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. 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).
See also: More Than 20 Years Celebrating Luxury Watches With Swiss Watch
We understand that these brands can sometimes be quite a mouthful. To help you get it right, here’s our carefully-compiled guide of 12 commonly mispronounced names.
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