The values of the TAG Heuer brand can be summed up by the following words performance, prestige, technological innovation, and reliability. From the onset to date, TAG Heuer has maintained these values most especially in the area of innovation, which we would cover extensively later on.
This rich heritage has made TAG Heuer become closely associated with sports, the world of competitive sports in particular. With the watch brand providing official timing services for the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, FIS Ski World Cup, Olympic Games, and many other international sporting events.
The company we know as TAG Heuer was originally just known as “Heuer”. The Heuer watchmaking company was named after the founder Edouard Heuer. In 1860, at the age of twenty, Edouard Heuer founded his own watchmaking company in St-Imier, Switzerland.
Exhibiting the undeniable spirit of innovation that TAG Heuer is popularly known for today, Edouard Heuer patented the very first patent in the brand's history, in 1869. The patent which was one of the crown-winding mechanism for pocket watches.
Edouard Heuer’s watches soon gained popularity and was recognized for its high level of accuracy and workmanship. The success of his watches led to Edouard Heuer, in 1876 to open a subsidiary in London.
In 1882, the first chronograph from TAG Heuer was patented by Edouard. And In 1887, TAG Heuer contributed significantly to the watchmaking industry with the invention and patenting of the "oscillating pinion" a mechanism that is essential to the making of mechanical chronographs; even to this day.
At the Paris World Fair of 1889, TAG Heuer received world-wide recognition when its collection of pocket watch chronographs was awarded the silver medal during the Fair. This Fair was notable because the Eiffel Tower was constructed as an emblem of that year’s Fair.
In 1892, the founder Edouard Heuer dies at the age of fifty-two. Heuer officially became TAG Heuer in the year 1985, when the TAG (Techniques d'Avant Garde) Group bought over the majority stake in the company.
Many of the innovations and inventions by the TAG Heuer are precision and accuracy inclined as it is a brand closely associated with competitive sports, especially automobile sports.
In 1911, TAG Heuer introduced the first dashboard chronograph that was designed for aircraft and automobiles. This dashboard chronograph was made to allow race car drivers and pilots, the ease of monitoring the time without the hassle of losing concentration when focusing on the smaller dials of a watch. The chronograph features an 11-cm diameter with large hands for the indication of time and a smaller pair of hands at the 12 o’clock position. With a button used to start, stop and reset the clock.
In 1916, TAG Heuer invented the world’s first sports stopwatch with an accuracy of 1/100th of a second. The stopwatch was named the “Micrograph” and its impeccable precision revolutionized the world of timekeeping. This led to TAG Heuer becoming the official timekeeper for the Olympic Games on three consecutive times: Antwerp 1920, Paris 1924 and Amsterdam Olympics in 1928.
In 1920, TAG Heuer integrated the same mechanics of their pocket watch movement to make the largest wrist chronograph. It features a crown and one button used to start, stop and reset the watch both placed at the 12o’clock position.
1933 marked the creation The Autavia dashboard instrument by TAG Heuer. This was the world’s first dashboard instrument made for automobile and aviation, the Autavia features an outstanding eight-day movement i.e. The Autavia can run for eight days without winding. This movement is known as The Hervue.
In 1950, TAG Heuer introduced the “Mareograph” or “Seafarer” (as called in the US). It is the first chronograph wristwatch with a tide level indicator and dial for race boats.
In 1964, the “Carrera” wristwatch chronograph was introduced by TAG Heuer. It was named in tribute to the 1950s “Carrera Pan-American Rally”. The first chronograph with a pure and functional dial design featuring a wide dial opening and a 1/5th of a second scale on the flange.
In 1965, TAG Heuer adds to their long list of world firsts with the introduction of the “Micro timer”. The first miniaturized electronic timekeeping device with a precision of 1/1000th of a second.
Shortly in 1969, the company introduced the iconic “Monaco” model which is a square case water-resistant chronograph wristwatch. This model was popularized by the Hollywood actor and racecar driver, Steve McQueen, in the movie “Le Mans”. In that same year, TAG Heuer introduced a new Calibre known as the “Chronomatic”. It is regarded as the first automatic chronograph movement with a micro-rotor.
TAG Heuer was named the official timekeeper of the Formula One racing from 1971 to 1979. And, in 1975, TAG Heuer pushed the innovation envelope with the introduction of the “Chrono-split”, a digital chronograph with both the LED and LCD display screens.
Fast forward to 2010, the TAG Heuer introduced the world’s first magnetic oscillator without a hairspring capable of providing the same torque as that of the hairspring. This innovation was called the Pendulum Concept.
TAG Heuer is a Swiss watch brand dedicated to the sports world with an unending thirst for accuracy and innovations in the watchmaking industry. This heritage has, without a doubt, been preserved over the 159 years of the watch brand's existence. And this has definitely earned TAG Heuer a top spot in horology’s hall of fame.
]]>Having carved a niche for itself in the watch industry in the areas of accuracy, reliability, and quality; Omega earned has several achievements and recognition. Since 1932 Omega has been the official timekeeping device for the Olympics. And the choice timepiece for NASA and the first watch on the moon in 1969.
These are just a few of their many achievements more would discuss later on, and innovations that have played a decisive role in shaping what has become staple genres of watches over the past several decades. These include the classic dress watch, diver’s watch, and chronograph watch.
The company known as Omega was originally founded by Louis Brandt in La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland in 1848. Omega started off in a small workshop, operating under the name La Generale watch & Co. Before it was incorporated under the name Omega in 1903 as “Louis Brandt et Frere – Omega Watch & Co. Later changed to the name we know the company has now in 1982, as Omega SA with its headquarters in Biel/Bienne Switzerland.
LOUIS BRANDT
Louis Brandt was a modest businessman, who specialized in assembling key-wound precision pockets watches and his timepieces to customers around the world. Establishing the brand's reputation across Europe.
BRANDT'S WORKSHOP
In 1879, Louis Brandt passed away and his business was in the care of his two sons, Louis-Paul and Cesar Brandt. His sons would eventually move the company operations to Bienne and improved on their father’s vision for the company.
LOUIS-PAUL AND CESAR BRANDT
The Brandt brothers developed a revolutionary manufacturing technique that allowed components parts interchangeable. This allowed them to expand their markets, and by 1889, the company had become the largest manufacturer of finished watches; producing 100,000 watches per year. The watches produced with this technique were marketed under the Omega brand of La Generale Watch Co. And in 1892, they created the first minute-repeating timepiece.
THE FIRST MINUTE-REPEATING TIMEPIECE
In 1903 Louis-Paul and Cesar Brandt died, leaving one of the largest watch manufacturing companies in Switzerland, with 240,000 watches produced annually and about 800 employees. The reins of the company were handed over to four young men with the oldest being Paul-Emile Brandt at the age of 24.
The quality of the Omega collection led to its global success which caused La Generale Watch Co. to rebrand itself around the Omega collection in 1903, the company was renamed to Omega Watch Co. The Omega watches boosted the company’s reputation, as it set and broke records repeatedly, and currently holds many of titles for the most accurate mechanical watches. This reputation for precision earned Omega its title as the official timekeeper for the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California. And to this day, Omega continues to serve as the official timekeeper for the Olympic Games.
In 1948, Omega introduced the first edition of the Seamaster. The Omega Seamaster is a diver’s watch model. It was introduced to commemorate the company’s 100th Anniversary, it remains one of the favorites of the omega collection.
1962 was the year the first Omega watch entered space when astronaut Wally Schirra wore the Omega chronograph model named the Speedmaster. The Speedmaster would, later on, help the company seal an endorsement with NASA, making the Speedmaster the official chronograph watches for American space missions.
OMEGA SPEEDMASTER
In 1969, Omega made history as the first watch on the moon, when it was worn on the wrist of Buzz Aldrin. Also, in 1970 the Speedmaster helped the Apollo 13 mission astronauts return to earth safely.
Omega also preserved its reputation in pop culture as one of the famous watch brands in the world, when the company became the official watch for the James Bond franchise after Pierce Brosnan wore an Omega Seamaster.
OMEGA SEAMASTER 007 EDITION
In 1947, Omega developed the first tourbillon wristwatch caliber in the world.
In 1999, Omega made history by introducing the first mass-produced watch incorporating the coaxial escapement; invented by English watchmaker George Daniels.
In 2013, Omega announced the creation of the world's first movement that is resistant to magnetic fields greater than 15,000 Gauss, far exceeding the levels of magnetic resistance achieved by any previous movement
Omega, time and time again as proved its worth, setting and breaking its own records of impeccable precision. Crowned with significant collaborations and endorsements with notable corporations in the sports, space and pop culture. Surely not an easy feat to achieve and undoubtedly the Omega watch brand can be named among the famous watch brands in the world.
Vacheron Constantin is one of the most reputable Swiss Luxury watch brands in the world. It is arguably the oldest continuously operating luxury watchmaking firm in the world, being in operation for almost three centuries. And this brand continues to make significant contributions to the watchmaking industry.
When you think of a luxury watch, the first five brands that come to mind would surely include the Rolex brand. The name Rolex is one that is synonymous with luxury and excellence. This is one of the reasons why Rolex watches are said to be the most counterfeited watches of all time.
Patek Philippe is a Swiss luxury watch and clock manufacturer founded in 1839, located in Canton of Geneva, Switzerland. The name Patek Philippe, without a doubt, has become a household name in the watchmaking industry.
]]>Vacheron Constantin is best-known for the exquisite ornamental detailing of its timepieces. These include engraving, enameling, guilloche, and gem setting. Which has earned Vacheron Constantin's notable clientele and patrons like Queen Elizabeth II, Pope Pius XI, Napoléon Bonaparte, Marlon Brando, William James, John D. Rockefeller, Diana Princess of Wales, Harry S. Truman, the Wright brothers, among others?
The watch company that would become Vacheron Constantin was founded by Jean-Marc Vacheron in Geneva, Switzerland. Jean-Marc Vacheron in his early twenties was already an accomplished Master Watchmaker and started out on his own at the young age of twenty-four in the year 1755. At that time, he was close friends with the leading French Enlightenment Philosophers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire; with their progressive and scientific ideas influencing his own work in watchmaking.
In that same year, Vacheron took on his first apprentice Jean Francois Hetier, and the contract with the apprentice is said to be the company’s birth certificate. With the earliest known watch produced by Vacheron, a stylish silver pocket watch signed with his name, made in 1755.
In 1785, the Vacheron transferred the leadership of his company to his son Abraham. Equally talented in the watchmaking business has his father, with an added knowledge of diplomacy. Abraham skillful carried on the legacy and kept the business afloat despite serious challenges during the French Revolution.
Vacheron Constantin in the year 1790, created the world’s first watch complication, which was a complication with a feature of the day-date on a wall clock movement.
Abraham, in order to keep the legacy of the family business alive, he made sure to pass on his own share of knowledge to his son Jacques-Barthelemy Vacheron. Before the company was handed down to Jacques in 1810.
Under Jacques-Barthelemy Vacheron the company grew rapidly in innovation and in reach. The company made watches that played different melodies. Also, he coordinated the very first imports from the Vacheron company and supplied the Vacheron watches and clocks to buyers in France and Italy. This extended reach got Vacheron some of the notable clientele that helped boost the company’s reputation.
In 1819, Jacques-Barthelemy realized that for the benefit of the company, sharing leadership with a trusted partner best, and it would allow him to travel overseas and sell the company’s timepieces. Francois Constantin, a watch enthusiast, and a shrewd businessman were chosen Jacques-Barthelemy to be the company’s new partner. The company then continued its activities under a new name “Vacheron & Constantin” and later “Vacheron Constantin.”
Constantin’s contribution and expertise in business marketing significantly improved the brand’s reputation and influence globally. Undoubtedly, Constantin shared the same progressive philosophy and values that the Vacheron ancestors had, and he believed in striving for perfection. This is evident in the company's motto "Faire mieux si possible, ce qui est toujours possible” in English meaning “Do better if possible and that is always possible", that had its origins in Constantin's letter to Jacques-Barthelemy dated July 5, 1819.
Jacques-Barthelemy and Constantin worked tirelessly for over three decades to locate new clients and marketing opportunities for Vacheron & Constantin. Until Constantin’s death in 1854 and Jacques-Barthelemy’s death in 1863
In 1824, Vacheron Constantin created the jumping-hour watch. In 1880, the company registered its famous Maltese cross logo, which symbolizes its quest for precision.
By 1885 the first nonmagnetic timepiece was created, with components made of a material that can withstand magnetic fields.
In 1901, Vacheron Constantin received its first Geneva Seal for its watches. Shortly in 1929, the company created a Grande Complication pocket watch, No. 402833, for the King Fuad I of Egypt.
Vacheron Constantin was one of the first watchmakers to break away or the conventional round watch case shapes. From 1912 introduced its first non-round watch; a watch with a tonneau (barrel-shaped) case. In 1921 the rounded square Vintage Angle watch was created.
In 1955, the company produced the world’s thinnest manual-winding movement, named the Calibre 1003. Later on, the world’s thinnest minute repeater, The Calibre 1755 was created in 1992.
In 2015, Vacheron Constantin created the most complicated mechanical pocket watch ever made. A watch named the Reference 57260 with 57 complications
With a rich history over its 264 years in existence, Vacheron Constantin has earned its spot among the famous brands in modern times. The company’s heritage of making gorgeous ornamental engravings and gem setting puts in a class of its own in the watchmaking industry.
]]>The brand, just like most famous watch brands today has had a distinctly profound impact on the watchmaking industry. Rolex is a brand that has infused itself in pop culture with many references to it in the entertainment industry.
The well-deserved reputation of Rolex as one of the popular watch brands today didn’t just happen by chance. A look at its history and innovations will confirm this fact.
The brand originated in 1905, with a young Hans Wilsdorf and his brother in law Alfred Davis. It was a London based company that focused on the distribution of timepieces. At that time, Wilsdorf and Davis were not manufacturing their own watches but rather fitted imported Hermann Aegler's Swiss movements, from Switzerland to England, in high-quality cases. These watches were sold to other jewelers, who then added their names and logos on the watches. These early watches from Wilsdorf and Davis were inscribed with the initials "W&D" inside the back case.
It wasn’t until 1908, that the name “Rolex” was registered by Wilsdorf; as the brand name of the watches from Wilsdorf and Davis, and opened an office in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
There are numerous theories about the origin of the word Rolex, but a few things can be said to be true about the name. Wilsdorf wanted name short enough to fit easily on a dial, back case, and movements. Also, a name easily pronounceable in any language; Wilsdorf also thought Rolex sounded like a watch being wound. Essentially, the name was created out of nothing, it wasn’t a family name like most watches if the time, it’s just a word.
In 1910, Rolex received the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, making it the world’s first wristwatch to have such a certification. Two years later in 1914, Rolex watches were subjected to rigorous chronometric testing, and Rolex was awarded the Kew Observatory of Great Britain a Class A precision certificate; a distinction reserved solely for marine chronometer then.
These certifications in no time made Rolex known for its unparalleled precision. Shortly, the company had its name changed to Rolex Watch Co. Ltd.
Due to the heavy post-war taxes of World War I, Wilsdorf had the company headquarters moved from London to Geneva, Switzerland, the renowned home of watchmaking. By 1920, the company’s name was officially changed to Montres Rolex S.A. and eventually to Rolex S.A. in the years to come.
In 1926, Rolex produced the first “Oyster” case; this was the world’s first waterproof and dustproof timepiece to be created. It features a hermetically sealed case making the watch airtight, just like an oyster shell. That point in Rolex’s history could be said to be the foundation of modern watchmaking.
The Oyster case established its unparalleled water-resistance to the world in 1927 when Mercedes Gleitze wore an Oyster while crossing the English Channel. A swim that lasted over ten hours, with the Oyster case proving itself worthy by it staying airtight with the watch in perfect condition.
A few years after in 1931, Rolex made history in the watchmaking industry, with its ingenious innovation by inventing and patenting the world’s first self-winding mechanism with a perpetual rotor. Although there have been improvements and revisions over the years; this system would become the basis of all future automatic watches in the industry.
In 1945, Rolex introduced a self-winding chronometer watch with an automatically changing date on the dial, named the Datejust. This timepiece was revamped with the Jubilee bracelet, and soon this pairing became an iconic look, that would symbolize Rolex.
In the 1950s, Rolex began to focus on producing timepieces designed for specific professional activities. These watches were built to withstand the rigors of activities like deep-sea diving, aviation, or mountain climbing; that would simply destroy lesser timepieces. Each model was designed specifically for certain situations like the release of the Explorer line of watches and the Submariner line of dive watches in 1953.
In 1954, Rolex released the GMT-Master, which was capable of displaying multiple time zones making Rolex the go-to watch brand for pilots on transcontinental flights. Making it the companies first pilot watch.
In 1956, Rolex continued with its reputation producing the world’s toughest timepieces, with the release Milgauss. Milgauss which is the world’s first anti-magnet watch, capable of withstanding extreme levels of electromagnetism up to 1,000 gausses.
In the same year, Rolex introduced the Day-Date line of watches; which displayed both the date and day of the week in full on the watch face. The Day-Date line was only available in 18-karat gold or solid platinum. Later on, Rolex designed the presidential bracelet solely for the Day-Date line of watches.
In light of the historical innovations and landmark achievements of the Rolex brand; it can be said the company has firmly established itself as one of the top tier watch manufacturers in the industry. Despite the brand's place as a luxury brand, Rolex to date adheres to its founding values high-quality, simplicity and ultra-durable watches.
]]>The reputation of the Patek Philippe brand is not based solely on its age in the watchmaking industry. Its reputation has been well earned. Patek Philippe takes craftsmanship, design, quality, expertise, and attention to detail very seriously. All these qualities are evident in every finished Patek Philippe watch.
Patek Philippe is also known for the exclusivity of its timepieces, and it takes immense pride in this fact as it places quality over quantity. With Patek Philippe estimated to have made only about one million watches over its long history. This makes the timepieces truly exclusive, considering that some watch brands produce around that amount yearly.
Famous for its high standard of quality and rarity, it is only natural that Patek Philippe watches are highly sought-after worldwide. With a long list of notable personalities ranging from artists, entrepreneurs, intellectuals, politicians, and royalties owning a Patek Philippe. And the rarer Patek Philippe models auctioned at record high prices.
As earlier stated, the Patek Phillippe brand was established in 1839 in Canton, Geneva. It was founded by Antoni Norbert Patek, born on June 12,1812 in Piaski, Poland. His early life was characterized by a lot of political unrest. With the Russian Empire in control of the part of Poland where Patek lived.
Patek joined the Polish Calvary at the young age of 16, serving in the 1st Mounted Rifles regiment. He fought valiantly in the November Uprising (1830 - 1831) displaying exemplary courage and integrity. For which he was recognized as a hero, receiving the War Order of Virtuti Militari (more of a Polish equivalent of a medal of honor) for his service.
However, the Polish forces were greatly outnumbered by the Russian forces, and they defeated the Polish Uprising later in 1831. In the light of this defeat, the Russian Empire's dominance and oppression intensified, causing the majority of the Polish politicians and soldiers like Patek to seek refuge in western Europe.
Patek initially sought refuge in Paris but relocated to Switzerland due to the decrees of the French government. This marked the beginning of Patek's journey into the watchmaking industry.
Given Patek’s artistic inclinations, settling in Geneva that is famous for its watchmaking industry and the long heritage of decorative arts, it was only natural that Patek was interested in watchmaking.
In 1839, Patek started a watchmaking firm with a partner, a fellow Polish immigrant, Francois Czapek to form Patek, Czapek, & Cie. Czapek was already well established in Geneva as a renowned master-watchmaker. From the onset, the focus for Patek was to raise the standard of watchmaking by producing quality timepieces. Instead of mass-producing cheap watches to make a profit easily, they choose quality over quantity by making about 200 topnotch timepieces annually.
A lot of their early watches has the distinctive symbolism connected to Polish history, given their Polish heritage as a source of inspiration. For examples as shown below. Despite their shared heritage, Patek and Czapek often had friction, and soon after they parted ways. Now, to keep his growing business alive, Patek was on a quest for a new partner
At an Industrial Exposition in France, in the year 1844, Patek met with Jean Adrien Philippe, a talented young French watch expert who was well known at that time for his keyless winding technology for watches. As watches of then used to be wound by a special key, Philippe introduced what we now know as the crown.
Confident that Philippe’s involvement would be beneficial to the success of his company, Patek asked Philippe to join his business. In 1845, Philippe relocated to Geneva becoming a part of Patek’s business as a partner and technical director. In 1851, Philippe’s significant contributions were recognized through a name change to “Patek, Philippe, & Cie.”
Unfortunately for Patek in 1875, his health deteriorated and passed away in 1877. With only one surviving son Leon, to take control of the business. However, Leon didn’t want that rather he traded his company rights for a lifelong annuity. Patek’s position then went to his son-in-law, Joseph Antonine Benassy-Philippe.
Aged 76, Philippe, two years before his death in 1891, handed his position to his youngest son, Joseph Emile Philippe. That same year a few other co-owners decided to leave. It wasn’t until 1901 the owners J.E. Philippe and Benassy-Philippe decided to adopt a joint-stock company to ensure the continuity of the company, as opposed to the time-limited partnership agreements.
The company, however, remained a family-run business essentially until 1932. With J.E. Philippe’s son, Adrien as the last descendant of the original founders to hold a leadership role at Patek Philippe.
As Patek Philippe was also suffered financial devastation during the Great Depression. This led to the acquisition of the company by the Stern brothers in 1932.
Since its inception, Patek Philippe has remained prosperous over the years through its unique innovations. Let’s have a quick look at these innovations and their successes. Starting with Patek Philippe winning its first gold medal at the Exposition Universelle in Paris, in 1855.
In 1863, Patek Philippe debuted and patented the “slipping” mainspring, an ingenious mechanism that prevents a watch’s mainspring from being over-wound. Excessive winding can cause a watch to run fast or even breakdown. An innovation that would become essential to the functionality of automatic wristwatches
Though the first wristwatches were made in the 1500s, well into the 20th century, the pocket watch was largely more popular. With Patek Philippe making for its creation of the very first Swiss-made wristwatch for a royal client, Countess Koscowicz of Hungary.
This was the start of the brand's long list of Royal clientele, including Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth II (U.K.), Prince Christian IX and Princess Louise (Denmark), King Victor Emmanuel III (Italy), Sultan Hussein Kamel (Egypt), etc.
Patek Philippe invented and popularized many of the complications we have today. These include split-second chronograph, perpetual calendars, minute repeaters, moon phase, and other chiming complications and its patented World Time complication.
Also, in 1933, Patek Philippe created the Henry Graves Super-complication known as the most complicated mechanical watch in the world with 24 complications until 1989.
Patek Philippe has over the years actively taken steps to preserve and celebrate the history of horology through the Patek Philippe Museum. The museum features historical timepieces not only from Patek Philippe but also timepieces from other manufacturers. With a collection encompassing over 500 years of European watchmaking.
The contributions of Patek Philippe to the watchmaking industry is truly extraordinary, with its rich history, landmark achievements, and innovation that are relevant to this day. Undoubtedly, Patek Philippe has earned its place and prestige in the watchmaking industry.
]]>