Designer Watches

In a very strict sense, designer watches are watches bearing the name of the original watch designer. Watch purists might still claim that there are only a few select designer watches on the market. These will bear the name of the great Swiss designers such as Frederique Constant, Vasheron Constantin, Patek Philippe and others.

Of course, we also live in a world where barriers are constantly being broken, and the term “designer watch” is applied more broadly. With all due respect to the great Swiss names, “designer watches” has come to apply to names like Calvin Klein and Versace as well as more haute couture names (and more expensive watches) like Gucci, Dunhill and Cartier. These are, in fact, the names you might think of when you hear the phrase “designer watches.”

Designer watches became a well-used catch phrase in the early 1980’s, and some might argue that that’s where the phrase should have stayed. These people might also argue that most “designer watches” should in fact be called accessory watches.

Clothing and accessory watches

Accessory watches hold a pretty low estimation in the eyes of most luxury watch purists. When you look at these watches, though, you can see that many of these have the same elegance and beauty in design (in some cases, more so) that you find with any brand of luxury watches.

And some would argue that the fact that accessory watches are “cheaper” is, in actual fact, mostly illusory. Expensive luxury watches can break down just as easily as most “fashion watches” under certain conditions. The movements in many luxury watches are, in fact, very fragile and subject to easy breakage (and expensive repair).

The truth about watch names

So where does the truth lie? Well, in the eye of the beholder. A plastic band is obviously cheap, but it is much easier to fit to your wrist. Some people are sure that a name is worth paying for.

There may be nothing as purely inventive or as cool as a tellurium from Ulysse Nardin. But more frugal and practical people will argue that elegance and bold use of color may make the ESQ Love Knot just as eye-catching. It may not have quite the same value as a conversation piece, but it costs $59 – about 1/1700 the price of a tellurium.

We love luxury watches, certainly, but their real value is in the eye (and wallet) of the beholder.