Watch Expert Ranks Watch Brands

the thing with Casio and Seiko is that they introduce and bring people into the watch community. Without Seiko, I would not be into mechanical watches (or watches at all).

A "watch expert" putting Zenith and Breitling in the same category as Gucci 😂😂😂😂

I can't believe this guy insulted an iconic watch like Vacheron Constantin, and then inmediatly, began to talk about a Hamilton watch.

Tissot has many historic horological achievements under their belt. You wouldn’t own a watch with a date, or any ana-digi dual face without them. They invented the antimagnetic watch, they were the first to mass-produce a pocket watch so that everyone could own a watch, and they made the first widely available world-time. Tissot is a legit brand that everyone should own at least a single piece from, just to pay respect to everything they’ve done to help preserve the watch industry, especially during the quartz crisis.

If he is a watch expert, then I am an astronaut. 😂😂

Crazy that you say Zenith is a "waste of money", the brand offers some remarkable pieces that are well respected. Indeed, it was Rolex that was relying on Zenith movements for the original Daytona; so Zenith has every right to design the current watch this way. Also, as a watch expert, it is surprising that you do not mention Blancpain or Tudor, both of which are big players with strong offerings which cannot simply be written off. Even Oris is worthy of being discussed, which has an extensive history, is still owned independently and has not succumbed to the Swatch Group etc.

Breitling is in the same category as Gucci..... c’mon, you can’t be serious. 50’s Breitling Premier, Navitimers, Chronomat (matte Blackbird!)... They are not a waste of money. These are great watches with a lot of history.

The funniest part is him saying that Zenith “make watches to make money” - does he really think that Rolex and the rest are doing this for fun?? Rolex make a good product, but every poser under the sun wants one. To compare Lange with Rolex and rate the latter is simply a joke and betrays a complete lack of understanding about how true watch collectors think…….

Casio definitely higher than Patek or Rolex, let's be honest, everybody started with Casio. The God of all Gods

You lost me when Breitling suddenly fell into the same category as Gucci. Bullshit. Bye bye

Grand Seiko should be in the grail category for the development and availability of spring drive. Greatest innovation in the last 50 years and their quality in producing extraordinary time pieces is up there and indeed higher than the best.

How did Longines get in the "meh" category? This makes your whole list suspect.😂

Ulysee Nardin - The pioneer of using silicon parts in watchmaking. Zenith - One of the best watchmaker in the world which supplied chronograph movements to Rolex in the past. Piaget - Created the thinnest mechanical watch in the world. And you rated these brands Meh and Waste of $ lol

You're a watch expert? You said about the Piaget that the Polo is nice, that's their base watch. They make some the finest tourbillon, skeleton and other haute horology watches in the world. You said Zenith copies the Daytona when Rolex used the El Primero movement for years and obviously Zenith makes some of the most accurate and reliable movements in the industry. Not to mention their Defy Classic series is just really cool. You get a lot of watch for the money, especially if you buy used. I am not even going to get into the things you said about Vacheron Constantine it is so ridiculous. The fact the watch of theirs you know is the overseas shows you are just a normal everyday watch collector and only know the mainstream hyped watches in Instagram. I would recommend doing some studying before your next video and leave the rankings to actual watch experts or say rankings by a watch enthusiast, which is fine, but you are definitely not an expert. I am not trying to be mean, just honest feedback.

Zenith El Primero has a Hi-Beat 36000 bph movement, which makes it possible to measure 1/10 second with the chronograph. Grand Seiko is the only other company that has that in a large scale.

with Breitling you get so much more in terms of complications and functions vs rolex. best rolex has to offer is a annual calender in sky-dweller while for less you can get the super chronomat 44 which has a semi perpetual calender for example

Ectually Zenith made chronograph for Rolex

A. Lange, while not Swiss, has easily replaced Constantin in the Trinity. Rolex is the LAST watch I want on my wrist. If you show me your Rolex, what am I seeing that I haven't seen for the last 20 years? It's a mass-produced, factory-line watch. And don't say it has "Heritage." It's boring, uninspiring, and trite. Ranking it with Patek is criminal.

Why was a TAG a waste of money? The Aquaracer I got 11 years ago is great! One of my favs!

I bought a Rolex while my Breitling was being serviced (takes a couple of months) and the Rolex was losing time from day 1! Took it back to the Rolex authorized dealer and the reply was: "...if you wanted a watch to tell you the precise right time you bought the wrong watch!". And for those who have not had the pleasure service cost run four figures! Prefer my Breitling anyday ( and the titanium is light and warm). Also prefer my Longines to my Rolex. But that's just my experience and humble opinion.

I agree with most of the things you're saying except for the fact that zenith is not a waste of money it's pretty well made watch, and they have strong designs. They just don't advertise for s***, I don't know the single celebrity or athlete who has a zenith deal

mostly agree with everything but Zenith to the bin, really, a prestigious brand with history that powered some Rolex Daytonas till recently? and to me thryre priced well although they are way underrated

Seiko was established in 1881, and it started Grand Seiko in 1960. But it didn’t sell it overseas for long time. I discovered GS when I visited Japan in mid 2000s, I recall. Then I had a chance to ask Seiko people why I couldn’t find GS overseas. They replied “Because it’s troublesome to sell it overseas, i.e., providing maintenance services, etc.” I told them “GO_TO_HELL…..” I am now very glad that Seiko has learned to sell GS overseas.

“If the brand is selling pants, it’s not a watch company.” Liked and subscribed…that was awesome.

Interesting take on this video, although I don't agree with a couple of them but, I found it to be very entertaining. It all boils down to what floats your boat, you should definitely do more of these rankings, I've learned few things just by reading some of the comments.

I would love to know what you think about Panerai, IWC, Tudor, Bell & Ross, and Richard Mille

Hi, loved the video. I was wondering where you would place more budget brands like Orient, which has some value dive watches or Citizen with their solar watches. I was also interested in where you would rank Credor

Did not think of Breitling being so low on the list. I love the Super Avengers, Hurricanes. Really hard to find a good alternative in the 48mm or more segment. Oh well, maybe some day i will be able to afford one :)

Casio and Swatch are a must have Quartz watches in any collection. Same for Seiko entry level mechanical watch ☺️

I agree with most of what you said. My first automatic watch was a Seiko. And I still have it, wear it, love it. After a few Rolexes and one VC, I just took delivery of a Tudor BB GMT. And I adore this watch. Value for money it must be up there with Seiko. Not sure why Tudor wasn't on your list here.

I really loved your ranking, it was fun to watch. Even when I was suprised by some of your category choises. But could you tell me what you think about - Junghans - Glashütte Would be nice! 😊

May i know your thoughts about Philip stein???? That would be helpful i am planning to buy one thanks

I know there's not a lot of love for Tag but as a motorsport fan, I really love their racing inspired models: Monza, Monaco, and Carrera. Not exactly high horology but definitely in my want one tier.

Please comment on the frequently overlooked brand CITIZEN. To me these watches are high quality and what sets them apart is of course the eco drive feature. I am a huge fan of this brand especially their pro master series.

Informative video - thank you. I understand that it is impossible to know every single brand in the world, as it relatively easy to make watches nowadays - if you havecapital of course. I have noticed one newer brand lately called Swiss Military HANOWA, have you any opinion about these beauties? They are afordable and look great, but what about quality! They are made in India. I'm a SEIKO man but don't own a Grand SEIKO yet, but I'm certainly looking for one. Have a couple of nice Astrons by the way, but they are still not comparable with Grand SEIKO.

I rock Casio, Omega, Orient and Seiko watches of my own and I enjoy wearing all of them.

A Lange & Sohne should be on top for sure. Rolex is a mass marketed watch. The top 3 should be Lange, Patek and Journe without a doubt. These are superlative examples of watchmaking by any horology metric. Agree with most everything else.

Longings should be in the "I want one" category, other than that I'm in agreement.

Curious where you would put Citizen, IWC, Richard Mille, Panerai, Tudor, and Bulova

The watches made by Roger W Smith (on the Isle of Man) are the ultimate in handmade watches. He not only designs and builds the watches, but actually makes every single part himself.

Nice video. I just missed IWC, even knowing that you would put it in the MEH category. 😁

I don’t agree with Zenith - Defy line is amazing

What category would you put Oris and Rado in?

I love watching these watch ranking videos mainly for their meh categories, so I can get an idea which brands is good enough to start a collection with but not needing to mortgage my house. I already have a few Casio watches that I wear to specific occassions and one daily drive.

I’m glad he said meh to Longines only because he didn’t careless about the brand, and not because it’s rubbish. I love them, but I respect his opinion. I own 1 Seiko Prestige Limited Edition. Frozen Margerita. Gorgeous beautiful watch. I absolutely love his Flik F Swatch and suit combo! Great video.

I am sure it was on purpose; however I think you need to comment on Tudor as the brand has really taken on Omega and has been successful. I would like to know your feelings on this brand.

Wonder what do you think about Citizen ( the most sold watch brand ), Panerai and Festina ?

Nice review! Where would you rate Rado please?

Well said, be it finishing, movement, or durability alone, Seiko and Casio watches are Phenomenal!!!! They should be easily in the top most tier.

Very enjoyable video. Don't agree with some of your opinions but liked hearing you talk nonetheless. I currently rock a Seamaster Aqua Terra 41mm as my daily, with an Oyster Perpetual 36mm as my 'weekend'/special occasion timepiece. I have a Cartier Santos which imo is the classiest and prettiest timepiece I have and has only been worn twice - on my wedding day and my sisters wedding day. I've really begun to fall in love with Grand Seiko in recent months. Their spring drive movement makes the 3230 cal in my OP look like a Quartz (OK, I'm exaggerating a little here) - it is just unreal. Seeing 28800 vph vs the spring drive is just night and day. Hopefully will get one soon, getting married meant that I'm not as free to spend £5K+ on a watch as I once was 😂 but I'm convincing the other half. Really fancy the skyflake!

Not to lower the achievements that Rolex did for the industry, but one can also bring up the same negative point as with hublot, even more so. If you ask a non watch-person, "I want to show off my money, what watch should I buy" you will 95% hear Rolex as an answer. I personally prefer Omega/Zenith/Grand Seiko and even Breitling over Rolex. Btw: I know its subjective but Oris definetily deserves a place in the Video - at least for me the Aquis was the entry-ticket into well-done mechanical watches and convinced me that it's worth to spend more for a watch than the usual fashion watches I bought before :D.

I was hoping to see IWC on your list. Where would you rank the IWC pilot chronograph?

Putting Rolex and Patek together is just criminal.

VC and apple watch in the same category?! That’s a bit ridiculous to me, other than that I think it’s a good ranking in general with a few disagreements, but thanks for your insightful video.

The quality of my Breitling SOH II is superb. A lot of people made complements. And the price is top. This watch is just unique. So maybe you mean the older watches of them but since 2017 they make really nice collections.

If you do your homework you'll find that Zenith didn't rip off the Daytona.... they were the ones producing the Daytona movement for many years! It's kind of ridiculous to accuse them of ripping off their own work. If you have Rolex on your Holy Grail list...Zenith is there as well via Rolex. Rolex makes a beautiful bracelet....not a great timepiece!

Tissot is my everyday watch! Good quality and class! I would use it for dinner also.

Damn… citizen didn’t even get a mention…. I have in my collection a original stainless “ Nighthawk “ that has been running since 2003 I never opened it don’t know if it even takes a battery it is an eco drive….18 years 💪 u tell me any other watch that can say that!!!

What do you think about Tudor?

Very nice video. I am stoked for buying a nice watch, up to $1000-$1200... Modern look instead of leather. Would you mind recommending some?

I am in agreement with the exception of Lange. For me, it is one of the holiest of the grail watches The complexity and novelty of the movements along with finishing places it high into the stratosphere of exceptional watches being made in the world today.

Pretty difficult to do a video speaking of watches when you know nothing about it but you do it. Congrats 👏

hello a question, junghans where would you put it?

Great breakdown and totally agree with your analysis. Where would you put Tudor? Just curious.

Tudor deserved a ranking

The early Casiotron X1 is an iconic digital watch that looks just as modern, if not more modern, today as it did when released back in the 70's. I get more people commenting on my X1 than I do from my '69 Speedmaster.

You're dead on about Rolex; every time I've made a significant amount of money in business I've always bought one for myself as a reward for winning. Growing up it was the carrot that I chased and always told myself I'd buy myself one when I hit a certain dollar amount. I have 3 now (16613, 16263 and a 116660) and alternate wearing them because I love the watches and could give a shit what people think. Liked and Subbed, nice work.

You almost pulled off providing a convincing and credible rating but by putting Rolex in the holy grail category you exposed yourself as having drank the Rolex cool aid.

Definetly dont agree with Zenith. A brand very well known for their interesting beat frequencies and iconic movements. As a "watch expert" he should know that Zenith even made movements for his holy grail Daytona at one point and he should never judge a whole brand based of of one watch, while i dont even see big resemblances to the Daytone in the El Primero, like yeah its a chronograph with a white dial and a black bezel, if thats copying then you could call a sea dweller a copy of a submariner and a yacht master a copy of a sea dweller. 🤦‍♂️

Which category you put Timex?😁

Blancpain should be mentioned, and Frank Muller get very high prices at auctions and would be higher then F P Journe

I don’t care too much about zenith watches except the defy collection. Definitely want to own a ceramic defy el primero someday. Very cool watch

Casio deserves to be in the holy grail category. I can’t believe it didn’t make the top.

A good overall practical ranking. Watches are personal, as with the Swatch childhood favorite. My daily is a Rolex Date, non-quickset in 14K Florentine with a linen face, all original. Brilliantly accurate, very hard to find, and easily mistaken for a President. It's a champion. My Breitling Wings with gold accents has the most beautiful guilloche' dial and is COSC accurate and a good entry-level introduction to the joy of watches.

Bold of you not to include IWC and Zodiac. Zodiac has such a dynamic history I feel like it deserves to be talked about

Casio is the Holy Grail of non-watch collectors but watch owners. Rolex and Patek are the Holy grail of everyone even those who dont own watches because they are too popular..

Breguet deserves a mention. And ALS has to be in the holy grail category 😀

Your video is the best about the topic, thx!

I have d 1975 favre leuba watch it's an old Swiss brand is it any worth ?

Interesting perspectives. Strongly disagree regarding Rolex. . . The brand image is simply something I wouldn't want to be associated with.

A langne Sone defently is Holy Grail, put a Rolex above A lange or Jager…pffff

I agree Casio is an icon. Seiko though has fallen in my eyes, their quality control is crap now and other brands are taking the mechanical value market away from them. I just today saw a seiko dive watch for sale on a website and the bezel was misaligned on the photo! As far as your "holy grail" of watches goes, personally I would put all of them in the "I have more money than brains" category. ;-)

Sir, you forgot Citizen! Citizen is no slouch when it comes to watchmaking. They had the first quartz movement; they made the first titanium watch; and, they were the first with solar recharging. They build good, solid, and nice looking watches at an affordable price.

Ah...finally Longines fall into the same bracket as VC, as a Longines fan, consider this a major step-up

3 years ago I put myself on a waiting list for an explorer... no word from them. I would say to anyone who wants a Rolex its a waste of time unless you want a second hand flipped Rolex at Double the price.

Zenith Defy line is amazing. If I could have just 1 watch it would be the Zenith Defy Classic.

Where was iwc? I'm really curious where you would place IWC

Interesting ranking but unlike you I do like Zenith. El Primero was developed to be the first automatic chronograph the same time another coalitions of watch manufacturers worked in Switzerland (Breitling and other companies) - the El Primero was announced in Jan 1969 and present the working prototype ; Seiko introduced the 6139 to the Japanese market in May 1969. The two "first" automatic chronographs disputed are then Seiko's 3169 a simpler movement that was on the market earlier and El Primero - presented and announced the first; with a more advanced and complex movement with high 36,000 vph (5Hz). One more thing to mention: Rolex Daytona used El primero movement with a lower vph (less movements and easier to service - better for daily use) until the year 2000 so that's why those are similar. Edit: I really like the Defy collection!

I don't know that it's important for people to envy you your watches. Also my favorite watch I own is a Tudor. I think that brand should be on here somewhere even if you don't like them

What you guys think about Holzkern?

What do you think of Baume et Mercier?

Seiko and Casio are 2 brands that are categorise as affordable down to earth time pieces that gives you the impression that they will just last forever!😂💪💪💪

My collection, Seiko got 50%. I wear a great Seiko at about 70% of the time. Seiko brand is very special and offers a variety of completely different technologies that satisfies any Men’s wristwatch enthusiast.

Where would you put IWC?

Hello, and thanks for this vid. I did not know your YT channel before seeing this video. Everyone has their own point of view regarding the differences between manufacturers and watch brands, and that's a good thing. But you forget so many brands that deserved to be highlighted (MB&F, H. Moser & Cie, Yema, Orient, Sea-Gull, etc ...) and you value some that have nothing to do with watchmaking (Apple, Casio) that your choices ultimately appear incomprehensible.

Have 2 Rolexes…overrated collectibles. Omega, Seiko or G-shock for the win. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Seiko (GS also) is also, like AP, also still owned by the founding Family.

When I finished watching this ranking my reaction was: Well, even watches comes down to personal preferences. There isn't any objective reasoning for those rankings! If you'd like to wear a watch that just indicates the correct time why not buying a Junghans ("Funkuhr") or a Casio (also radio controlled watch)? Even satelites don't offer you a correct time than those radio controlled watches (atomic clock). 😇

I’ll say this about Apple watches, they aren’t bad for what they are. It’s as casual as it gets and nothing more. I use my as my gym and everyday work watch. When I’m going out I’ll usually wear my Omega Seamaster or my Oris Williams F1 depending on what I’m doing.

For me I would say Grand Seiko is the most beautiful mechanic watch as it's movement is the best. Patek is cool in presentation and finish but I would say Grand Seiko is the best (patek is the 2nd ofcourse). Rolex is for the brand name I would say, everybody love Rolex, owning a rolex like you say is have a new record in life. If I would chose a watch to go for business I would wear a Grand Seiko, so that they know I being serious and not come there for show off. If I will be on a date with a girl, I would chose a Rolex cause most girl only know about Rolex. and finally If I'm enough success and will hangout with successful friend, the Patek will be the one. :v easy to understand.