1848

   Omega

   Switzerland

   Official Olympic timekeeper since 1932 and NASA's flight-qualified chronograph supplier.

   Moonwatch ProfessionalSeamaster Diver 300MAll Omega →
9. 1860

   Panerai

   Italy

   Supplier of precision instruments to the Royal Italian Navy; commercially public only since 1993.

   Luminor MarinaAll Panerai →
10. 1875

    Audemars Piguet

    Switzerland

    Still owned by the founding families in Le Brassus. Saved by the Royal Oak in 1972.

    Royal Oak SelfwindingAll Audemars Piguet →
11. 1905

    Rolex

    United Kingdom → Switzerland

    Founded by Hans Wilsdorf in London, moved to Geneva in 1919. Pioneered the waterproof Oyster case (1926) and the self-winding Perpetual rotor (1931).

    Submariner DateCosmograph DaytonaAll Rolex →
12. 1980

    Hublot

    Switzerland

    First to pair a gold case with a natural rubber strap; the 'art of fusion' philosophy.

    Big Bang Unico TitaniumAll Hublot →
13. 1986

    Jacob & Co.

    United States / Switzerland

    Founded by Jacob Arabo as a jeweller in New York; moved into extreme complications from 2000.

    Astronomia TourbillonAll Jacob & Co. →
14. 2001

    Richard Mille

    Switzerland

    Applied Formula 1 and aerospace materials science to watch cases and movements.

    RM 011 Felipe Massa Flyback ChronographAll Richard Mille →