This article was contributed on behalf of the The Watch Gallery by Mr. James Rebrov.

Italy and style are synonymous with one another and this is something which is certainly apparent when you consider some of the luxury watches that are designed, crafted and manufactured in one of the world’s most stylish and luxurious countries. There are many different Italian watches to choose from but which are the most sought after and highly regarded?

…consider these three brands of men’s watches and you will see with your own two eyes just how immensely stylish these timepieces are and the craftsmanship associated with these watches truly is second to none.  Up first, we’ve got one of the oldest brands when it comes to luxury Italian watches, Bvlgari:

Bvlgari watches are flawlessly precise and stylish and this is due to their Italian design heritage and their Swiss construction. You really are getting the best of both world’s if you’ve got a Bvlgari strapped to your wrist because you will have a luxuriously designed Italian fashion accessory which has been crafted in the much fabled Swiss factories that are responsible for creating the most precise and enviable timepieces in the world. If you’re a fan of contemporary style mens watches, then Bvlgari may well be the ideal choice for you.

Up next, we’ve got one of the most highly regarded and desired luxury watches on the market – the brand in question…..Panerai:

Based in Florence and founded in 1860, Panerai watches certainly boast an impressive heritage and this is something that is clearly reflected in the quality designs of their various different collections of mens watches. Panerai are one of the most high-end timepieces on the market but it is one of those cases where they are reassuringly expensive – you know that you are getting unparalleled quality when you opt for Panerai watches. Just some of their more popular collections include the Radiomir, Luminor and Marina collections.

Last but by no means least, we have one of the world’s most recognisable luxury watch brands, U-Boat:

If it’s luxury watches with an interesting history that you’re after, then you really do need look no further than U Boat watches. Originally designed for use by the Italian navy during WWII, these oversized watches are now one of the most recognisable brands and have achieved an impressive status amongst fans of luxury timepieces all over the world. There are many different collections to consider when it comes to U-Boat watches but some of their most popular certainly include their U-42, Flightdeck and Classico collections.

So, there you have it – three of the most impressive and likely to be sought after Italian watches in 2012. There are, of course, so many fantastic brands to consider when it comes to high-end, luxury watches and Switzerland certainly rivals their Italian counterparts with the quality of their watch brands – with the likes of Breitling, Tag Heuer, Baume and Mercier and IWC all heralding from various Swiss regions.