Last updated on October 17, 2026
Switzerland’s horological heritage
For dozens of decades, Swiss watchmakers have dominated the luxury watch industry. During the 19th century, the country earned itself a reputation for excellent craftsmanship and innovative design, and to this day ‘Swiss made’ signifies superior functionality that will last a lifetime and beyond.
Some of the oldest companies continue to be counted amongst the world’s best watch brands including Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, OMEGA and Tissot. Whichever brand you go for, you can count on a Swiss watch to keep perfect time, enhance your lifestyle and look great to boot.
Choosing your Swiss watch
Watchmaking has come on leaps and bounds since the 1800s when most of these companies began, with Swiss brands leading the charge for change. Just browse the OMEGA watches collection to find updated versions of the first real dive watch and the model that went to the moon!
These exceptional advances mean that timekeeping is no longer the only priority when choosing your Swiss watch. In fact, this is a guarantee no matter which brands you favour, so other considerations are key to choosing the right Swiss watch for you.
- Identify your style
Begin by identifying your style. Look through your favourite clothes and analyse why you like them. Notice any commonalities as these are the foundation of your style. Perhaps you favour certain colours and like to dazzle with décor, or maybe you like a sleek and sophisticated look.
When browsing watches, keep these common features front of mind to ensure you select a model that matches every outfit. You’ll probably do this naturally but it’s easy to get overwhelmed and distracted when sifting through lots of watch options. Leather-strap watches with traditional clock faces are effortlessly elegant, or you can pack a punch with a metal bracelet model adorned with gemstones.
- Choose your movement
In the world of watches, a movement – also known as the calibre – is the mechanism that powers the watch. There are three main types to choose from, each with unique characteristics.
- Mechanical movement
The energy of a slowly uncoiling mainspring moves the gears and cogs which track the time. These watches become less accurate as the spring uncoils so must be manually wound regularly to ensure perfect timekeeping.
- Automatic watches
Also powered by mechanical movement but with the addition of a self-winding feature. No manual resetting is required: the watch is automatically wound by the movement of your wrist.
- Quartz movement
Extreme precision is the main benefit of choosing a watch with quartz movement. A battery feeds an electric current into a quartz crystal which vibrates to power a motor attached to the watch hands.
This movement was originally resisted by Swiss watchmakers but increasingly is being embraced by the leading brands.
- Browse special features
Finally, consider your lifestyle and browse watches with special features that will enhance your day-to-day activities.
For example, if you enjoy fitness pursuits such as gym sessions, running and team sports, watches with sweat-resistant rubber straps and stopwatches might prove useful. You can even find speciality smartwatches known as fitness trackers which can monitor heart rate, count calories and provide insights for improving your approach to physical activity.
Other features to consider include practical aids like water resistance – luxury dive watches can be worn hundreds of metres below sea level – and elements which improve the look of the watch such as precious metal detailing.
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