Rolex No 1

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Rolex comes top in superbrand list

Watch company Rolex has come top of an annual list of consumer superbrands for the first time.

Rolex comes top in superbrand list beating names like Coca-Cola and Google

Watch company Rolex has come top of an annual list of consumer superbrands for the first time.

The luxury goods firm beat Coca-Cola and internet search giant Google into second and third places respectively.

British brands make up half of the top 20, with the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Doulton and Wedgwood rising in the list, voted for in a national survey of 2,000 adults.

Stephen Cheliotis, chairman of the Superbrands Expert Council, said: "It is notable that in these difficult times, we are reaffirming our faith in many traditional British brands.

"A superbrand is one which constantly delivers excellence and quality, and this year's consumer poll reflects this.

"Both the British and international brands included in the official 2012 list are recognised both for their rich heritage and also their continued influence on today's consumers."

Mercedes-Benz is in fourth place with the BBC at number five - the sixth year it has been in the top five.

For the second year in a row, the Rolls-Royce group was named the top business superbrand. It is one of 11 British firms in the top 20 list, with others including British Airways, the London Stock Exchange and GlaxoSmithKline. The business superbrands are selected by a panel of experts and 1,600 businessmen and women from across the UK.

Technology giant Microsoft took 11th place in the business superbrands list. But the brand, along with rival Apple, had fallen out of the consumer superbrands top 10.

Apple is now in 18th slot while Microsoft does not feature in the top 20 of