Polish watch brands are on the rise. The best timepieces offer a balance of style, quality materials, craftsmanship, functionality, and price that’s hard to find in other luxury watches. They can last for generations if taken care of properly as long as someone is willing to wear them! This is one reason their popularity has seen an uptick in recent years; they hold sentimental value and represent value without sacrificing quality or design. We’re here to help you learn more about what makes them so special and why they should be your next purchase.
If you are in love with watches, it’s worth taking a closer look at what the Polish manufacturers can offer. The downside of the Polish market is that there are many fakes on sale, so to help buyers choose a good and genuine model, let look at the best polish watch brands:
1. Festina
Founded in 1992 by Irena I Wiesław Makarewiczowie, today it belongs to Swatch Group. One of the leading watchmakers in Central Europe with two factories – one in Lodz and another in Trzebinia (near Krakow). Festina produces over 60 million watches a year for brands within the Swatch Group.
2. Poljot
Founded in 1923 by Niecki Połoński, it is located in Moscow and produces over 2 million units per year. Vladimir Putin’s government took over the company during a privatization wave that allowed state-owned companies to be bought out by private companies which continue to operate using their previous name but with new management.
3. ZPRC Energia
Zakłady Przemysłu Skórzanego i Reklamy Cieszyńskich Spółdzielni Rolniczych Energia was founded in 1946 is located in Cieszyn, Poland. Its main production is boots and shoes, but a small watchmaking division produces mechanical watches and chronographs under the brand name Energia. These models are relatively expensive due to the craftsmanship involved.
4. Jerzy Drozd
Founded in 1991 by engineer Jerzy Drozd with help from his wife Elżbieta for manufacturing leather goods mainly for the Polish army (the first model was “Military” watch), today Jerzy Drozd watches also feature mechanical movements, mostly Swiss made (except for a few hundred pieces per year which are produced using Japanese Miyota). Currently, the company employs over 300 people, and its annual output reaches 700 000 watches.
5. Jerzy Czopik
The company was founded in 1999 by Jerzy Czopik, the main designer and creator of watches that have quickly become popular among watch collectors. The company produces about 2 000 watches a year, and all models are handmade, mostly mechanical, with the highest quality materials available on the market (e.g., Egyptian cotton or imitation crocodile leather).
6. Manufaktura Polska
Manufaktura Polska Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością (Manufacturing Poland Limited Liability Company) or MPSLO for short, is a family-owned company that produces watches using mechanical movements from Seagull, Miyota (manufacturer in Japan), and STP. The company also offers assembling and construction of their timepieces.
7. Roccoco
It was established by two brothers Marek and Dariusz Czyżewski, who are also owners and designers of models for the brand. Currently, there is a collection of over 50 different models produced using Swiss quartz movement Ronda.
8. Prodeco
Founded in 1999, this Polish watchmaker became famous for its unconventional designs, making it popular outside of Poland among European buyers.
9. Omegon
Established in 2008 by Krzysztof Sosnowski and Patryk Rudzki. The goal for these two watch enthusiasts was to create a timepiece that would be affordable for everyone. Omegon was the first Polish brand that used the Chinese movement, making it more popular among customers who prefer this kind of technology.
10. Zapa
Company founded in 1979 by engineer Janusz Bem with his brother-in-law Ryszard Czarnecki, designed his first model, “Krysia.” Initially, all models were produced using legendary Swiss ETA movements, but since its foundation, Zapa has developed its own completely mechanical facilities located in Bielsko Biała and Kutno (Poland).
11.GUBIN & Co
It is an international company founded by Georg Büssing in 1878 which produces mainly pocket watches for other companies under different brands such as Arctos, Feinwerkbau, Gubin & Co. GUBIN has manufactured watch movements for Spillmann and Union Glashütte in Germany since the late 19th century, as well as for Ago-Divo, Leonidas and Vacheron Constantin in Switzerland since 1965.
12.Daniel Roth
Germany leverages the historical roots of his family’s business which dates back to 1785 when a jeweler named Eduard Eberstein opened a workshop in Schaffhausen, creating watches under the trademark Daniel Roth. Daniel Roth founded the brand in 1990. In 2014 British investment company Lion Capital took over control of Daniels’ estate (the third generation), with Georges Fischer keeping on running day-to-day operations of the company.
13.Rado
The company originated from the Industria Crisi, founded in 1933 by Rodolfo Bonetto in Bassano del Grappa (Italy). In 1947 the company renamed itself Rado S.p.A., which stands for Radium Auri demi-fine – half-pure radium. One of the first watch brands to introduce a radioactively certified wristwatch line (in 1956) made with tritium gas tubes that emitted light on demand. After introducing LCD watches, it was one of the first watch brands to produce a completely solid-state electronic watch (in 1974).
14.Stowa
Stowa continues Carl Prusia Stowa founded in 1927 by Carl Prusia (originally as “Carl Prusia Uhrenfabrik”) and began producing watches in 1935. Due to the sudden death of its founder, Mr. Prusia, his widow, sold the company to Walter Storz, who had previously worked for A. Lange & Sohne and other high-end watch manufacturers. The first wristwatches were produced under a new brand name named Stowa to distinguish them from pocket watches manufactured by Carl Prusia.
15.Skagen
For nearly thirty years, we have been designing and crafting quality products that reflect our Scandinavian heritage – clean lines that are uncomplicated and functional, yet still elegant Inspired by Modernist architecture, we have pushed beyond the boundaries of traditional watch design to create a “less is more” aesthetic that looks as good today as it will tomorrow. By focusing on the essential, we ensure lasting quality in everything we make. Our collections include watches for women and men, watches with leather bands or metal bracelets, casual timepieces, and high-tech designs.