Watch names like Audemars Piguet and Girard-Perregaux aren't the easiest to pronounce. Test how well you know the pronunciation of the most famous watch brands here

At a social networking party, you mingle around the room, feeling very good about yourself as you converse with like-minded successful peers aka the movers and shakers of your industry. You’ve made it, you think to yourself as you soak up the buzzing atmosphere around you. A sophisticated business tycoon then comes over and says hello. He smiles at the watch on your wrist as he shakes your hand. “That’s a nice watch!” You grin and respond, “Thanks! It’s an Oh-mi-ga.” Your business idol gives you a confused look and asks gently, “You mean, an O-may-guh, right?”

At that moment, you immediately wish the ground would open up and swallow you whole.

If the scenario above has ever happened to you, we empathise with you. Nothing is more embarrassing than stepping into a store and having to wait for the store assistant to pronounce the brand’s name first before you do – just so you could mimic his or her pronunciation. (Here, we empathise with you also). 

To help you get it right, here’s our carefully-compiled guide of the most commonly mispronounced watch brands. We understand that like foreign foods and certain liquor and champagnes, these brands can sometimes be quite a mouthful.

 


Audemars Piguet

Repeat after me, the ‘mars’ here is not referring to the red planet. Instead, the ‘s’ is silent.

Get it right: Aw-duh-mahr Pee-gay


Bédat & Co

Aligned with its slightly more feminine image, it has a soft, round at the end of its name. So do not ever call it ‘Beh-datt’.

Get it right: Bay-dah-and-co


Breguet

Despite an almost similar spelling, it does not in any way sound like baguette when spoken.

Get it right: Breh-gay


Breitling

While we are on the subject of pastries, this brand is not pronounced as ‘bread-ling’.

Get it right: Brite-ling


Bulgari

Saying ‘garh’ can be quite garish to the ears of a devoted appreciator of the brand.

Get it right: Bul-guh-ree


Cartier

It is a mistake to roll out the ‘r’ at the end of this brand’s name.

Get it right: Karr-tee-ay


Chopard

Be soft at the start and emphasise on the ‘pard’ to impress your peers.

Get it right: Show-pard


Franck Muller

There is no need to mull over how to pronounce Muller anymore.

Get it right: Frahnk Myou-ler


Girard-Perregaux

If you simply cannot commit it to memory, calling this brand by its initials will help you save face.

Get it right: Gee-rahrd-pair-uh-go


Hublot

 It’s definitely not spoken phonetically as ‘hub’ and ‘lot’, that’s for sure.

Get it right: Hew-blow


IWC Schaffhausen

IWC is pronounced as it is spelled word-for-word while the second part of its name might require more practice.

Get it right: Ai-double-u-si Shaff-howz-in


Longines

Never, ever say ‘long-gynes’ even if everyone else is saying it.

Get it right: Lawn-jeen


Patek Philippe

Despite being the easiest name to pronounce, there are some who still cannot get it right. Lucky for you, we are here to help.

Get it right: Pah-tek Fill-eep 


Have time? Don't miss part two of our list of mispronounced watch names