Hisory, Heritage, and Horology Battle Royale
As I've learned about all different brands and their history over the year, a few major ones have truly come to mind on their heritage, stories, who wore them, their horological feats, and how they stand today in the watch market.
If you could only pick one brand to buy one watch from, what watch brand would you purchase from solely based on your interest of their history/heritage, not on price?
1.) Blancpain - The oldest watch brand is Blancpain, founded in 1735 by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain.
2) Vacheron Constantin - Founded in Geneva in 1755, the longest continuously operating watch company in the world.
3.) Jaeger LeCoultre - founded in 1833, known as the "watchmakers watchmaker" for supplying the original movements to Patek, AP, Vacheron Constantin and others.
4.) Cartier - first men's wrist watch produced in 1904 for Alberto Santos-Dumont, followed up by the iconic tank on 1917.
5.) Rolex - Founded in London in 1905 and moved to Geneva in 1919, the most famous and most recognizable watch brand in the world.
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Joshua A. Kaplan
Chabad Lubavitcher. Air Force Acquisition Program Manager. Guitar player. Watch Enthusiast. Dog Lover. Tatty. Funcle. ✡️🕎🕍🇺🇸 🇮🇱🎸⌚️🐶👨👩👦 🍺🍷🍸🥃☕️
Boston, Massachusetts
Member since
Last active: 1 day ago
6.25” / 15.88 cm
All of them - I would buy a watch from anybody if I liked the watch.
All of them - I would buy a watch from anybody if I liked the watch.
Fair, but the poll is about if you could only pick one 😉
Hard to choose between JLC and VC for me, but went with JLC because I see me (well, I dream me is more accurate) wear more models from JLC than for VC
Hard to choose between JLC and VC for me, but went with JLC because I see me (well, I dream me is more accurate) wear more models from JLC than for VC
Agreed, I love to get a JLC moonphase.
Agreed, I love to get a JLC moonphase.
You read my mind !
Fair, but the poll is about if you could only pick one 😉
Why?
I picked Vacheron, but if you had a Breguet listed I would have picked that watchmaker because of this man, Abraham-Louis Breguet. Do I need to say anymore.
Cheers!
its VC or JLC - Slight nod to VC for the poll
Why?
Because that's what I wanted to poll, that's why.
I picked Vacheron, but if you had a Breguet listed I would have picked that watchmaker because of this man, Abraham-Louis Breguet. Do I need to say anymore.
Cheers!
Breguet came up in my research too but I figured it wasn't as popular as the others. I do love their designs though.
The problem with picking watches by brand… I may like the brand, but I might not like any watches they make.
The problem with picking watches by brand… I may like the brand, but I might not like any watches they make.
I'm not sure I understand how you can like a brand but not like any other their watches?
The ones you have chosen are great companies with wonderful histories and some truly remarkable watches to their name, If I had to pick a watch from any one of them I could certainly find something to make me happy.
Blancpain was a dead brand that was resurrected, you could make similar claims about many "reborn" brands including Graham (1695) and Gallet (1685 although they themselves dubiously claim 1466)
The Santos was not the first gents wristwatch, Omega had created one off wristwatches by 1892, and Dimier brothers had been granted a patent for wristwatches by 1903.
You could also have added these brands.
Breguet
Patek Philippe
Audemars Piguet
As for my choice ? I have to admit to having a soft spot for Urban Jurgensen
JLC for sure. Watches that are great value for money, lots of innovative designs and product lines, and awesome after sales service.
I'm not sure I understand how you can like a brand but not like any other their watches?
I like VC, Cartier, and JLC… but I don’t like dress watches. That removes the majority of their offerings. Rolex is a bit dull. Blancpain for the win.
Cartier — Santos is a dress watch even if current hype calls it a “sports“ watch. The Diver was cancelled. The Roadster was cancelled. No options left.
JLC — Polaris is an option. A bit boring to the eye. Nothing unique about the brand’s offerings to make me spend my $$$.
VC — Mostly dressy. Overseas normal is boring. Not a chrono fan. Dual-time is best offering but expensive and unavailable.
Rolex — Well, it’s Rolex. Overpriced for a machine produced brand but a cult following to make all pieces relatively unattainable without paying a premium. Not interested in paying premiums.
Lastly Blancpain — My vote. A brand that actually makes an innovative sports watch. Love the Bathyscaphe ceramic models. Currently too large — hoping for a 40-41mm model.
Thus, like the brands (or don’t)… but can’t find a watch to buy.
I'd rather have a Breguet, but if I had to choose from your list then I'll probably get a JLC.
I recently learned about Cartier having Piaget movements
I certainly think Piaget deserve more recognition. It's an under appreciated maker.
If your list is based on horological significance, I would choose a company not on your list. Seiko. They were established in 1881, so as much history really as the others. Plus, they are still meaningful in term of horology to this day. Mechanical watches are essentially jewelry now. There's no refinement of that tech that has any real meaning for the science of measuring time. But Seiko still products quartz and electronic watches.
If your list is based on horological significance, I would choose a company not on your list. Seiko. They were established in 1881, so as much history really as the others. Plus, they are still meaningful in term of horology to this day. Mechanical watches are essentially jewelry now. There's no refinement of that tech that has any real meaning for the science of measuring time. But Seiko still products quartz and electronic watches.
Great point about Seiko! But I think part of the scope is luxury, which seiko doesn't fall in to, but Grand Seiko does.
Great point about Seiko! But I think part of the scope is luxury, which seiko doesn't fall in to, but Grand Seiko does.
I would consider Grand Seiko has making my point. It's an odd attempt at bringing accuracy and relevance to mechanical watches. I know they are separate companies now but really the same DNA.
And you mentioned their current place in horology. When you consider that at least 95% of watch sales are quartz, it really puts things in perspective.
Breguet
I certainly think Piaget deserve more recognition. It's an under appreciated maker.
True. I never think about them until I try them on and am blown away.
For me: VC > Cartier > JLC > Blanpain
Just preference order, no horological judgment...
Vacheron Overseas chrono in blue . that is my grail …
From the list, Rolex 😁 Patek would be an alternative. 😜
CARTIER! I feel like if I put this out into the universe enough times it'll come back to me in the form of a Santos...✨
I‘ve already made this decision in real life.
Vacheron American 1921
First, let me congratulate you on listing Rolex and then not allowing anyone to vote for them...I wish I would have thought of that. That's the Chris Rock equivalent of "Rolex? Who dat?"
I picked Blancpain because let's face it they created one of the most iconic watches in history with the Fifty Fathoms and they have never produced a quartz watch. Amazing history both in dress watches and military watches.
It was a tough choice between Blancpain and Vacheron. I'd say I was 50.1% Blancpain and 49.9% Vacheron.
First, let me congratulate you on listing Rolex and then not allowing anyone to vote for them...I wish I would have thought of that. That's the Chris Rock equivalent of "Rolex? Who dat?"
I picked Blancpain because let's face it they created one of the most iconic watches in history with the Fifty Fathoms and they have never produced a quartz watch. Amazing history both in dress watches and military watches.
It was a tough choice between Blancpain and Vacheron. I'd say I was 50.1% Blancpain and 49.9% Vacheron.
Hahaha rolex was deff the option E but almost no one even mentioned them, I saw more Breguet, Piaget, PP, AP, and Seiko write-ins then I did for Rolex (if my memory serves correctly).
I love the rationale on Blancpain as your choice! The FF is a true legendary and iconic diver. I'd still take that over a Sub (if I had enough money to buy either one).