October 1, 2015
Cherishing Time with Luxury Swiss Watches
Jill Gleeson READ TIME: 5 MIN.
This article is part of EDGE's Jewelers to the Stars series, sponsored by Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company. To learn more about how you can protect your most valuable possessions, click here.
Time, as the truism goes, is our most valuable resource. We can't buy it, not really, and we can't sell it. Sure, we can spend it, but it's best to do so wisely because once it's gone we can never get it back. Time is precious, so why would you want to keep track of it with anything other than a Swiss-made watch?
Switzerland has been home to the world's finest watches since the 16th century, when Geneva's city council outlawed jewelry. Jewelers and pocket watchmakers banded together, giving birth to a new design that would stand the test of time. Today, Swiss-made watches are renowned for their beauty, dependability and intricacy. Not only do they keep time, they also bequeath it as families hand down these mechanical masterpieces from generation to generation.
Ready to take the plunge and purchase a timepiece that blends artistry and function into something timeless? Take a peek at what these distinguished Swiss watchmakers have to offer:
Rolex
Founded by Hans Wilsdorf in 1905, Rolex is not only one of the planet's most recognizable lux watch brands, it's also one of the most innovative, with more than 400 patents to its credit. The company designs, develops and produces all its watches at four Swiss sites, including the legendary Oyster Collection.
Every Oyster watch is guaranteed waterproof to a depth of at least 330 feet - or, in the case of the Deepsea Challenge, which "Titanic" director James Cameron brought along on his historic 2012 descent into the Mariana Trench, a record-setting 39,370 feet.
Not content to rest on its laurels, Rolex recently introduced the striking Cellini Collection, slimmer than the Oyster line, perhaps a bit more refined, but just as showstopping.
Carl F. Bucherer
Based in Lucerne, Carl F. Bucherer is a boutique brand, family-owned since its establishment in 1888 and famed for its sleek and sophisticated watches. In particular, Bucherer's women's watches have been prized since the company debuted their Art Deco ladies' watch collection in 1919. They are often richly ornamented, like the timepieces in the Alacria Collection. Introduced in 2003, they are the truest descendants of the original Deco watches and feature uniquely curved and tapered casings.
Bucherer's men's watch collections traditionally focused on sporty chronographs; by 1968 the brand was one of the top three producers of Swiss chronometers. Bucherer still specializes in chronographs - there are especially elegant examples in the Manero line - but it has also expanded, offering watches with power reserve functions, multiple time zone displays and more.
Patek Philippe
Exclusivity is a hallmark of this Geneva-based, family-owned brand. Founded in 1839, it produces 200 models in batches occasionally as small as 10. Their rarity means that Patek Philippe watches hold or even increase their value over time, with some fetching record-setting sums at auctions. They also look smart on famous wrists; Ryan Gosling's character memorably sported one in 2011's ultra-violent "Drive." It wasn't a real model, however, since no watch, no matter how well made, could survive what Gosling's character put it through.
If you're set on a Patek Philippe, don't worry: there are still plenty of knockouts to choose from, including the latest Calatrava models. Updated for 2015, they still sport the understated beauty that marked their Bauhaus-inspired predecessors, first produced in 1932.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
With its exquisite 2015 collection, Jaeger-LeCoultre pays tribute to the passage of not just minutes but also months by highlighting calendar functions. From the pure lines of the Master Ultra Thin Moon - which features a sapphire crystal case back to reveal the movement of the moon phase display - to the diamond-encrusted glamour of the Rendez-Vous Perpetual Calendar, each watch is a stunner. The former is priced at $9,250, while the latter sells for $48,700.
Located in the tiny village of Le Sentier, Jaeger-LeCoultre as a brand was officially born in 1937. Its roots, however, date back to 1833, when Antoine LeCoultre founded his first watchmaking workshop. Other more recent Jaeger-LeCoultre releases include Geophysic, a re-edition of their 1958 watch created to honor scientific exploration.
With timepieces this opulent, insurance is a must. Visit Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company to learn more.
Jill Gleeson is a travel and adventure journalist based in the Appalachians of Central Pennsylvania. Find her on Facebook and Twitter at @gopinkboots.
