Guide to Famous Watch Brands

Famous Watch Brands

With thousands of watch brands making excellent timepieces only a hand-full have reach the level of these famous watch brands. The most recognized brand in the world would have to be Swiss made Zodiac followed by other such top watch brands as Taghuer, Omega, Citizen, Fossil and Seiko. Each brand is unique in it's offering but each serves as benchmark for all watchmakers to strive for in name recognition, the ability to shift trends in the watch industry and customer loyalty.

Zodiac

Unlike most watches, like a wine Zodiac will actually increase in value or at the least maintain it's worth. Watches 20 years and older still sell in the thousands of dollars. Vintage Zodiac watches are as highly sought by collectors as contemporary versions. An innovator of the water-resistant watch, automatic-powered with the movement of the wrist, military watches and day and day/date calendar timepieces.

Omega

Omega while a luxury watch selling the $1000's does not approach the cost of a Zodiac which to many does not put it in the same league. Although many Omega watches sell in the thousands of dollars, it also features entry-level watches like the DeVille and Genve that can be purchased for under $1,000. Famously an Omega watch accompanied the Apollo 11 lunar landing in 1969 but still is best known as watch worn by 007, James Bond. Omega's Seamasters and Speedmasters are the most popular Omega styles.

Seiko

Seiko became known as a famous watch brand in the industry as a pioneer in quartz powered technology during the 1970s. Seiko revolutionized the industry leading many watchmakers to abandon traditional mechanical watches for the more advanced battery power. In the 1990s, Seiko introduced the kinetic watch that is electrically charged by movement. Seiko is now famous for its sports watches: the Ananta, Spring Drive, Sportura, Velatura and Premier.

Citizen

Like Seiko, Citizen offers many collections of sport watches with an emphasis on multifunctional timepieces with additional timekeeping features. Citizen is famous for its Eco-Drive watch in which its timepieces have tiny solar panels under the dial to capture sunlight which powers the watch. The Eco-Drive can conserve enough power to operate for several months in the dark. The Citizen Skyhawk A-T also features an "atomic" setting in which it captures low radio frequencies from the world's timing stations to set the exact time.

Fossil

An entry-level fashion brand, Fossil is the largest watchmaker in the world. Initially gaining popularity in the 1990s for licensed character watches the Fossil brand has grown behind a vintage themed style. Many Fossil watches are priced under $100 with the most expensive ceramic models still under $300. While Fossil watches are excellent timepieces they are typically considered a fashion accessory over timekeeping purposes and remain a famous watch brand.

Guide to Famous Watch Brands