Beyond jewelry and handbags, few accessories match up to the timeless elegance of a watch. With their heirloom quality and classic yet innovative designs, this category makes up some of the most iconic pieces in fashion history.
They’re also some of the best investments. According to McKinsey, the pre-owned luxury watch market is set to be one of the watch industry’s fastest-growing segments, reaching over $30 billion in sales by 2025. Meanwhile, brands like Cartier and Rolex have an average resale value of 85% or more, according to Rebag’s 2023 Clair report. And even if a timepiece doesn’t come from a luxury brand, some labels’ elegant designs, classic details, and durable materials make for watches that are still heirloom-worthy.
While there’s certainly room to have fun with watches, from bold colors to experimental designs, the category’s allure is certainly attached to its classic designs. If you’re looking to invest in a life-lasting watch, ahead, take a look at eight brands that will give new meaning to timeless.
Cartier
One of the world’s most renowned jewelry brands, Cartier is also widely known for its watches. Its most emblematic, the Tank, was first introduced in 1917. Since then, the brand has released a slew of iconic watch styles, including the Panthere de Cartier and Ballon de Cartier. According to Rebag’s 2023 Clair report, the brand has an average 80% value retention in the secondhand market, making its lineup of the best watches to invest in today.
Fossil
First launched in the 1980s, Fossil offers a wide variety of fashion watches—all in an affordable price range. With materials ranging from stainless steel and leather to silicone, you can find watches under $300. The brand’s models are known for their unique takes on timepieces including watch rings and necklaces.
Tissot
Tissot’s innovative legacy in watchmaking started when the company released the first-ever mass-produced pocket watch in the 19th century. With more than a century in business, it’s clear why the brand has remained one of the most sought-after, especially considering its strong ties to sports, from alpine skiing to modern-day car racing. One of its biggest hits is the Tissot PRX, a quartz-powered watch from the 1970s known for its flat, barrel shape.
Rolex
A name that’s synonymous with watchmaking, Rolex has long innovated the field by introducing features like waterproof cases, and multi-time zone timekeeping. Some of its most iconic models include the Submariner and the Day-Date President. Those come at a hefty price tag with an average cost of $12,000, according to WatchCharts.
Seiko
We have Seiko to thank for the quartz movement watches. The company introduced the first-ever quartz movement (basically battery-powered) watch in 1969, ushering in a complete overhaul of the industry. Since then, it's grown into one of the most recognizable watch brands in the world, known for models like the Seiko Chariot, one of Steve Jobs's signature watches.
Citizen
Japanese watchmaker Citizen released its first-ever pocket watch in the 1920s, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that the global brand we know today was formed. With an average price of $200, according to WatchCharts, the brand is a popular one among entry-level watch buyers, thanks to models like the Citizen Promaster Drive, made with the company’s proprietary Super Titanium material.
IWC
IWC's history dates back to the 19th century, with over 150 years of legacy watchmaking. The brand is known for iconic models like the Portugieser, originally made in the 1930s for two Portuguese merchants, and the Big Pilot, created for aviators in the 1940s. The two models highlight IWC's longstanding history of innovation, adding new features (like the eternal calendar or an oversized crown) to adapt to its wearers needs.
Piaget
Piaget's founder Georges-Edouard Piaget first started making watches as a gift to his wife. More than 150 years later, the Swiss brand is a legacy watchmaking company, known for iconic jewelry watches. Models like the Limelight Gala, with its signature diamond-encrusted asymmetrical wrap, and the Possession, with its double-turning rings, are some of the brand's most iconic timepieces.