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5 Must-Have Luxury Watch Brands

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At EmpireCLS, merely being “on time” isn’t good enough for us, which is why our chauffeurs always arrive 15 minutes before pickup to accommodate your schedule. Your watch should be the same way: a luxury experience that puts your priorities as a busy person first. Today, we’ll share five of our favorite watch brands, perfect for staying ahead of schedule.

1. Audemars Piguet

Audemars Piguet was established in 1875 by Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet, two horologists with a dedication to craftsmanship and technological mastery. Its pedigree as one of the oldest and finest global watch brands has remained undiluted ever since. Since its inception, Audemars Piguet has been synonymous with innovation, from the development of the world’s first minute repeater wristwatch to its most recent improvements onthe carbon case and movement. This watchmaker is known for elegant classics like the Perpetual Calendar model as well as haute joaillerie like this season’s daring Diamond Punk cuff watch.

2. Hublot

The watchmakers at Hublot know better than anyone else that being distinguished doesn’t necessarily mean being staid or conservative. Founded in 1980 by Carlo Crocco, Hublot is a brand that combines Swiss engineering with sartorial flair, Italian-style. Watches like the iconic Big Bang, sophisticated Classic Fusion and striking King Power have won multiple awards for their bold, unusual designs that incorporate technological vigor with aesthetics that are at once bold and playful. Their most recent creation is the Big Bang Full Magic Gold, the only scratch-resistant gold watch in the world.

3. HYT

Innately mysterious, time has been the subject of both philosophical and scientific inquiry. Most recently, quantum physics describes time as a fluid process. A revelation in our understanding of time requires a revelation in our means of capturing it, and the designers at HYT have brought just that to the luxury market. HYT’s H1 Titanium and other models jettison traditional watch engineering and replace them with exclusive hybrid engineering. To wit: this is the first watch brand in history to run on water. Since 2012, these hydro-mechanical watches have won multiple awards for innovation and design. Though the use of fluid is iconoclastic, a long tradition of Swiss precision and luxury flows through these timepieces.

4. IWC Schaffhausen

Leave it to an American to whip Swiss business into shape. In the 19th century, Boston watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones left for Switzerland to found the International Watch Company. Not only was he successful in his goal of marrying Swiss engineering with American industrialism, but he also brought prosperity to the town of Schaffhausen. Four generations of watchmaking later, IWC continues to produce stately luxury timepieces like their celebrated Portugieser and Pilot’s watches. And their lineage of good works, too, remains unbroken: currently, IWC partners with altruistic initiatives like the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, and it practices sustainable production.

5. Apple Watch The Apple Watch will not be released until late April of this year, but it is destined to change our perceptions of what a watch can be. The first wearable Apple product was designed with the person in mind, and will, according to Apple, adapt to multiple facets of your life. The Apple Watch syncs with your phone and customizes time displays to your lifestyle. And it seems that FaceTime was just the beginning of increased personalization with mobile communication: with Apple Watch, you can send a loved one the impression of your heartbeat. For those who want the best of the best, the only option is the ultra-luxurious Apple Watch Edition. This watch comes in eight iterations of one luxurious design, which includes an 18-karat rose or yellow gold case and sapphire crystal display.

For our west coast readers, visit our friends at Westime to see many of the brands listed above and more. These watch aficionados will help select a timepiece that’s perfect for you.

To learn more about luxury travel experiences with EmpireCLS, explore our website or talk to a reservation specialist today.

Photo credit: Manuel Rebic via flickr

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