These are two very well-known watchmakers and each for their own reasons. We will compare them in different contexts since every time we are asked "Which is better, Hublot or TAG Heuer?" The right answer really exists in the context of the question.

ACCURACY

When it comes to accuracy, we have to divide each brand into two categories: quartz clock (battery drive) and mechanical watch (powered using the rising release voltage of the moving spring voltage). First, a brief explanation for the uninitiated, for each case.

Ironically, movements that are more accurate are also less costly to produce. Of course, these are the most affordable quartz calibers that came on the market in the 1970s. These use a battery that sends a charge to a quartz crystal causing it to resonate at a very high frequency, a much higher frequency that what any mechanical movement ever developed can produce itself.

The most traditional movements are mechanically powered calibers like automatic calibers (also known as self-winding) and hand wound calibers (also known as manual windings).

These traditional movements have lower accuracy than a battery model and have a different set of standards to evaluate their accuracy. In many cases, watchmakers take their calibers to be tested on a third-party facility if they think it will meet high standards. One of the most widely used labs is called COSC and they have a label that they give to see the movements that complete what is considered very accurate, having a deviation of -4 / + 6 seconds per day in total deviation. This designation is called Chronometer (not to be confused with a chronograph which is a stopwatch function). Not all watch manufacturers will pay extra money to ship their watches to a third-party testing facility like COSC. Even Patek Philippe, Rolls Royce of luxury watch manufacturers chooses to do their in-house testing and has higher specifications than COSC in terms of accuracy.

The TAG Heuer has several clocks that are COSC Chronometers such as Caliber 5 movements, at the same time, they also have several time pieces enabled by quartz movements that have much higher accuracy than COSC Chronometers. Hublot, on the other hand, still does not have any COSC certified movements, but both brands have mechanical watches and quartz. Typically, watch enthusiasts prefer to wear mechanical watches because of the value of how the movements are made, and being able to watch them in action through a transparent sapphire straw is quite fascinating.

BRAND POPULARITY

Hublot and TAG Heuer are both well-known watch manufacturers that produce quality watches. However, watch company Hublot made its way into the industry a little later than TAG Heuer, and despite the fact that they waved and shook things their way, they fell slightly in terms of brand recognition. As they built a valuable brand for themselves and created unique and attractive watches, TAG Heuer has significantly more brand value and brand recognition. This does not necessarily mean that one is more popular than the other. 

In a recent report with a list of Top-50 Swiss brands in the world today, TAG Heuer reached position #34 and had an estimated brand value of 764 Million CHF (Swiss Franc). Hublot was not far behind in position #40 with a brand value of CHF 401 Million.

However, the Hublot brand value showed a growth rate of + 8% compared to TAG + 2% and this was significantly higher than TAG Heuer. This higher growth rate can perhaps be attributed to Hublot's marketing strategy which seems to stray from the way Tag Heuer operates. How was this done?

Hublot is known for releasing many limited edition watch models that pay rewards to celebrities, athletes and honor their achievements. In addition, they produced more special and limited edition watches by paying homage to many organizations and setting up charities for an important cause. This marketing plan has shed a brighter light on their brand and brought it to the consciousness of the masses. While they have many steel models, they used much fusion in their construction and metallurgy and are known to have many watches made with non-traditional materials and alloys, such as the highly scratch-resistant ceramics found in their King Gold alloy. Some of their most popular collections include the Big Bang, Classic Fusion and Big Bang UNICO, and their Big Bang Spirit, many of which have a Black Magic edition.

BRAND PRESTIGE

The prestige of a watch brand is affected by several things. These involve the age of the brand, its contributions, its history, and innovations in the old watch craft. Moreover, who bears that brand, who respects that brand, who approves them, how they are measured among the most prestigious watch manufacturers in all these areas of comparison. By putting the bar up with the best in the business, we can get an understanding of where the rest of the brands stand.

Both TAG Heuer and Hublot are well-known watchmakers. Both have made watches that have been endorsed by celebrities and can sometimes be seen on the big screen in movies or TV series, watchmakers will do this as a deliberate placement of products and as a social test of the species to bring the name there in the general population and gives you something to aspire to own.

Hublot's young age was their weakest link when it comes to prestige and, despite that, they did not let it stop them from moving forward fast. They just had to think outside the box and do productive things with their marketing and production on a large scale. However, to give an answer, Hublot is a more prestigious brand, and regardless of their late appearance in the game, they used their time separating themselves from other watchmakers and doing different things, carving a place for themselves. them in terms of prestige.

Is TAG Heuer a luxury brand? They are what many people would consider an achievable luxury. They are by no means a free hour, but many will share the belief that it is an affordable luxury. Remember some of their most expensive watches are in the lower-mid five figures, but their entry-level watches are the types of watches that most people would be able to buy at some point.

Is Hublot a luxury brand? Are you wondering if Hublot is considered to be a manufacturer of watches on the top shelves like Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe or Vacheron Constantin? Absolutely not, but at this point, they are certainly on a higher shelf than TAG Heuer.

RESALE VALUE

Both of them have many watches in the pre-owned market and if you are looking to resell your watch you will find that Hublot does not perform so well in the pre-owned market in terms of its value. A watch loses some of its value, like any consumer product. Some brands, on average, retain a higher percentage of their original value if sold in the pre-owned market. Two brands that have excellent resale value are Rolex and Patek Philippe. Low market brands like TAG Heuer and Hublot do not retain their value like Rolex or Patek. However, all hope is not lost.

TAG Heuer has several watches that are more in demand and more collectible and therefore have a higher than average sales value. Some good examples are their iconic Monaco watches and their more classic and vintage watches, such as those that were just under the Heuer brand (before joining TAG to create what is now the TAG Heuer). While most people will not usually consider the average resale value of their watches when purchasing them, when it comes to trading your watch for a new watch a day, this can have an impact on someone's decision and is worth considering.