5 Biggest Watch Companies in the World

In this article we are going to list the 5 biggest watch companies in the world. For a detailed coverage of this topic and a more comprehensive list please take a look at the 15 biggest watch companies in the world.

5. Ralph Lauren (NYSE:RL)

Ralph Lauren Corporation is an American fashion company producing products ranging from the mid-range to the luxury segments. They are known for the clothing, marketing and distribution of products in four categories: apparel, home, accessories, and fragrances. Ralph Lauren Corporation is an American, publicly traded holding company headquartered in New York City, and it is founded in 1967 by American fashion designer Ralph Lauren. Subsidiaries of Ralph Lauren are Club Monaco Corporation, Polo Jeans Company, LLC, Ralph Lauren Home Collections, Inc., Ralph Lauren Media, LLC, Ralph Lauren Watch and Jewelry Company SÀRL (50%), RL Fragrances, LLC. President and CEO of the company is Patrice Louvet, Executive Chairman and CCO of the company is Ralph Lauren and Vice Chairman and CIO of the company is David Lauren. The company employs around 18,000 people. They have revenues of  US$6.182 billion, operating income of US$498 million, net income of US$163 million, total assets of US$6.143 billion and total equity of US$3.457 billion.

4. Richemont

Compagnie Financière Richemont SA, also known as Richemont, is a Switzerland-based luxury goods holding company. It was founded by South African businessman Johann Rupert in 1988. in Geneva, Switzerland. Compagnie Financière Richemont SA engages in the design, manufacture, and distribution of luxury goods. It operates through the following segments: Jewellery Maisons, Specialist Watchmakers, Online Distributors, and Other. The brands it owns include A. Lange & Söhne, Azzedine Alaïa, Baume & Mercier, Buccellati, Cartier, Chloé, Dunhill, IWC Schaffhausen, Giampiero Bodino, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Lancel, Montblanc, Officine Panerai, Piaget, Peter Millar, Purdey, Roger Dubuis, Vacheron Constantin, and Van Cleef & Arpels. The Specialist Watchmakers group is composed of A. Lange & Söhne, Baume & Mercier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Officine Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis, Vacheron Constantin and the joint venture with the Ralph Lauren Watch & Jewelry Co. The company is headquartered in Bellevue, Switzerland. They have revenue of €14.238 billion, operating income of €1.518 billion, net income of €931 million, total assets of €30.461 billion and total equity of €17.259 billion. Richemont employs 35000 people. Chairman of the company is Johann Rupert and CEO of the company is Jérôme Lambert.

3. Rolex

Rolex SA is a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Originally founded by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London, England in 1905, the company registered Rolex as the brand name of its watches in 1908 and became Rolex Watch Co. Ltd. in 1915. After World War I, in 1920 Hans Wilsdorf registered Montres Rolex SA in Geneva as the new company name which eventually became Rolex SA. The company has been owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a private family trust, since 1960. Rolex is the largest manufacturer of Swiss made certified chronometers. Rolex watches have a reputation as status symbols. Chairman of the company is Bertrand Gros and CEO of the company is Jean-Frédéric Dufour. Their number of employees is 4000. They have revenue of $5.2 billion.

2. Seiko

Seiko Holdings Corporation is a Japanese maker of watches, clocks, electronic devices, semiconductors, jewelry, and optical products. It is founded in 1881 in Chūō, Tokyo, Japan by Kintaro Hattori. The company is known for introducing the world’s first quartz chronograph. Seiko Corporation of America is responsible for the distribution of Seiko watches and clocks, as well as Pulsar and Lorus brand watches, in the United States. It has its headquarters (and Coserv repair center) in Mahwah, New Jersey. President of the company is Yoshinobu Nakamura and CEO and Chairman of the company is Shinji Hattori. They have revenue of ¥239 billion, operating income of ¥5.17 billion, net income of ¥3.4 billion, total assets of ¥299 billion and total equity of ¥103 billion. The company has 11947 employees.

1. The Swatch Group

The Swatch Group Ltd is a Swiss manufacturer of watches and jewelry. The company was founded by Nicolas Georges Hayek in 1983 and is headquartered in Biel, Switzerland. The Swatch Group engages in the design, manufacture and sale of finished watches, jewelry, watch movements, and components. It operates through the Watches & Jewelry and Electronic Systems segments. The group owns the Swatch product line and other brands including ETA, Blancpain, Breguet, Glashütte Original, Harry Winston, Omega, Longines, Tissot, Hamilton and Rado. It employs about 36,000 people in 50 countries. Chairman of the company is Nayla Hayek. CEO of the company is Nick Hayek, Jr. They have revenues of CHF 8.243 billion, operating income of CHF 1.023 billion, net income of CHF 748 million, total assets of CHF 13.692 billion and total equity of CHF 11.493 billion.