Show me your watch & I'll tell you who you are

For most people, the watch on their wrist is simply a timepiece that helps them not be late for appointments. Some people dream of owning an exclusive chronograph their whole life, others wear a perpetual calendar worth the price of a condo on their arm, and the fascinated watch enthusiast would rather treat themselves to the long-awaited tourbillion before buying that long-overdue new car. The big world of watches is a closed book for many people, and yet people from the most diverse cultures and social classes can be enthusiastic about it. Collectors are fascinated by history and technical precision and may save their complication for the next generation - just as Patek Philippe promises in its advertising. Investors see their new Rolex as a solid investment, and trendsetters and lifestyle fans see their Audemars Piguet , Panerai or Hublot with a sporty rubber strap as a casual accessory for summer on the Côte d'Azur.

The luxury watch retailer Horando has taken this as an opportunity to determine its top 10 most sought-after watches of 2016. Even though the Swiss luxury brand Rolex has of course been the leader here for many years and decades, the demand for other high-quality wristwatches is constantly increasing. At Horando, Rolex is the undisputed number one with its evergreen - Rolex Submariner Date - and is closely followed by the Rolex GMT Master II with blue/black bezel . Third place goes to Omega with its Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch with sapphire glass .

1st place:

Rolex Submariner Date (116610LN)

Horando's opinion:

"Rolex's sports models are extremely popular around the world and the Submariner is the classic par excellence. Customers like to choose it because the watch has a timeless design and can be worn casually with jeans or a suit. The robust case and scratch-resistant ceramic bezel are perfect for everyday wear. The price stability of a Rolex is a key factor in the purchase decision for many buyers."

2nd place:

Rolex GMT Master II Ref. 116710BLNR

Horando's opinion:

"The GMT with blue/black bezel has quickly become a classic and was already a top seller before it was introduced at Baselworld in 2014. Many buyers were already fascinated by the predecessor model, the PEPSI GMT in blue/red, and naturally want to have the successor in their collection. Beautiful Rolex GMT sports model with a great history (GMT with a second time zone was developed for the pilots of PanAm Airways).

3rd place:

Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch Ref. 311.30.42.40.01.006

Horando's opinion:

"A sporty chronograph that has certainly been one of Omega's top sellers for years. The Speedmaster Moonwatch was launched into space by Gemini 3 pilot Ed White when he wore it on his wrist during the first spacewalk in 1965. Customers vary between the version with hesalite or sapphire glass; in 2016 we had the version with scratch-resistant sapphire glass."

4th place:

Breitling Navitimer 01 Ref. AB012012.BB01.436X.A20D.1

Horando's opinion:

"When you hear Breitling, most watch fans probably have the face of a Navitimer in mind. The look with a dial full of numbers and scales makes the watch a fully-fledged aeronautical instrument and so it is no surprise that the International Association of Pilots and Aircraft Owners (AOPA) recommends the Navitimer as the official pilot's watch. Of course, it is also a great watch for those who prefer to stay on the ground."

5th place:

Frederique Constant Classics Moonphase Date Ref. FC-335MC4P6

Horando's opinion:

"A watch from Frederique Constant stands for Swiss precision and elegant design at a very good price-performance ratio. The Classics Moonphase Date allows its owner a direct view of the movement through a partially open dial and offers a lot of watch with an automatic movement and moon phase display for a price of 1,575 EUR. Great entry-level model with a very timeless design."

6th place:

IWC Portuguese Chronograph Automatic Ref. IW371446

Horando's opinion:

"With the Portugieser, IWC was one of the pioneers 75 years ago and focused on a large, masculine watch shape. The classic design is very popular and we have many buyers who buy the IWC Portugieser as their first expensive luxury watch because they are enthusiastic about its history and design."

7th place:

Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea D-Blue Ref. 116660 D-Blue

Horando's opinion:

"We were able to deliver the Deepsea D-BLUE in 2016 without long waiting times and made many customers happy. The special edition for James Cameron's Challenge 3D film was one of the most sought-after models among Rolex fans and impresses with the D-BLUE dial with a transition from deep blue to darkest black and bright green DEEPSEA lettering. An exceptional watch with a special design and certainly a good investment."

8th place:

Tag Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 Automatic Chronograph Ref. CAW211P.FC6356

Horando's opinion:

"Racing is life. Everything before or after is just waiting," says racing legend Steve McQueen. We were able to avoid long waiting times in 2016 and also delivered the Mc Queen Monaco with the crown on the left side quickly. The watch was mainly bought by Heuer and Tag Heuer enthusiasts to complement their existing collection."

9th place:

Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 Ref. 114300 (A)

Horando's opinion:

"The Rolex Oyster Perpetual impresses in its new edition with a larger diameter of 39 millimeters. The models in rhodium with blue dots or with a blue dial and green dots were extremely popular. Our top seller, however, was the model in rhodium . The entire model series was certainly one of the most popular unisex series last year."

10th place:

Frederique Constant Classics Business Timer Ref. FC-270SW4P6

Horando's opinion:

“The Business Timer from Frederique Constant was our bestseller in the entry-level range. For 825 euros, customers can expect a classically elegant watch with a date display, moon phase, and weekday and calendar week display. Excellent value for money.”

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