When it comes to the best luxury watches, there are many options out there. Some brands may have more features, while others might be more affordable. But regardless of your budget, these timepieces are worth the investment.

Established in 1839 by Antoine Norbert de Patek and Francois Czapek, Patek Philippe is considered the “Holy Trinity” of luxury watch manufacturers. Its watches are renowned for their quality and craftsmanship, and they’re also highly collectible.

Rolex Luxury Watches

Rolex is one of the world’s most respected watch brands, and its watches are some of the best in the business. The company’s lineup includes everything from classic dress watches to professional sports models, so it’s easy to find something for every taste and budget.

The Oyster Perpetual Datejust is the brand’s most iconic model, and it remains essential for a lot of watch-wearers. It’s waterproof, easy to read, and a reliable choice for casual and formal wear alike.

It’s also one of the first watches to display the full day of the week. This divides opinion among watch snobs, but it was a big technical feat when it debuted in 1956.

In addition to its long-standing partnership with professional swimmer Gleitze, Rolex has also supported a range of sporty events and athletes across golf, yacht racing, tennis, and motorsports. Its sponsorships have bolstered the reputation of the company and helped it stay on top of the luxury market.

The brand’s Submariner has become an icon of diving watches, but there are a few other models that should be on everyone’s radar as well. Here are some of the best luxury watches to buy in 2022.

Panerai Luxury Watches

The Panerai brand has long been known for its iconic design, incorporating large cushion-shaped cases with luminescent markers and bold Arabic numerals. Their Radiomir and Luminor collections are a must have for anyone looking for an eye-catching timepiece.

These watches are also some of the most durable, combining classic design with advanced technologies like Carboech and Fibratech, among other materials. Today, they focus on sustainability as well, using recycled material and developing new alloys.

One of the most important innovations that made Panerai a horological powerhouse was the development of their luminous paint. Initially, they used radium-based Radiomir, but in 1949 they switched to a tritium-based substance that emitted a much lower radiation level.

Another significant change was the introduction of their signature bridge-shaped crown protection device, a feature that ensures a higher level of water resistance. The brand now offers a variety of models with this technology, including the Submersible and Mare Nostrum collections.

In the 1990s, Hollywood action movie stars Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger raised the profile of Panerai, bringing the brand to the forefront of watch culture. With the help of a new ownership group, the Richemont Group (formerly the Vendome Group), Panerai has become an international brand and developed their own in-house movements.

TAG Heuer Luxury Watches

TAG Heuer is a well-established Swiss watch brand that has earned a reputation for producing high-quality timepieces. Their products are designed for a wide range of consumers, including fashion-conscious individuals and sports enthusiasts.

They have a number of different collections, including Carrera and Monaco. TAG Heuer offers both quartz and mechanical models.

Many of their entry-level watches are powered by quartz movements, which are battery-powered. These are an excellent option for those who want to save money while still wearing a stylish timepiece.

The brand also offers several smartwatches, such as the Connected Calibre E4. These watches are elegantly designed and feature a variety of in-house apps.

TAG Heuer is a brand that has been around for over a century and they have a wide range of styles and designs to choose from. Their collection of chronographs is especially popular among sports enthusiasts and they also have a selection of luxury quartz watches.

The brand is owned by LVMH, the world’s leading luxury-goods company. TAG Heuer’s watches are known for their precision and reliability, making them ideal for those who are serious about their timepieces.

Zenith Luxury Watches

Zenith is a luxury watch brand that’s known for crafting precise movements. It’s also one of the oldest Swiss watch brands, making it a good choice for those looking for a quality timepiece.

In 1865, Georges Favre-Jacout founded Zenith in Le Locle, Switzerland, where the brand still operates today. His goal was to unite all of the different horological professions under one roof.

The result was the El Primero, a revolutionary movement that revolutionized chronographs. It oscillated at 36,000 vibrations per hour and allowed for time measurements to be accurate to 1/10th of a second.

Since then, the El Primero has remained the flagship of the brand’s in-house calibers. It powers the Chronomaster Sport, as well as some of the slimmer watches in the Elite collection.

These models have sunray-patterned dials and slim proportions that’ll work for a wide range of wearers. And all are crafted with the same focus on accurate timekeeping seen in Zenith’s El Primero series.

In addition to its signature El Primero movement, Zenith has developed several other in-house calibers, mainly featuring a trio of hands. Some of these are variations of the El Primero, and include flyback functions, big dates, power reserve indicators, moon-phases, and annual calendars.

Piaget Luxury Watches

Piaget is a Swiss luxury watch brand that has been making watches since 1874. Their timepieces are known for their thin cases and beautiful gems. They also manufacture some of the thinnest movements in the industry.

Their designs are never simple, and their intricate mechanisms are always a showpiece of watchmaking art. This is why they are one of the best luxury watches.

They have eight different collections, including Black Tie, Altiplano, Polo, Dancer and Traditional, Exceptional Pieces, Limelight, Possession, and Creative Collection. They are all available at Luxury Bazaar.

Aside from having the thinnest movement on the market, Piaget is also known for their artisticly crafted dials. They use a variety of artistic methods like marquetry, miniature painting, micro mosaic, sculpting, embroidery and more to create their timepieces’ dials.

Another way they express their artistry and craftsmanship is by using diamonds in their watches. They are especially famous for their Limelight Gala and Possession collections, which feature the most gorgeous diamond-studded timepieces.

They also have more complicated pieces with diamonds and complicated movements that are sure to impress any of their clients. Their Emperador Coussin XL 700P is a great example of this. This watch is known for its unique hybrid quartz-mechanical movement.

Richard Mille Luxury Watches

When it comes to the best luxury watches, Richard Mille is the brand you can’t afford to miss. Known for its avant-garde materials, high-tech movement designs, and technical complexity, Richard Mille watches are a step above the rest.

Founded by Richard Mille and Audemars Piguet in 1999, the brand pushes the boundaries of traditional watchmaking. Its watches use cutting-edge materials adapted from the aerospace and car industries.

A few examples of the materials used by Richard Mille include titanium, carbon nanofibres, Anticorodal 100, Phynox and graphene. These materials allow the company to achieve extreme lightness without compromising on performance.

Another example is the RM-09 Felipe Massa Tourbillon, which was designed together with F1 pilot, Felipe Massa. Using a sandwich case with three curved surfaces, it is the most expensive and challenging piece to manufacture.

This is why there are so few Richard Mille watches made each year. Because of this, the company is able to create a sense of exclusivity and elitism. It is a luxury brand that is coveted by the most successful people in the world.

De Bethune Luxury Watches

A pioneer of mechanical perfection, Manufacture De Bethune develops its horological and technical movements, bridges and complication mechanisms in-house. It has filed a number of patents and presented 27 world firsts and around 150 one-of-a-kind watches that have won a host of major awards over the years, including at the GPHG and Chronometry Prize.

It’s a philosophy that’s echoed throughout the brand’s portfolio. Its creations don’t repeat old ideas but mix traditional designs with innovative technical movements, resulting in timepieces that have won a host of awards and become sought-after by collectors.

For instance, the DB25 Starry Varius Aerolite features a mirrored blue dial with intricate gold stars. Its spherical moon is housed in a palladium and blued steel case that’s dotted with pink gold stars and a subtle leap year indicator.

To ensure a comfortable wearing experience, De Bethune has developed a system of titanium floating lugs that can flex to suit the shape of the wrist. A drawback spring automatically directs them to the ideal position, ensuring optimal hold and less wear-and-tear.

Montblanc Luxury Watches

Montblanc, the German company that is best known for world-class writing utensils, also offers a great line of luxury watches. With fine Swiss craftsmanship and innovative patents, the brand’s timepieces are refined and sophisticated.

Founded in 1906, Montblanc has long been synonymous with precision and tradition. Today, the company has 350 international boutiques across 70 countries and carries leather goods and jewellery under its Meisterstuck line.

Aside from writing instruments, the brand also produces quality mechanical timepieces in Le Locle, Switzerland. These timepieces adhere to the high standards established decades ago with the famous Meisterstuck pen collection.

The Montblanc Heritage and 1858 collections offer a variety of classic pieces for men who love to live an authentic lifestyle. The Heritage Chronograph is a great example, with clean lines and a three-register chronograph that can be dressed up or down depending on your preferences.

Minerva, a name steeped in horological history, is still making its way through the hands of Montblanc Manufacture in Villeret. While the majority of its designs are simple and affordable, there are also some limited-edition complication models available.