The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Well you aren't going to be any the wiser after reading this slightly nonsensical list! I came across this article today (link below) about the "United Brands LLC Lists Top 10 Jewelry Brands, Watch Brands and Diamond Brands of 2009" - http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20091214/ ... b3337844_3

Half way down the page you can see their watch listings, which I've copied and pasted here -

TOP WATCH BRANDS 2009

Top 10 Watch Brands – PREMIUM
1. Patek Philippe
2. Vacheron Constantin
3. A. Lange & Sohne
4. Dubey & Schaldenbrand
5. Maitres du Temps
6. Richard Mille
7. Panerai
8. DeWitt
9. Breguet
10. Harry Winston

Top 10 Watch Brands – LUXURY
1. Rolex
2. Cartier
3. Breitling
4. IWC
5. Franck Muller
6. Blancpain
7. Corum
8. GIRARD-PERREGAUX
9. Audemars Piguet
10. Hublot

Top 10 Watch Brands – FASHION
1. TAG Heuer
2. Chanel
3. Michele
4. Louis Vuitton
5. Ebel
6. Baume & Mercier
7. Bell & Ross
8. Gucci
9. Omega
10. Movado

Top 10 Watch Brands – ENTRY
1. Seiko
2. Tissot
3. Swatch
4. Citizen
5. Longines
6. Bulova
7. Fossil
8. Victorinox Swiss Army
9. ESQ
10. Guess?

Obviously these kind of lists can be argued and disputed for months on end, but there are a few standout errors as far as I'm concerned :-

1. Panerai in the "Premium" section as opposed to in "Luxury" section? Don't get me wrong I like Panerai, but they shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as PP, VC, Lange or Breguet.

2. Omega at number 9 in the "Fashion" section???

3. Numerous omissions. Where's GO? Zenith? UN?

4. Odd placings. For example, I actually wouldn't place Breitling above the likes of IWC, Franck Muller, Blancpain, GP or Audemars Piguet. But I WOULD place them higher than Cartier..... which beats them on this list.

Interesting to look at I guess, but ultimately it's a fairly cr*p list if you ask me!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Do you think that they based the list on consumer rating, personal opinion or the yearly sales of the manufacturer? Because if it goes by the manufacturer sales then I can agree with it. For the most part except of course the panarai, that's puzzling.

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Navitimer World

Load of cobblers IMHO, AP has to be way higher up than they put them

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"It's not how it's written it's how it's read"

LOL...Dubey & Schaldenbrand....is that some kind of joke?

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-RJ

Well, D8, a number of thoughts formed in my mind when I was scanning the list, and when I looked down at your comments I saw you've nailed all of them. I can't, however, agree that it's only "slightly" nonsensical.

The placement of Omega defies rational explanation. Even if it was a 'fashion' brand (which it certainly isn't), I don't see how you could place it below some of those other brands on any basis - history, popularity, innovation, prestige, technical aspects, production numbers, chronometer certifications, distribution, market share... to name a few criteria that come immediately to mind.

Idiotic list.

Good point. AP should be on the premium list, IMO.

+1

Omega as a "fashion" watch?! Wow. Granted, I think some of their models dip down into that regime, but some other models poke up into the "premium" IMHO. It should be in the "luxury" list.

The omission is GO and Zenith (especially GO) is irksome, but not including UN is completely unforgivable. They continue to push the bounds of mechanical watchmaking and put out some absolutely amazing pieces.

Also, no JLC...I'm not sure which list they belong on, but they should be ahead of a brand like Corum.

Also, I think Blancpain belongs on the "premium" list.

But really, the dimensions by which one can evaluate a watch are many, so any attempt to condense to a 1-dimensional list will be difficult and controversial.

///M

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." --Dave Barry

Too late in the day to try and document all of the thoughts in my head on this list, but in summary......

5lbs of poop in a 2lb bag!

I mean really, no meantion of Zenith, Nardin.... and a top place for ..... Dubey & Schaldenbrand???? Are you kidding me?


We should create a poll of something to list what our members believe are the proper Brands in the proper catagories.

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Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

I didn't pick this up first time round. This is a staggering omission.

I know these sorts of lists are subjective and there are no absolute answers, but this one is is so far off the mark I don't think it can fall into the "agree to disagree" category, it's just wrong.

I missed the lack of JLC too! Unbelievable.

Oh and in response to the question about what their decision making criteria is based on, this is the quote on the site -

"The top 10 lists were compiled by executives, consultants and affiliates of United Brands,” said Lyle M. Rose, president of United Brands LLC. “We based our rankings on a variety of factors that include product quality, design commitment, consumer value, consumer recognition, brand differentiation and marketing effectiveness,” he added. Mr. Rose is one of the diamond and jewelry industry’s top executives with 37 years of hands-on experience. The United Brands team of executives, affiliates and consultants is the culmination of decades of involvement in management, operations, licensing, marketing and brand building."

Hmmmmmm......

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Driver8

Site Moderator

What a load of bull! Complete nonsense that list!

No JLC? WTF?

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Certified watch nut.

MY Top 11 Watch Brands

Patek Philippe
Vacheron Constantin
A. Lange & Sohne
Audermars Piguet
Richard Mille
JLC
Panerai
Rolex
IWC
Breitling
Cartier

I can not stress enough this is only MY opinion, it WILL differ a lot with some of you but I honestly think it is a lot closer than the DRIVEL they published

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"It's not how it's written it's how it's read"

Consider the source. From United Brands own press release.....

"Since 1989, United Brands executives and consultants have planned and developed projects with consumer brands and world renowned musicians and celebrities including Celine Dion, Elton John and Elizabeth Taylor. Feature projects have developed around the talents of award winning designers Kathy Ireland, Alan Friedman, Daniel C, LAMONT, and Jose Hess. Other brands developed and marketed under the previous entities of Mirabelle Luxury Concepts and Techline Jewelry brands include the consumer hit, Mirabelle 18k®, “The Original Diamond Handbag Collection™”, “Hollywood Handbags” by Mirabelle®, “Players Club” jewelry gaming line by Mirabelle®, The artistically floral “Flower Power” by Mirabelle®, the heirloom inspired “Victorian Collection” and “Black and White” by Techline"

Likely enough said right there, but the press release (from November 30th 2009) was to launch their new website. Now maybe it works for you, but all I see is a black page with a link to the company that built the site - http://www.ubworldwide.com/

Very impressive and adds a ton of credibility to their watch list!!