Top 10 Best-Selling Watch Brands Worldwide in 2022

Rolex is widely regarded as the number one among Swiss watch manufacturers. Rolex is undeniably the most famous brand among luxury watch brands worldwide. Enthusiasts choose Rolex for its exceptionally high quality. They may care less about the extremely intricate craftsmanship, opting for an all-around best watch for daily wear.

The foundation of Rolex's success is the consistently high product quality maintained over many years of existence. Rolex watches display time accurately and robustly, ensuring durability and reliability. Sustaining high quality consistently with an estimated annual production of around 3/4 million units is an art in itself. The watch's daily wearability is a function in its design. The round shape of Rolex watches contributes to water resistance and high readability. The notion that when you buy a car, it depreciates by half is true to a lesser extent for watches - except for Rolex.

Known as the “jeweler to kings and king of jewelers,” Cartier is a brand synonymous with royalty and prestige. The company's founder, Louis-Francois Cartier, produced watches and jewelry. The company's first wristwatch, the Santos, is still in production today. Despite a history dating back to 1847, Cartier continues to hold a premier position in Haute Horlogerie.

The innovations and technical mastery of Cartier have earned them a unique position in the luxury wristwatch market and are why many collectors invest in them. The luxurious materials make each watch feel enchanting to wear. As Cartier primarily focuses on jewelry production, their elegant approach to watchmaking echoes patterns found in their jewelry lines, making them highly sought-after as sophisticated wristwatches.

A watch styled after Babe Ruth, considered one of the most accurate timepieces globally, and the official chronograph for the Olympic Games on a recurring basis. This is Omega, one of the greatest Swiss watch companies of all time. Omega has been present under this name or another since 1848, but its current product line is primarily based on its mid-20th-century classic designs.

While not evolving as Rolex, Omega has incrementally developed its timepieces to give them a vintage yet modern feel. Omega acquired the co-axial escapement in 1999 and has recently built new state-of-the-art facilities to foster their co-axial escapement - as well as their Master Chronometer program - into the 21st century. When you purchase a contemporary Omega with a co-axial movement, you're getting an advanced mechanism and a significant part of watchmaking history.

Longines is one of the nineteen Swiss watch manufacturers, including the colossal Swatch Group. Situated in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, the brand produces luxury watches with a modern in-house auditing system and a component distribution system - leveraging automated processes combined with traditional watchmaking to manufacture nearly two million timepieces annually. Longines currently focuses on sports sponsorship for high-altitude mountain snow sports, archery, and horseback riding, with brand ambassadors such as Kate Winslet, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Andre Agassi.

With over 1,200 different models in the Longines watch catalog, although that figure takes into account every strap option or dial color variant leading to a different SKU. This variety allows Longines to cater to the diverse tastes of the global market - the brand achieves a broad market presence by positioning its watch strategy within the Swatch Group, priced below Omega and above Tissot.

Audemars Piguet is a Swiss watch manufacturer that has etched its history with exquisite timepieces for over 140 years (since 1875). Their brand recognition primarily resonates among watch collectors and horology enthusiasts. They stand as the 7th recognized Swiss watch brand in the business field. The current estimated brand value is around 961 million CHF.

Founded on the principles of technical innovation, artistry, and a culture of crafting exceptional timepieces, Richard Mille has emerged as a dominant player in the watchmaking industry. Brands like Patek Philippe and Rolex are often regarded as the kings of retail and auctioning in the watch domain. However, a newcomer in watch manufacturing is disrupting the established order. Leading this new wave is the independent watchmaker Richard Mille, considered by many as the epitome of opulence.

Richard Mille established his eponymous brand in 1999 with the backing of Audemars Piguet and its legendary development company, Renaud et Papi. Two years later, the Richard Mille RM 001 was introduced, devoid of gold, diamonds, or gemstones—just pure technical prowess. In September 2018, the first Horology Forum ever held in London deliberated on the state of the watch industry. One of the hottest topics among high-end watch enthusiasts was the desire to own a Richard Mille timepiece. When asked why, the most skilled watchmakers in the business pointed directly to the quality of the movements.

Patek Philippe is often regarded as one of the leading brands among all major watch manufacturers in Switzerland. Patek Philippe has mastered every aspect of crafting quality timepieces — from manually wound two-hand watches to 'standard' variations possessing functions like annual calendars or second time zones, to intricate masterpieces with minute repeaters, tourbillons, and split-seconds chronographs. The refined craftsmanship of the brand's artisans goes hand in hand with the use of modern machinery and high-end technology.

Patek Philippe has been in existence for 177 years in the industry and has continuously produced watches throughout this time, leading to countless experiences in crafting high-end watches passed down from generation to generation. Despite Patek Philippe's long-standing tradition, its production is not bound by its past. On one hand, the company maintains the values of traditional watchmaking art, while simultaneously investing heavily in using various materials, high technology, and new manufacturing methods. The luxury watch brand has also made a conscious choice to create new designs, such as the pilot's watch in 2015, Calatrava Pilot Travel Time.

Perfectly blending Swiss craftsmanship and advanced American technology, International Watch Co (IWC Schaffhausen or simply IWC) has long been a pioneer in the luxury watch industry. From being the first manufacturer to create a digital watch to outshine competitors to crafting titanium bracelets, the company has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation.

The IWC brand is synonymous with precision and quality, quickly becoming one of the most prosperous watchmaking companies globally, securing lucrative commercial and military contracts early in its existence. If you're currently pondering, 'Should I buy an IWC watch?' we have all the information you might need. If you are a true aficionado of innovation, there's hardly a watch brand better than IWC.

9. Tissot

Tissot is a brand worthy of admiration. With a history dating back to 1853, Tissot has earned a reputation for delivering excellent watchmaking quality at affordable prices. It's a brand for everyone. While you won't find high-end horology here, that's perfectly fine. The industry needs brands like Tissot. With that in mind, let's explore the top 5 Tissot watches as of 2022.

Tissot's collection includes a wide range of watches for everyone. There are dive watches, wristwatches, and sports chronographs. There are quartz watches, automatic watches, and classic hand-wound watches. Tissot takes pride in helping both new and seasoned watch enthusiasts indulge in this hobby regardless of their preferences or budget. The Tissot PRX series reclaimed the hearts of collectors worldwide when the Swiss brand reintroduced it in 2021. The Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional Powermatic 80 and Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium are equally beloved.

10. TAG Heuer

In the 1960s, Heuer watches became synonymous with car racing to the point where it's hard to find a picture of Formula 1, Indy, or GT races from that era without spotting their logo. When Steve McQueen sported a square Heuer Monaco in his brief racing career, both the man and the watch became immortalized in images that set a lasting standard for men's fashion. McQueen's 1971 film, Le Mans, injected Heuer's racing legacy with an indescribable dose of Hollywood magic.

In 1999, LVMH acquired TAG Heuer, injecting enough capital to revive the brand. By the 2010s, they pushed TAG Heuer watches into the 'connected' realm to compete with the Apple Watch. However, TAG Heuer also upheld their heritage with mechanical models featuring vintage aesthetics and sleek reissues. Heuer has recently released a series of new models that cater to those who prefer their heritage pushed, offering a robust portfolio of modern timepieces.