The best wristwatch. Brands and ratings of Swiss watches
Instructions
V10K High-Tech Diamant produced by the Swiss company Rado is the most durable watch in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. The body contains diamond chips, providing a hardness of 10,000 on the Vickers scale. The laconic black bracelet is made of silicone. The design is minimalist: the stylish square dial displays the time and date, and the control buttons are located behind.
The most popular budget watches for extreme sports enthusiasts are Japanese Casio G-Shock. The company regularly posts videos of crash tests that models of this line undergo. The case is designed for maximum shock absorption and water resistance. The clock mechanism is securely mounted to withstand any test. The functionality of the sports chronometer includes a timer, stopwatch, calendar, world and local time, as well as backlight.
The Swiss Military Watch 20"000 FEET looks stylish and respectable. Military watches are considered the most reliable because they undergo the most stringent tests. This model has been subjected to water pressure equivalent to 6 km of immersion and a blast wave. Rare watches can withstand a hit from a rifle, but Swiss Military Watch 20"000 FEET is equipped with a unique shock absorption system. The case and bracelet are made of titanium; a replaceable silicone bracelet is provided for diving.
The Chronograph Sport Tantalum Automatic sports watch from Montblanc is resistant to aggressive environments. They were tested with acids and alkalis, heated to 240°, and immersed in water, but the sealed tantalum case passed all the tests. The representative design includes functionality typical for this class: time and date indicators, as well as a chronograph.
Swiss Certina DS watches are relatively inexpensive compared to luxury models, but are not inferior in technical specifications. The case is made of stainless steel, and the dial is reliably protected by a sapphire crystal that can withstand water pressure at a depth of 200 m. The rubber bracelet is ideal for diving. The analog dial will be appreciated by fans of classic design.
The Royal Oak GMT Tourbillon Concept is best characterized by its unrivaled design: an open tourbillon in a carbon case and a double dial are typical of a high-end watch. This model is waterproof to a depth of 100 m, equipped with a chronograph and a power reserve indicator.
The Harry Winston Project Z5 jewelry watch emphasizes belonging to the cream of society. The reliable open tourbillon movement is covered with sapphire crystal and built into a zirconium case. A rubber bracelet allows you to go diving without parting with your favorite accessory. Dual dial lets you know exact time in all time zones.
Most luxury luxury watches are equipped with quartz movements. The only exception is the Suunto Ambit2 Sapphire. This digital watch has been awarded the prestigious Red Dot Design Award. They have built-in not only standard functions for measuring time, but also a compass, thermometer, barometer, GPS sensor and heart rate meter. Of course, the watch is water-resistant and suitable for diving.
It would seem that now, when everyone has mobile phone, wristwatches should fade into the background. However, their popularity does not decline. Watches are worn by popular movie characters such as James Bond and royalty. Indeed, in addition to the fact that it is a stylish and beautiful accessory, a watch has an undeniable advantage: it is always at hand (more precisely, on the hand). But wristwatches, especially mechanical ones, are not the cheapest pleasure. The TAM.BY team found out how to choose the right ones and not make a mistake, together with Vladimir Molodkin, manager of the online watch store “Wind of Time”.
The first wristwatches appeared in the 16th century. Moreover, at that time they were worn exclusively by women, and only because the watches looked very beautiful on fragile women’s wrists. More than a century passed before men appreciated them: the convenience of wrist ones over pocket ones played a role.
Although in modern fashion there are unisex models that are suitable for both sexes, the tradition of dividing watches into men's and women's watches has still been preserved, says Vladimir. — It is believed that on a thin woman’s hand a large dial and a wide strap look cumbersome, and, conversely, an elegant narrow bracelet can look awkward on a man’s wrist. Therefore, when choosing a watch, you must try it on.
The most important and first question to ask a specialist is: “what mechanism does the wristwatch have?” We will not take into account watches with an electronic dial, but consider two main types: mechanical and quartz. The main difference is what is used as an energy source. For quartz watches it is a battery, for mechanical watches it is a spiral spring. Of course, both have their pros and cons, although outwardly it can be difficult to distinguish them.
Quartz
pros: Low cost, light weight, shock resistance, start only when the battery is changed, show more accurate time (deviation in accuracy up to 20 seconds per month).
Minuses: completely depend on the battery, can go astray at temperatures below 6 and above 40 degrees, repair depends on the availability of spare parts (if they are no longer produced, the entire mechanism will have to be replaced).
Mechanics
Pros: independent of batteries, reliable, less susceptible to temperature changes, indicator of status, high maintainability.
Minuses: high cost, regular maintenance (every 3-5 years you need to clean and lubricate the mechanism), you need to wind it manually, fairly high accuracy error (from +40 to −20 seconds per day).
When choosing a mechanic, you need to pay attention to the presence of automatic winding. It reduces the accuracy of the watch, but at the same time makes the case heavier, and it is more difficult to repair. In general, if treated properly, a mechanical watch can last so long that it becomes a family heirloom - the manager smiles.
In order not to have to guess with a daisy, you need to think in advance what kind of “frame” you want to wear on your hand. Of course, bracelets made of metals, especially precious ones, look more prestigious, but there is no need to talk about durability. However, some may find them heavy. Then straps made of various materials are replaced: leather, plastic, silicone. If the last two are more suitable for young people, then the leather strap is a classic. However, we must remember that leather, like everything natural, is subject to influence environment, so you can’t get it wet, avoid stains, etc. Even with all the precautions, the leather strap will have to be replaced after a year or two.
If you are choosing between a strap and a bracelet, then think about how often you will wear the watch. A metal bracelet can weigh more than 100 grams, and when you factor in the weight of the case, it can be very heavy on your wrist. If you settled on a strap, then remember that when replacing you need to take into account the width. If you cannot find exactly the same one, then choose one that is maximum 1 mm wider. But you shouldn’t buy a narrower one, otherwise the watch may dangle on your hand, - warns the specialist.
First you need to determine which functions in a watch are vital: do you need a calendar, backlight, or maybe an alarm clock? These requests can be used as a basis for selection.
For mechanical watches, one of the mandatory functions is a power reserve indicator. It shows how much time is left before the watch stops and when it needs to be wound up again. In general, watches are most often chosen based on the nature of their hobby or profession. Travelers always look to see if there is a world time indicator: it allows you to switch to the time of other time zones. Athletes prefer chronographs, that is, watches with a stopwatch, and businessmen ask about a “perpetual calendar.”
The glass acts as “armor” for the watch dial. Three types are now considered the most popular: plastic (plexiglass), mineral glass and artificial sapphire. Sapphire glass is considered the highest quality and, accordingly, the most expensive. It is almost impossible to break and very difficult to scratch, and it does not become cloudy. Mineral glass, also called artificial crystal, is the most commonly used material. It is inferior to sapphire in quality and durability, but is many times superior to plastic in the same parameters. It is easy to replace, which is why the demand for watches with such a “screen” is quite high. Well, plastic, of course, is the cheapest material, but it has its own advantages. For example, it is difficult to break, which is why plexiglass is often chosen by children and athletes.
Tip 6. Waterproof or waterproof - be careful!
Today, almost any watch is made with protection against moisture. But the degree of sealing varies, so if they sell you a “waterproof” watch, ask how many atmospheres it can withstand. The minimum degree of water protection implies accidental exposure to moisture (for example, rain or water when washing hands). The maximum can withstand scuba diving - however, no more than two hours.
A watch is an accessory that will please the eye and evoke a sense of pride. But only if the owner likes them. If your soul is in favor of simple classic or designer fuchsia colors, and someone advises: “Choose Rolex, it’s cool!”, you don’t need to listen to anyone. The main thing to remember is that any purchase should bring pleasure and a desire not to part with it.
Appearance is the first thing a person pays attention to when choosing a watch. And often it is the design of the watch that becomes the decisive criterion when purchasing. If a client cares about style, he will always choose an accessory that suits a particular look. This is why they often buy several watches to combine with different clothes.
Swiss watches are the best in the world. Watch brands from Switzerland do not need to prove the quality of their products, which has already become an axiom. If the question arises - buy a Swiss or any other watch, the choice is obvious.
But choosing a brand and model from all the variety of brands is more difficult. You need to navigate the watch’s prestige rating and features different manufacturers, know the differences between men's and women's models, understand the principles of pricing among luxury brands.
There is no single clear ranking of the best Swiss watch brands. Specialized magazines compile their ratings every year, but they are constantly changing and depend on the audience, new products on the watch market and even fashion trends.
Prices, popularity, mechanical improvements, brand history, production principles and other features influence the prestige of the brand, but do not completely determine it. It is impossible to clearly answer the question, which is better - a luxurious quartz bracelet watch with diamonds from Bvlgari or a laconic, elegant Vacheron Constantin with a hand-assembled caliber, if they have the same price? Or who is higher in the ranking - the young brand Maurice Lacroix with the best retrograde movements in the world or the well-known Longines brand, which has been around for two hundred years?
Classification of the best Swiss watches
This does not mean that Swiss brands cannot be classified. There is an approximate rating of watches by category, which you can use as a guide when choosing. The best, highest categories are premium, luxury and super-premium, also known as haute horlogerie or haute horlogerie. Within these categories, brands compete with each other.
Based on this classification, the best Swiss watches are produced by brands from the haute horlogerie category. There are relatively few of them. The undoubted leaders are Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. Also in this category, according to many ratings, are Jaeger-LeCoultre, Blancpain, A.Lange&Sohne, and in many ratings the brands Breguet and Richard Mille fall into this category.
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The luxury category includes no less high-quality, reliable and accurate watches from Swiss manufacturers - the famous Rolex, Omega, Chopard, Hublot, Cartier. Luxury watches are called Glashutte, Breitling, Zenith, IWC. It is impossible to say which brand is the best in this category. Rolex is the most popular brand and produces the most accurate watches. Breitling specializes in sports and professional models, while Cartier produces elegant, decorative watches with a distinctive style. Each brand has its own characteristics and its own audience, which considers it the best in a certain category.
Premium watches are an order of magnitude lower in cost and prestige than luxury and super-premium products. However, these are also reliable, stylish and status watches, one of the best in the world. These include the brands TAG Heuer, Maurice Lacroix, Longines.
How to choose the best watch
This classification is not an unambiguous rule, but a rather flexible system. Each brand has successful and unsuccessful models, watches with different functionality, design and cost. A certain model from a luxury brand may be better in certain characteristics than a watch that belongs to haute horlogerie. Watch companies are changing their principles, development directions, and philosophy. Besides, fashion trends in watchmaking they change more slowly than in many other areas, but they still change. Therefore, brands can move from one category to another.
Thus, you need to choose the best Swiss watches for yourself not only on the basis of ratings. It is important to adequately assess status and financial capabilities, take into account lifestyle, and focus on tastes and needs in the functionality and design of watches.
Which watch is best for a man?
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A man should have at least three pairs of watches: suit ones for special occasions, casual ones and sports ones. When choosing a new watch for a man, you must first take into account its purpose: models for evening outing, for sports and active recreation, and for every day vary significantly. Experts advise buying watches for different occasions from different brands, since most manufacturers have their own specialization. In addition, the wider the choice, the more opportunities to find the perfect model.
When buying a watch, pay attention to the materials. The main materials for men's models are gold, steel, and less commonly platinum and titanium. Some brands widely use innovative materials in men's collections - carbon, rubber, zirconium oxide and others.
Active and practical men choose steel models made from high-quality 904L alloy. Buyers with conservative tastes prefer white or rose gold. Yellow gold is used less frequently in men's collections and is more associated with women's watches, but some brands have decent masculine models made from this alloy. Platinum watches are the choice of the most demanding connoisseurs of watchmaking. Models made from new materials are suitable for those who like to experiment and value functionality over prestige.
When choosing a strap or bracelet, you need to take into account the man's lifestyle and the expected duration of wearing the watch. A metal bracelet is more durable, it is not afraid of moisture and mechanical damage. But the watch with bracelet is a little heavier. In addition, the length of the bracelet is not adjustable; if necessary, the master can reduce it. Watches with leather straps are more comfortable to wear and look more elegant. But they need to be handled carefully, as the leather suffers from moisture and can be scratched or torn.
Men primarily value functionality in watches, not design. They rarely consider quartz products and prefer more complex and prestigious mechanical models.
When choosing a watch, pay attention to the caliber features, additional functions, and improvements. A universal option is a model with a time display and a calendar without any bells and whistles. It's nice to have a chronograph and tachymeter in a sports watch, but only if you really need those features. If a man often goes on business trips or travels, it is advisable to choose a watch with dual time.
Models with complex improvements - such as a tourbillon or repeater - should only be purchased by true lovers and connoisseurs of watchmaking, for whom a watch is not so much a practical device or an element of prestige, but a work of art.
Although the design when choosing men's watches taken into account in last resort, you also need to pay attention to it. The main dial colors for men are classic black or white. If you need variety, then many brands have options with other discreet colors - dark blue, gray, silver, brown dial.
The shape of the case, the design of the dial, the presence of decorative elements and other design features can be chosen based only on taste preferences. But when choosing a case size, you also need to consider the width of your wrist. For an average hand circumference - about 20 cm - a standard watch with a diameter of 40-42 mm is suitable. For men with thin wrists, it is better to choose small 38 mm models so that they look harmonious and do not emphasize this feature. And on large hands, massive watches with a case size of 44-46 mm look better. When choosing, remember that a wide bezel visually reduces the size of the watch.
IN last years Men are paying less and less attention to choosing the size according to the wrist. The only strict rule is that the arms of the body should not protrude beyond the limits of the hand.
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The most inexpensive Swiss watches
The most budget brand in the top categories of Swiss watches is Longines. This premium manufacturer has the most models in the price range of 1-2 thousand dollars. The next brand with relatively inexpensive watch collections is Omega from the same premium category, its prices start at 2-3 thousand dollars. At this price point, watches are made only from stainless steel and are rarely decorated with precious stones, with a few exceptions.
Relatively inexpensive Swiss watches can be purchased from the brands TAG Heuer, Tudor, Bvlgari. There are several affordable models under 5 thousand dollars in the professional collections of IWC and Breitling.
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Where to buy Swiss watches
You need to buy original Swiss watches in branded boutiques or official representative offices. It is most convenient to use large portals for the sale of watches, which contain information about different stores and sellers. In this case, you don’t have to independently choose options with good prices, convenient locations, a wide range and availability of the right models.
The portal site offers services for the sale of Swiss watches. The site presents best brands and all available models with a convenient filter by different characteristics. You choose the watch you like, and we take care of everything else and will even deliver your purchase anywhere within the CIS. You can also buy watches in our offices in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Where to sell Swiss watches
It is also more convenient to sell used Swiss watches through a large service, rather than in a pawnshop or purchase. Fill out the form on the website, indicate basic information about your watch, and we will contact you immediately. We guarantee a fair price and same day deal.