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I hear it and read it all the time, that the top 3 manufacturers are Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin.

In your opinion what are the top 3 watchmakers?

With my limited knowledge, my top 3 would include:

1) A Lange & Sohne
2) Patek Philippe
3) Audemars Piguet

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"Don't Touch The Watch." - Patrick Bateman

It's a very subjective question, how do you define 'top'. Is it personal preference, is it material used, is it rarity of pieces release, is it quality? From a personal preference I do not like 99.9% of Pateks, I only like one VC, and I only like a handful of APs. I would say JLC should be near the top along with A.Lange, AP, GO, PP, Blancpain, and VC. Top 3....I have no idea, pick any three and it would be a worthy Top 3.

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

Fun topic... the "big 3" has always been controversial. As Serge mentioned, it is difficult to gauge what companies are at the top of the food chain.

Having said that, I do think JLC is highly underrated as a watchmaker, considering they used to supply some of the big 3. I do like Patek Philippe, but some of their pieces can be so boring. But most of their watches are usually business in the front and party in the back anyway so I do like that. AP is overrated IMO a bit, except a handful of pieces. I just think they're a bit too novelty. I've only warmed up recently to their RO line and some of their subdued ROO stuff. Vacheron Constantin is pretty awesome too.

One other company I really like is Breguet. And at the risk of sounding like a traitor, I'll have to pay my respects to Rolex... The Germans (GO and A.Lange) also make a fine watch.

So as you can see I haven't answered the question.

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"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

I can't tell you why but I've always heard of the Big 3 as Patek, AP and VC. As Serge said, there are so many variables. From an historical significance perspective as a watchmaker, how do you top Breguet? Ulysse Nardin makes a lot of pieces with pedestrian movements but also makes amazing high-end pieces.

I will say that among the so-called Big 3 it seems there is a uniformity of quality across their spectrum of models which is impressive. And yet for all their greatness, each has commissioned and/or used a JLC movement at one time or another. Lange and GO fascinate me.

I'm with Serge on JLC, which I consider at least the greatest manufacture. Beyond that I wonder if at times the names come out by reflex. I am still so taken by my AP despite the fact that it eats up so much of my watch allowance that it drives me slightly nuts. No other piece I can think of could do this. On pure admitted bias I toss in AP. One more, maybe? I am supposed to love Patek but I'm not there at least yet. I have seen some beautiful VCs, they're tempting. As much as I love Breguet, they have limited offerings that I like, sort of like Patek. Okay, I'll stop at two more, VC and Blancpain. I just am not close enough to Lange and while I really like GO I like Blancpain more across the board.

Now, watch somebody raise a point I'm completely overlooking and make me rethink all of this. For example, there must be some logical explanation why I still want another Rolex.

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Scott

AP Royal Oak 15400, silver
Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Classic Cars
Vintage gold Corum
Rolex DJ 36 TT, oyster dial, oyster/smooth
Baume & Mercier Riviera 200m, silver dial/aquamarine bezel
Breitling Superocean 57, rose/stainless

Take AP out and put VC in and you have my purely subjective list.


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SHARKMAN

Hard to put just top 3, there are more like top 10 of them to me.

So your top 3 would be PP, VC and VC then


I wouldn't put any of the big guys in as 'top watchmakers' because for me the best watchmakers are independent (Roger Smith, Antoine Preziuso, etc) but I think that the top x brands are fairly comparable in terms of quality.

Hi Im with Roff hear the brands don't have watchmakers their assembles, Roger smith are watchmakers that hand make a watch from start to finish. The brands are all the same.

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Rolex GMT 2
Breitling for Bentley GT Racing
Ball World Time Diver
Rolex precision oysterdate
Breitling chronometre bi metal
Omega seamaster professional chronometer
Ball fireman
Rolex datejust diamond bezel
Rolex Explorer 39mm
Omega James bond 50th

These days I find this kind of thing impossible to answer as it's so subjective. In other words, what makes one brand "better" to one person, may not count for much in someone else's book.

There are a number of both non-mass production and mass production brands - and in that camp I include the likes of PP, AP - etc who all make superb watches..... and making any kind of decision on who is "better" is almost entirely down to aesthetics and personal preference.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

im most impressed with what mb&f and christophe claret put out, claret is in a league of his own if you look at the the things he has actually made for other companies as well as his own brand.

I get the 'independent' argument to a point. Still, the larger high end makers have more resources to innovate and improve upon basic functionality. Breguet, UN and Rolex, and now others, are incorporating silicon mainsprings and there will likely be expanded use of non-traditional materials. Breguet's New high-beat movement is mesmerizing to watch. Blancpain does have individuals put together at least some of their pieces. There are some cool innovative products coming out from small independent makers but I think overall advancement of the machine still comes largely from larger makers. I also suppose that at some point greatness, for watchmakers large and small, has to be defined in terms of overall lineup vs. one-off 'here's what we can do" offerings. Price is also a part of the conversation.

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Scott

AP Royal Oak 15400, silver
Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Classic Cars
Vintage gold Corum
Rolex DJ 36 TT, oyster dial, oyster/smooth
Baume & Mercier Riviera 200m, silver dial/aquamarine bezel
Breitling Superocean 57, rose/stainless

Look how subjective this has become. What about Zenith? They make some ugly watches but their movements are pretty impressive and have been used by a number of brands. Richard Mille can be thrown in the conversation. IWC makes one of the most beautiful grande complications out there, are they even in the conversation? It's an endless and almost useless topic in my opinion because what one person may consider great another person may consider just ok.

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

cartier is doing some CRAAAAZY new stuff, their last two one pff pieces are SICK. the on thats a complete vacuum is insane

Which is precisely why in my original post I asked "in your opinion..." I know its an extremely subjective question and has endless answers. Its simply a matter of opinion.

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"Don't Touch The Watch." - Patrick Bateman

I also think its personal opinion but for a manufactured pice you cant beat Rolex,

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Rolex GMT 2
Breitling for Bentley GT Racing
Ball World Time Diver
Rolex precision oysterdate
Breitling chronometre bi metal
Omega seamaster professional chronometer
Ball fireman
Rolex datejust diamond bezel
Rolex Explorer 39mm
Omega James bond 50th