Brands are closing in on becoming teams, relying on each other for investments or a boost in their market value. However, there are still family-owned brands up to this day and are run by the brand themselves rather than cooperation. These brands endeavour to maintain the original value of their watches, so their goal isn’t to mass-produce. They put in the time, work, and energy to ensure their piece is crafted to perfection. Some are even hand-made.
Some of them originate from different workshops, while others represent family history passed down from one generation to the next. So, to distinguish the independent from the dependent watchmaking brands here is an outline of independent brands around the world which you can trust to purchase the best designer watches from.
Nomos Glashutte
Nomos Glashütte is one of the most successful wristwatch brands in the world today. The company operates independently from its headquarters situated in Glashutte, Germany. Most of its watches are made in the home country of Germany. Glashutte has about 7,000 occupants, and it sits at the foot of another town named Saxony.
The town has produced different successful watch-making companies like A.Lange & Sohne and Moritz Grossman. It can be referred to as the center of the country’s watchmaking industry. Over the years, the company has won so many awards ascribing to its excellence and artistry in the watch-making industry. One of the latest awards under their belt is the 2017 German Design Award. The company has also worn the iF award for six years straight.
In 1991, NOMOS released its first collection of wristwatches comprising Ludwig, Tera, Orion, and Tangent. All these collections were built in the Bauhaus style by designer Susan Gunter. The body length of the Tetra chassis is 29.5mm square, and the three models have 35mm round bodies. Since the 1980s, when bigger-sized watches were in vogue, big watches were all the rage, Nomos had the market opportunity to sell their watches.
Breitling
Breitling is a massive Swiss brand known for aviation-themed timepieces worn by actors like James Bond. They are one of the biggest brands to have complete independence. Although competitors like LVMH have overtaken many other brands, Breitling is still a fully autonomous brand in the market and is still relevant in the watchmaking industry.
The watch-making brand modernized chronograph watches by setting apart the reset button, developing a manner to time sports activities, competitions and flights without returning the hands to zero. Breitling is likewise recognized for its Emergency wristwatch, which has a non-public locator beacon that the wearer can move to alert rescue authorities.
Breitling became the “reputable timekeeper” of a number of the world’s airlines (and a developing cohort of personal aviators). Breitling’s 8th decade in lifestyles might be remembered for developing a partnership with Heuer and Hamilton to create the primary self-winding chronograph movement, released in 1969 on the Basel watch fair because of the Chrono-Matic.
Chanel
Channel is a Paris-based watch-making brand. Chanel has been making watches since 1987. The company is an independently owned fashion brand that also produces luxury watches. One of its prominent pieces, the ladies quartz movement premiere, is shaped like the Place Vendôme. Since its release, the Premiere became a popular female watch that, over time, has sold in thousands. The brand has additionally added different models geared toward the female category.
In 2000, with the disclosing of the J12 unisex ceramic watch, Chanel started its march in the direction of turning into a first-class participant within the international horology world. Chanel is one of the first luxury fashion brands to go into the watch industry and make a name.
Patek Philippe
Patek Philippe is one of the most respected Swiss wristwatch industries. The company is one of Geneva’s oldest independent and family-owned watch manufacturers. It has its very own studies and improvement branch and creates and engineers all its activities and external factors in its very own workshops.
The designs and materials of their watches are produced, finished, and assembled in-house, from accessible fashions and complex timepieces to grand complications. Quality is a trademark for the company, from the preliminary sketches to the very last assembly.
Richard Mille
Richard Mille is one of the leading independent luxury wristwatch brands. Richard Mille is a luxurious Swiss watch manufacturer based totally in Les Breuleux within the Canton of Jura, Switzerland. Named after its creator, the company is known for a spirit of perfection and technical excellence In addition to a pioneering fashion and modern-day layout of a timepiece.
The Richard Mille Collection was formally released in 2001, and to date, their assembling is still handmade and done manually.
Chopard
Chopard is a luxury wristwatch started by Louis Ulysses in 1860 in a small workshop located in Switzerland. The founder was 24 at the time, and he mainly produced pocket watches. In 1937 the company joined Geneva acquiring new clients, including the Russian Emperor Nicholas II and his court.
Chopard started the Happy diamonds family started in 1976. In 1996, the company started manufacturing mechanical movements. The movement and its name are in the memory of the founders of the company. It also introduced the 1.96 calibre watch, which is now one of the most durable self-winding watches.
Conclusion
Unlike more prominent companies, watches with independent owners of family-owned brands work alone. Most of these watchmakers seek to maintain the original value of their watches so the number of watches they produce is less than that of the more prominent companies. While the big companies produce watches in thousands and millions, they might produce in 100’s. Of course, this also depends on the number of their workers and the complexity of the watch. Their materials are crafted in-house and are coupled by hand.
Unlike big names like Rolex and Omega, these brand names might not be instantly recognized. Most of their customers patronize them as a result of personal respect or admiration for the particular watchmakers. Finally, Not all watches are created equal. Some independent, innovative new brands are combining magnificent craftsmanship with a fashionable aesthetic and luxury.
