Breguet vs. Rolex: Which is the Better Luxury Watch Brand?

BREGUET

Breguet was established in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet as a luxury watchmaker, and their most recognized clientele was Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. However, currently a part of the Swatch family, Breguet continues to uphold its founder’s excellent standards and innovation principles.

The Breguet luxury watch brand is outstanding in its use of Promme hands and Guilloche dials in its watch engineering.

ROLEX

Rolex is a renowned luxury watchmaker based in Geneva, Switzerland and was initially founded as Wilsdorf and Davis by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London Back in 1905. In 1908, they registered the company as Rolex to become Rolex Watch Co. Ltd in 1915.

Later, after World War I, they shifted the company’s base to Geneva because of post-war Britain’s unfavorable economic conditions. Fast forward to 1920, Hans Wilsdorf registered Montres Rolex SA in Geneva, which was to change to Rolex SA later.

Aspects to Love About Breguet and Rolex Luxury Watches

First, for the Breguet vs. Rolex comparison, it is important to note that these luxury watch brands are among the top-notch and most recognized brands in the world.

But the question that is a headache to many luxury watch customers is, between Breguet and Rolex, which is the better luxury watch brand? Well, we’ve highlighted the answers to this question in this post based on our vast experience with luxury watch brands and the features of both Breguet and Rolex.

Resale Value

Most customers pay a lot of attention to this as they shop for a luxury watch brand. Hence, Breguet luxury watches have a special place with the connoisseurs who are ever ready to spend exorbitantly for rare and second-hand pieces.

This exceptional standard in Breguet horological watch art identifies the brand with that unique prosperity. Therefore, each luxury watch made by the company has a single unique number for identification that enables collectors to establish each piece’s origin and provenance.

Another factor that maintains the long-term value of Breguet watches is its secret signature, a counter-measure against counterfeits. This signature dates back to 1795. It is invisible unless viewed keenly under an oblique light and always etched into the dial.

The production number given to each Breguet luxury watch will attest to the talent and attention used in the manufacture. As a result, Breguet maintains a perfect future investment opportunity by making amazing horological art pieces in their watchmaking processes.

Rolex ensures quality to last for years in its manufacturing and to maintain that vast market-share and respect. Their resell-value has never wavered since the company started. Even the worst-rated piece by the company will still fetch an average resale amount.

Of course, the best Rolex pieces will always get the best prices in the resale market. Thus, on the Breguet vs. Rolex resale value, Rolex beats Breguet hands down for its resale value.

Watch Precision

To ensure that much-desired watch precision, Breguet uses lugs that connect watch straps to the cases without compromising the intended original Breguet luxury watch style.

More so, screws instead of the common sprung bars hold the straps between the horns, creating more beautifully designed and robust luxury watches.

Accuracy for every luxury watch brand is vital, and Rolex ensures that each timepiece they make is perfect in terms of accuracy. They have strived to make only exact watches to gain that to die for market-share worldwide.

To achieve exceptional watch accuracy, the brand follows a strict highest standards watchmaking procedure. For instance, Rolex is a member of a third-party-part lab, ‘Controlle Officiel Suisse Des Chronometres’ (COSC), which tests all its watches’ accuracy.

Warranty

These two brands have never disappointed their end-clientele with their watch warranties. For instance, Breguet has a two-year warranty, just like most watch brands in the luxury watch market.

In comparison, Rolex has a five-year warranty on every piece they sell. The warranties cover all material and manufacturing defects from purchase.

Luxury Watch Brand Popularity

In terms of popularity, they rank Breguet at number 25 as one of the most valuable Swiss luxury watch brands. However,  Rolex is ranked as the sixth most popular Swiss watch brand.

Rolex is more than just a fashion statement that gives any clientele that much-anticipated recognition. Imagine a luxury watch brand that has 100% worldwide brand popularity! Well, Rolex is that luxury watch brand for you.

Water Resistance

For that absolute precision in water-resistance, Breguet luxury watches have lugs welded to the case bands to provide both the desired rigidity and aesthetic consistency. Also, to ensure ultimate watertight cases, they precisely drill the winding stem’s hole.

The screw-down face crown for the Rolex luxury watch brand ensures that it always protects the movement from water or moisture while underwater. For instance, the Rolex Deep-Sea series comprises excellent diving watches with up to 3,900 meters or 12,800 water-resistance capabilities.

Additionally, Rolex has all the bragging rights as it was the first brand to make an automatic waterproof wristwatch. For instance, the first person to climb Mount Everest used the automatic waterproof wristwatch.

Electromagnetic Frequency (EMF Resistance)

Every other luxury watch enthusiast has read or heard about electromagnetic frequency somewhere. It refers to all the electromagnetic frequencies emitted by electronic devices that interfere with mechanical watches’ time accuracy.

To counter this effect, Rolex makes antimagnetic watches. For instance, the Milgauss has an Electromagnetic Frequency resistance (EMF resistance) of up to 1,000 gausses after sticking to quartz. Quartz loses around four seconds per month.

On the other hand, Breguet is more mechanical, a factor that allows EMF to affect the accuracy, and they lose up to 5-10 seconds a month.

Price Range and Models Availability

Breguet luxury watches are readily available on the pre-owned market, although at more competitive pricing if available as a second-hand luxury watch. Besides that, the limited Breguet luxury watches always sell at a higher price and a higher resale value.

Most Rolex luxury watch brands are not readily available in the market, and the clientele often finds it hard to get their hands on the brand. They are mostly available on a pre-order basis, and someone has to wait to get theirs made.

A customer who places an order to have a Rolex watch made for them may have to wait for up to two years. This has increased the sense of exclusivity for Rolex.

Currently, the football ace Cristiano Ronaldo wears an 18-Karat White Gold Rolex GMT Master Ice valued at more than $500,000,000. It comprises 30-karat white diamonds on the bracelet and the bezel. See all the Breguet and Rolex Luxury watches price ranges and availability at Exquisite Timepieces.

Each Brand’s Most Outstanding Luxury Watch

Over the years, Breguet has designed luxury watches for all its clientele niches, and in the market, it has entry-level luxury watches that retail for as low as $11,800. For instance, they boast of one of the most outstanding timepieces to exist, the Marie Antoinette.

Breguet specifically designed the watch for the Queen of France, Marie Antoinette. It is worth over $10 million and took Breguet over 45 years to create. One of the most iconic luxury watches by Rolex is the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, which was first worn by Paul Newman.

This luxury watch has made history as a piece that later auctioned for over $17,000,000 to make it one of Rolex’s most expensive auction-bought watches.

Conclusion

Breguet and Rolex are iconic and outstanding Swiss luxury watch brands with a vast and rich history. These brands succeed in innovation, watchmaking art, and technology. However, in terms of design, Breguet takes the day, and it is the better of the two slightly.

For instance, in its innovations, Breguet has changed all the aspects of Haute Horlogerie to its current state in the watchmaking industry. Find out all the details on Breguet and Rolex luxury watches at Exquisite Timepieces.