What Are the Most Popular Watches in the World?

"What are the most popular watches in the world"

"Which watch brand is the most popular one in the world?"

"What are the most popular watches?"

I'm very sure that this kind of question has ever crossed your mind at least once. For me, personally, it was multiple times LOL. These kinds of flying-over-your-head questions inspired me to write this blog, just like last time with the question about "the most expensive watches sold at auction."

The result of my research is based on the highest search number on Google as of January 2023. Personally, I was surprised to see the result. I did not expect that model to be the most popular watch or to be at the top position. Well, you learn something new every day. I'm so happy that I did this research and also so excited to share it with you in this article.

Without further delay, let's discover the most popular watches in the world. Enjoy the read!

Omega Seamaster watches are ranked third in term of the most popular watches in the world. It probably offers some of the best value for money of any mechanical diving watch on the market today. 

In 1948, as part of Omega's 100th anniversary celebration, the Seamaster made its premiere. Omega produced the Seamaster as its first family of watches in response to the huge demand for a peacetime alternative after supplying timepieces to the British Ministry of Defence during World War II. Yet, it wasn't initially intended to be a diving watch; rather, it was created to be a sturdy dress watch for active persons.

Many celebrities, athletes, and even world leaders like Joe Biden have been spotted wearing this watch. One person that came to mind when talking about Omega Seamaster is one of the British Royal Family members, Prince William. He seems to only have one watch or at least we only have seen him wearing one watch by far - Omega Seamaster. People say that the watch was very special to him as it was given to him by his mother, the late Princess Diana.  

When we talk about Omega Seamaster, we might think of James Bond (especially Daniel Craig) because the 007 agent has been spotted wearing so many watches in each of his movies. Therefore, it should come as little surprise that the Omega Seamaster is consistently one of the most popular models. 

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is the second most popular watches in the world. It is a mechanical Daytona chronograph wristwatch that measures elapsed time and average speed to match the demands of racing drivers. Its name is a nod to the Florida city of Daytona, where racing was very popular in the early 20th century.

Again, Daytona is a city in Florida that attracted motorsport aficionados because of its expansive stretch of smooth and compact sand, making it perfect for attempts at land speed records.

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) built the Daytona International Speedway, the site of the Daytona 500, the most famous event in NASCAR, in 1958, replacing the Daytona Beach Road Course, where the inaugural stock car race was conducted in 1936. The Daytona International Speedway's banked configuration allowed for higher speeds and gave viewers a better view of the competitors.

The Reference 6234 Chronograph, the first model of the Rolex Daytona, was initially introduced in 1955. When Rolex produced the reference 6239 Cosmograph in 1963, the Daytona itself came to be. The Cosmograph 6239 was introduced to commemorate the previous year, in 1962, when Rolex was named the Daytona International Speedway's official timekeeper. Rolex dubbed the watch both the "Le Mans" and the "Daytona" in their ads until the term "Daytona" finally made an appearance on the dial in 1965.

One of the Daytona watches, The original Paul Newman Rolex Oyster Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6239, which Paul Newman himself wore religiously for years, was sold for a record price of $17.8 million at the prestigious New York auction house. 

So, the most popular watches in the world based on the search number on Google are the Rolex Submariners. Today, Submariners are so popular that it’s not unusual for someone to have to wait months or even years for delivery. 

The Rolex Submariner, which debuted in 1953, was the first diving watch with 100m water resistance. The watch had a spinning 60-minute timing bezel that divers could use to keep track of how long they had been down. It had plenty of illuminating material on the dial to assure readability even in the murkiest of seas.

Rolex soon extended to include a Submariner Date model, offered in several metals and hues, but maintaining the original Submariner's stainless steel construction, black bezel, and time-only face. The basic design pattern hasn't changed much over the past six or more decades, despite specs, features, and materials improvements.

Nowadays, from my perspective and you may or may not agree with me, the most sought-after Submariners are Submariner 'Hulk', Submariner 'Bluesy', and Submariner 'Kermit'. 

Rolex Submariner Timeline History

• 1953 – Rolex introduces the Submariner dive watch.
• 1959 – Case increases to 40mm and crown-guards are added.
• 1967 – Switch from gilt to matte dials.
• 1969 – Rolex introduces the Submariner Date; first gold Submariner.
• 1979 – First sapphire crystal on a Submariner watch.
• 1984 – Switch from matte to gloss dials with white gold markers; first two-tone Submariner.
• 1988 – Switch form 316L to 904L stainless steel for the Submariner
• 2003 – First Submariner with a green bezel (ref. 16610LV)
• 2010 – Cerachrom bezel and Super Case design introduced.
• 2020 – Case increases to 41mm and lugs get redesigned.

Below are some celebrities that have been spotted wearing Rolex Submariner watches.