Having one of those bored on a Friday afternoon discussions today about what are the 3 most famous/recognizable watches eve?
i said :-
1)Rolex submariner
2)Omega speedmaster
3)heuer manaco
My colleague insisted on the Rolex daytona being in there,What do you all think?

 

1) Submariner
2) Rolex
3) Rolex

 

For a watch nerd this would be the exact top three I'd have suggested, but @LawBrk is right - if we're splitting hairs I'd say maybe the Datejust and GMT would be the next two, but they're definitely Rolex.

 

IMHO, number 1 has to be the Movado Museum. The original, designed by George Horwitt in 1947, has long been in the permanent collection of New York's Museum of Modern Art. Ironically, I believe Movado and other makers released copycat designs for many years before Movado was finally able to negotiate the legal rights to the design in the early 70s. The Submariner makes no. 3 on my list, but no. 2 has to be the Corum Presidential, worn by many US Presidents.

 

1 Seamaster (Bond connection)
2 Submariner ( brand awareness
3 G shock (amount sold and visual appearance)

 

"the most famous recognizable" in my view is "the masses", not just watch nerds!

I think your top two wouldn't make the top 200!

 

This is an April Fool's joke, right? Not only have I never seen this before, but having done so now (thanks for that, BTW) all I can say is - yes, that's a No. 2 watch for sure....

 

Alas, and please don't take this the wrong way, but you Omega (and Rolex) collectors live in quite the exclusive little world. In the already small world of people who wear expensive Swiss watches, only a tiny percentage would know the difference between one Rolex and other, or one Rolex and another. And I was being generous putting the Submariner as no. 3, a place that really belongs to the Swatch.

 

Correction, I meant only a few could tell the difference between on Rolex and another or one Omega and another.

 

Well, many in the masses no longer wear watches at all, or wear plastic Chinese ones. And trust me, most of the masses know and care nothing about Rolex or Omega.

 

Among "normal" people not telling the difference between watches and clocks nor interested I would say:
1. Big Ben
2. Big Ben
3. The one in Times square at new years

 

I would say generally Rolex at number 1 just because of the massive amount of advertising and sponsorships with athletes and events. Then probably generic Seiko/Casio/Timex in no particular order. Definitely no specific make and model with the general public.

 

It's always been a niggle to me that people all over the world regard Rolex as the ultimate watch, the height of luxury etc. I deal with some wealthy people (some ridiculously wealthy) and 9 out of 10 wear Rolex. Why?

I'm not sure exactly where I'm going with this but, say, if a guy came to me wearing a Jaeger LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin, IWC etc that would tell me more about the man than any Rolex could. It tells me he's more unique, a little bit wiser....

Anyway, we all have an opinion and that's mine.

Cheers
Paul

 

1 and 2 are clocks, not watches. And 3 isn't a watch or clock, but a ball (disco style, but bigger). So maybe off topic, but a good point.

 

Number 1 is probably the Casio F91-W.

Casio say that they've sold lots but have no accurate records of production - every school kid has, or had one, and they seem to be on every wrist in Asia.

It might not be the prettiest, or the best, but it is probably the most popular/recognisable.

 

I used to wear those in my long-distance running days, but they weren't very durable, and even if you didn't break it, the battery would die in a couple of years. Still, a great, iconic watch. The Timex Ironman is even more iconic, though.

 

Absolutely that's true! Which is why I say that the OP's list is bang-on for watch nerds like us. But for those who aren't watch nerds, I'd still say the Rolex Submariner would be the most recognizable - most people don't necessarily know it's called a Submariner, or even that it is indeed a Rolex on the wearer's wrist, but you can be sure the first question would be, "Nice watch, is that a Rolex?"

 

Casio g shock
Rolex shiny watch
Swatch
I think these watches fall into the seen every where category so most people could name them even if they don't own a watch.

 

By "Most Famous/recognizable" I would suggest it relates to the masses, and therefore:

1 - Rolex: most recognizable "brand", although many wouldn't know the difference between models having never ownded one nor ever plan to, but they'd likely recognize the Sub or DJ as long as it has the Cyclops date magnifier.

2 - Casio G-Shock: very copied in the cheap throw-away watch market.

3 - Seiko - very common quartz

4 - Swatch: of all Swatch/Omega brands, the Swatch is likely much more "famous" than either Seamaster or Speedmaster. For the masses, I would argue even Tissot would be better known and certainly more common in people I come across globally who want a "good" watch without going into thousands of USD/EUR.