SWISS – FITZGABRIELS

VACHERON CONSTANTIN

Vacheron Constantin is an iconic Swiss timepiece marque, one of the oldest in the world having made watches since 1755. The brand is the most exclusive of the so-called “Holy Trinity” of ultra-luxury major watchmakers (alongside Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe). The firm quickly became a favourite of Kings and Queens, besotted with the delicate and ornate mechanics of the house’s beautiful pieces, indeed, the early Fabergé eggs would contain Vacheron Constantin timepieces as the surprise within. The firm is highly prized amongst collectors with some of their most famous models being amongst the most coveted clocks and wristwatches ever made, achieving some of the highest prices ever recorded at auction.

BAUME & MERCIER

Ths famous Swiss marque first came on the scene in 1830 when Louis Joseph Baume opened his watchmaking atelier in Les Bois, in the Swiss canton of Bern. His two sons, Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume, would work with him and, four years later, re-registered the company under their names as Baume Frères. The firm quickly gained a reputation for quality workmanship and excellent accuracy and, in 1840, the brothers opened an outlet in London’s horology epicentre, Northampton Square in Clerkenwell – the destination of choice young men equipping and provisioning themselves with all that they should require before voyaging across the world in service of trade and empire. Baume watches were very much in demand as campaign and maritime watches – their reliable precision timekeeping complementing the race to set records in transatlantic, eastern and oriental voyages on tea clippers and, later steamships and ocean liners.

ARMAND NICOLET

One of the grand Swiss watchmakers, Armand Nicolet is a connoisseur’s horology brand, founded in 1875. The house’s eponymous founder was born into a watchmaking dynasty and was a master of his craft when he opened his workshop. From the outset, Nicolet gained a reputation as an expert manufacturer with a honed eye for the finest complications and mechanisms. The brand’s signature is elegant, timeless timepieces befitting the high taste and high status of its typical customer. The firm’s most famous watches include moon phase and chronograph movements, with the M02 model being the most sought after.

LUXURY BRANDS OF SWITZERLAND

For many of us, when we think about Switzerland, we picture images of beautiful, snow-capped mountainscapes, lush meadows filled with cattle and picturesque medieval towns with towering chateaus watching over them. Ask most people what Switzerland is famous for and they will very likely tell you: luxury chocolate, expensive wristwatches and secretive private banking. Indeed, Switzerland is defined by its luxurious outputs. Thus, it is not surprising that Switzerland is home to many of the world’s greatest luxury brands and we explore those brands here.

ZENITH

A true pioneer in the world of watchmaking, Georges Favre-Jacot and the Zenith brand he founded in 1885 was the first of the great marques to produce beautiful of timepieces with movements designed in-house and under his own watchful eye. A perfectionist by nature, Favre-Jacot believed that the greatest wristwatches could only be made if every part of the design process was controlled, thus guaranteeing their quality. It would prove to be the making of one of the world’s greatest and most exclusive horology brands.

PANERAI: THE FAMOUS SWISS MADE WRISTWATCH OF CHOICE OF ITALIAN NAVAL FROGMEN

Panerai is an Italian luxury watchmaker founded in Florence in 1860. The company is known for its large, distinctive watches that were originally designed for military and professional use. Panerai watches are now popular among collectors and enthusiasts for their unique design and high quality.

ROLEX: THE WORLD’S MOST SOUGHT AFTER TIMEPIECES

Rolex is a Swiss luxury watchmaker founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London. The company is known for its high-quality watches, which are often considered to be status symbols. Rolex watches are popular among celebrities, royalty, and business leaders.

AKRIS

Akris is a premium luxury womenswear brand that has been catering to high fashion clientele since 1922. The company, began life as a textiles and apron manufacturing concern under the helm of founder Alice Kriemler-Schoch, before slowly evolving into the haute couture powerhouse that it is recognised as today. The brand remains under the ownershipContinue reading “AKRIS”