ssp40
17
ranking of brands
Hi guyes,
Somebody on another forum ranked various brands in the manner given below. I found it to be interesting. I would like to have your opinion on the topic.
Custom Grade watches - perhaps occupying the highest tier of all. Definition: manufacture, minimal outsourced parts, hand finishing and no ebauches.
Philippe Dufour
Richard Mille
Paul Gerber
George Daniels
Speake-Marin
etc.
Tier 1 - traditional high value horology. Definition: manufacture, minimal outsourced parts, good functional and decorative finishing, some ebauches but primarily inhouse.
Patek Philippe
A. Lange & Sohne
Audemars Piguet
Vacheron Constantin
Breguet
Tier 2 - innovative and technically accomplished horology Definition: may be a manufacture, some outsourced parts, good functional finishing. Ebauches if used must be thoroughly reworked and refinished
Girard Perregaux
Jaeger LeCoultre
IWC
Ulysee Nardin
Franck Muller (could be in tier 3)
Blancpain
Omega (formerly tier 3 but promoted due to recent innovations such as coaxial escapement)
Glashutte Original (could be in tier 1)
Tier 3 - jewellery and brand name horology. Definition: movements mainly ebauches, only functional finishing and minimal decoration (with exceptions, i.e. Rolex), a fair proportion of quartz movements.
Chopard (could be in tier 2)
Piaget
Rolex
Brietling
Cartier
Bvlgari
Tag Heuer
Panerai
etc
Bear in mind that this list is subject to personal opinion and whatever definitions you choose to apply. A person could arguably re-classify Piaget and Cartier as haute horology - watches such as the Emperador tourbillon and the Tortue monopusher chronograph push these marques up.
Thanks.