Monochrome Watches
An online magazine dedicated to fine watches
Editorial

What are the Top 10 Swiss Watch Brands in 2019?

Mapping the biggest players in the Swiss watch industry.

| By Xavier Markl | 5 min read |

If the value of Swiss watch exports has slightly increased in 2019, the industry has been facing numerous challenges over the past years. Although high-end Swiss watches remain attractive, the low/mid-end segments have been under pressure as the smartwatch expansion seems to have come at the expense of the lower-priced Swiss timepieces.

Most watch brands are traditionally secretive about their sales figures. Independents usually do not communicate numbers – with the notable exception of Audemars Piguet. Listed groups such as Swatch, Richemont or LVMH do not provide details by brand in their financial statements.

Ever wondered just how big and popular some of the largest watch brands can get? MONOCHROME has listed the top 10 Swiss watch brands based on estimated 2019 sales. This article is based only on brands. As a comparison, the main actor of the Swiss watch industry is Swatch Group, with estimated sales of CHF 8,000 million in 2019 (8bn) –  spread over 15 watch brands and multiple production sites, providing parts to the rest of the industry.

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Disclaimer: This article is solely based on MONOCHROME’s own estimations, established by cross-checking different sources including data from Vontobel and Morgan Stanley over the past years, as well as our own knowledge of the industry. Estimates are for sales of watches only. MONOCHROME makes no representation as to their accuracy or completeness.

1 – ROLEX

  • Estimated watch sales: ~ CHF 5,500 million
  • Estimated number of watches sold: 950,000

“The Crown” is the undisputed leader of the luxury watch category and one of the most widely-known names in luxury. Controlled by the discreet Hans Wilsdorf foundation, the brand has cultivated and maintains a consistent brand image. If Rolex manufactures close to 1 million watches per year, its entire “professional” collection has become borderline unobtainable given its success…

2 – OMEGA

  • Estimated watch sales: ~ CHF 2,350 million
  • Estimated number of watches sold: 650,000

Omega is the other giant of the industry and the mightiest Swatch Group brand. The origin of the brand goes back as far as 1848. Omega is known for numerous achievements and has been involved in remarkable events. As the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932 and the creator of the first watch worn on the Moon, it has a reputation for quality. With its Master Chronometer certification, Omega has established a new industry benchmark for precision, performance and magnetic resistance.

Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch

3 – CARTIER

  • Estimated watch sales: ~ CHF 1,700 million
  • Estimated number of watches sold: 450,000

The “Jeweller of the Kings and King of Jewellers” is also one of the top watchmakers. The first mention of a watch in the Cartier records goes back as far as 1853. Owned by Switzerland-based Richemont, the brand is the main contributor to the profits of the group. A “generalist” watchmaker, Cartier produces a wide range of watches from accessible pieces to the most exquisite Haute Horlogerie or jewelled watches.

Cartier Santos Large Model 2018 Collection - SIHH

4 – LONGINES

  • Estimated watch sales: ~ CHF 1,650 million
  • Estimated number of watches sold: 1,600,000

Owned by Swatch Group for over 30 years, Longines was created in 1832 and can pride itself with one of the richest watchmaking traditions in the whole industry. Today, the brand stands out with a trusted name and excellent watches with an exceptional quality/price ratio.

5 – PATEK PHILIPPE

  • Estimated watch sales: ~ CHF 1,500 million
  • Estimated number of watches sold: 60,000

Still privately owned by the Stern family, Patek Philippe is usually regarded as the most exclusive and renowned brands among all Haute Horlogerie manufacturers. And when it comes to watches as an investment, Patek dominates the industry. Last fall, the Patek Philippe 6300A Steel “Only Watch 2019” became the most expensive watch ever auctioned at CHF 31 million… and its Nautilus is simply impossible to find at retailers.

6 – AUDEMARS PIGUET

  • Estimated watch sales: ~ CHF 1,200 million
  • Estimated number of watches sold: 40,000

Part of the “Holy Trinity” of Haute Horlogerie, together with Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet remains an independent, family-owned business operating in the Vallée de Joux, the cradle of complicated watchmaking. The launch of the Royal Oak in 1972 marked a milestone in the brand’s history. Overturning prevailing codes, this icon of design defined the luxury sports watch genre.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15202ST

7 – TISSOT

  • Estimated watch sales: ~ CHF 1,000 million
  • Estimated number of watches sold: 3,500,000

Created in 1853 in the Swiss Jura, Tissot boasts a long horological tradition. Today owned by Swatch Group, Tissot watches are the most accessible from this top ten (which explains the greater volume) and stand out with a remarkable price/quality ratio.

Tissot Heritage Visodate Automatic

8 – IWC

  • Estimated watch sales: ~ CHF 825 million
  • Estimated number of watches sold: 100,000

IWC was founded by American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones in 1868. Jones set up in Schaffhausen to combine American production technologies with Swiss craftsmanship and expertise. Owned by Richemont, the brand is famed for its engineering excellence. Besides its complex Haute Horlogerie creations, IWC is known for high-quality sports and everyday watches, including pilot watches and chronographs.

IWC Portugieser Chronograph 3714

9 – HUBLOT

  • Estimated watch sales: ~ CHF 670 million
  • Estimated number of watches sold: 60,000

Hublot was founded in 1980 by Italian Carlo Crocco. The brand has enjoyed a spectacular development following the entry of Jean-Claude Biver with the launch of the Big Bang and flamboyant marketing initiatives. Today a company of LVMH, Hublot has enjoyed continuous growth to make its way among the largest players of the industry.

Hublot Big Bang Integral Titanium

10 – TAG HEUER

  • Estimated watch sales: ~ CHF 650 million
  • Estimated number of watches sold: 500,000

Owned by LVMH, TAG Heuer was founded in 1868 by Edouard Heuer. The brand has a strong history of innovation (TAG meaning Techniques d’Avant-Garde) and is a reference when it comes to sports watches, in particular, racing chronographs.

TAG Heuer Monaco Heuer 02 CBL2111.FC6453

https://monochrome-watches.com/the-top-10-swiss-watch-brands-in-2019/

20 responses

  1. Does the figure for Rolex include all the “Rolexes” sold on the streets of the world’s tourist packed cities?

    Even if I could I would never buy a Rolex… Being an Icon it’s become such a cliché, so boring…

    2
  2. Hi Momo, not forgotten. Our estimation of RM’s turnover is way below. thanks,

  3. Hard to provide a precise estimate of their turnover but their sales are also way below these top 10 companies.

  4. Surprised how high Longines is on the list. Also was expecting Tag and Hublot to be higher than where they are.

  5. The sales figures were related to their production capacities as well.
    Now I see how common these watches are, totally lack the exclusivity.

  6. Tomek, which ones are common? Would you expect highest turnover, sales values from exclusive brands, like Berthould?

  7. We estimate Breitling significantly below 500 million so not in the top 10.

  8. To give some perspective about the market as a whole it would be interesting to be able to campare the likes of Casio, Seiko and Apple (even though only Seiko of these make “proper” watches)with the Swiss manufacturers

  9. Keith, are you suggesting Rolex and Omega are not quality products?

  10. Unfortunately, times have changed in the last several years. The ONLY relevant brands today are: 1. Rolex 2. PP and a distant 3 AP. Everything else has been made irrelevant or delegated to “unwanted” brands… Think Panerai and IWC….. They go “unsold”…

  11. Hello
    Can you please provide the links of reports you have reffered?

  12. Hey thanks for posting this useful content on the top 10 swiss watch brand in 2019 are presented here, I really hope it will be helpful to many. I hope you keep update us with such great tips and information in future too. This is a great post; I will share as much as I can. Appreciative content!!

  13. @Vancouverfolks thanks a lot. We’ll try if possible. The task might be harder though for 2020, simply because of the Covid-19 pandemic that might make it harder to obtain data, estimate trends for many brands.

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