Before we leave 2025, it makes sense that we take a look back on the classic watches of this last quarter century! So, here are my picks for the best watch collections that are still under 25 years old.
We’ve finally made it to the back end of the year! The cobwebs of Halloween are coming down, the Christmas lights are going up, and retail workers everywhere are bracing themselves as corporate playlists blare over crowds of festive shoppers. Here at Watch Advice, we’re lucky enough to keep doing what we love: cultivating Australia’s watch culture.
That said, the industry has changed enormously over the past 25 years. Trends have come and gone, companies have changed hands, but our fascination remains with the incredible timepieces released during this period. Thousands of watches have captured our attention, yet only a few have stayed constant within their brands’ line-ups.
I’m not sure if these pieces have quite reached heritage icon status like the Daytona, Monaco, Nautilus or Royal Oak. Still, recent releases have taken on a life of their own, moving well beyond the enthusiast scene and into the mainstream. Achieving that in a world where many consider mechanical pieces obsolete is no small feat — and certainly worth celebrating. So, join me as I count down ten of these remarkable, and remarkably young, creations.
Casio G-SHOCK GA-2100 ‘CasiOak’ (2019)
Getting into the watch game, you’re fed a lot of tales about the most iconic time pieces in the world. The Royal Oak, for example, possesses a great deal of horological clout, as do others of a similar calibre. While the design is undeniably gorgeous, it’s easy for one to be put off by the inaccessibility of Audemars Piguet. So what are you to do if you love the silhouette, but can’t get your hands on one?
In 2019, Casio seemed to propose an answer with the release of the G-SHOCK GA-2100. You might find it hard to believe that the ‘calculator guys’ would produce a dirt-cheap and wildly popular alternative to one of the most recognisable watches ever, and you’re right: they didn’t. However, the octagon doesn’t just belong to AP, with an oblong silhouette present in the G-SHOCK line since 1983’s DW-5000.
But while GA-2100 still presents itself with G-SHOCK’s shopping list of durability tests and complications, the resemblance is uncanny. Combining the two has led the ana-digi watch to become a modern classic with enthusiasts. Thin, tough, lightweight, and with a fashionable aesthetic it’s hard to reject the impact that the ‘CasiOak’ has had on the entry level of the modern watch game.
For more information on this collection, head on over to CASIO.com!
Seiko Presage Cocktail Time (2010/2017)
When you ask the question “Is The Dress Watch Dead,” there are a number of reasonable answers available. One avenue of thought is that dress watches are too expensive, too occasional to survive in the modern era. Conversely, dress watches have found ways to adapt to the present day, providing stunning designs with a surprising level of accessibility. The Seiko Presage Cocktail Time is a case in point of the latter.
Released in 2010 to Japanese markets and in 2017 worldwide, this subsection of the 60s-era Presage line has arguably taken on a life of its own. In collaboration with bartender extraordinaire Shinobu Ishigaki, the Cocktail Time collection is designed exactly how you’d expect it to be: with dials inspired by the world’s most iconic cocktails. Looking for a refreshing green dial? Try the Mojito. More on the bitter side? Check out the recently released Presage ‘Conte,’ named after a Sydney Negroni bar.
Not only did the designs resonate with the community, but they also helped change the paradigm of who could wear a dress watch. Gone are the days of dress watches being exclusively for bankers and the like. Now, if any enthusiast wants to get their hands on a handsome piece for a great price, they know just who to turn to!
For more information on this collection, head on over to Seiko.com!
Tissot PRX (2021)
What makes a watch so iconic in the modern age? Is it purely their design, their price point, their marketing, or just perfect timing? In the case of the Tissot PRX, the Swatch Group brand managed to get all four.
COVID was certainly a fun time for all of us. But while the world was shut down, people started turning back to niche interests. The watch community (and consequently, the market) blew up immensely, and Tissot decided to capitalise on the new boom first. Thus, the PRX released in 2021 to massive critical acclaim, quickly outselling every other model in the brand’s catalogue.
Taking inspiration from a 1970s Tissot Seastar reference, the PRX launched with both quartz and automatic mechanical references, all for a price that barely exceeded three digits. Even to this day, Tissot are still finding ways to expand the collection, introducing chronographs, gold PVD, carbon fibre, titanium and even Damascus steel references. With all the integrated bracelet watches available now, it probably wouldn’t make sense.
Dissidents of the brands and enthusiasts tired of the trend decry the model line. Looking back, though, the influence of the PRX was absolute – instrumental to both the new wave of watch lovers as well as the resurgence of the integrated bracelet sports watch.
For more information on this collection, head on over to TissotWatches.com!
Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch (2022)
Okay, I know I’ve already harped on quite a bit about accessibility and alternatives to iconic watches, but I swear this will be the last time I do so. With the new wave of watch fans coming out of the early 2020s, it consequently grew interest in legacy models. While I’ve already mentioned the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the general rise of integrated bracelet sports watches, the scope of iconic horology doesn’t begin and end there.
The Omega Speedmaster, for instance, is among history’s most significant watches. If you’re not familiar, the Speedmaster’s importance stems from the role it plays in space exploration. Tested by NASA in the 60s, the watch was one of the few proved capable enough to handle the intricacies of space travel. This seal of approval would result in them accompanying Apollo 11 to the Moon, as well as saving the lives of the ill-fated Apollo 13 crew. With such a unique claim to fame, how could you not want a slice of that?
Well, you’re in luck: Swatch already provides the answer, having collaborated with Omega in 2022. The model line, named MoonSwatch, premiered with a quartz movement, a bioceramic case and a dizzying array of colour choices to choose from. Collectability was hot, and enthusiasts all over the world began climbing over themselves to get their hands on one. While the collection has lost some of its steam over the years, it still managed to set a remarkable precedent: Watches are still cool in the modern day, and more people than ever want to get in on the ground floor.
For more information on this collection, head on over to Swatch.com!
Tudor Black Bay (2012)
‘Poor Man’s Rolex’: A phrase that came to define Tudor in its formative years. And to be honest, it wasn’t entirely inaccurate; Tudor got its start by using stock-standard watch movements with the cases of their sister brand. But no matter what, the rose-and-shield brand could never seem to keep itself distanced from that moniker forever.
But in 2012, the narrative began to shift with the release of the Tudor Black Bay. Taking inspiration from the early Tudor Submariners, it was a wildly successful revival that even saw them win a GPHG right off the bat. However, the Black Bay’s sheer size – particularly its 14.8mm thickness – certainly made it a product of early 2010s watch design.
But while the Black Bay’s release was remarkable in its own right, what makes it a modern classic is Tudor’s efforts to refine the collection. Over the years, they’ve released reference after reference, alongside updates at a faster clip than their sister brand could ever care to do.
A major turning point came in 2019 with the launch of the Black Bay 58, which perfected Tudor’s approach both in terms of modern tastes and collector nostalgia. Since then, the line has only become more refined and more accurate; A diamond in the rough, that has continued and will continue to be shaped with horology’s future.
For more information on this collection, head on over to TudorWatch.com!
TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox (2023)
Speaking of nostalgic design done right, look no further than TAG Heuer. Not too long ago, the brand was languishing in a prison of its own making, struggling to find its footing after Techniques d’Avant-Garde’s acquisition of Heuer in 1985. For a time, it seemed as though TAG Heuer would always trail just behind its competitors.
So what changed? For one, Frédéric Arnault — of LVMH’s leading family — became the brand’s CEO in 2020. With his appointment came sweeping changes to how TAG Heuer approached watchmaking. He brought together some of the sharpest minds in the industry to restore the brand to its former glory, and this new ‘dream team’ made its mark with the debut of the Carrera Glassbox in 2023.
Staying true to classic design while embracing modern refinements, the Carrera Glassbox quickly became one of the world’s most celebrated contemporary chronographs. Its signature bubble-like sapphire crystal, from which it takes its name, was paired with the TH20-00 movement, an evolution of the powerful yet previously flawed Heuer 02.
With its modest case size and effortlessly timeless appeal, the Carrera Glassbox has resonated with both diehard enthusiasts and those disillusioned by Heuer’s earlier missteps. Is it a full return to the golden age? Perhaps not, But it’s pretty damn close, and it signals a bright future for the brand.
For more information on this collection, head on over to TAGHeuer.com!
Ulysse Nardin Freak (2001)
Haute horlogerie wasn’t exactly in the cards when I started to make this list. Most of my favourite haute horlogerie timepieces are under 25, so it wouldn’t have been fair if I just filled the list with a bunch of those. But the Ulysse Nardin Freak is different, as it’s one of the most quintessential pieces of modern watchmaking history.
Released in 2001, the Freak was the ugly duckling of Ulysse Nardin’s modern roster. It was completely and entirely unconventional: No hands, no crown, no dial, just a movement inside a case. However, it played a major part in informing the next generation of watch designers and engineers. Its ambitious aesthetic belied the first integration of a silicon escapement. Resistant to wear, shock, and magnetism far more than the average escapement, the Freak was far ahead of its time in that regard.
Nowadays, everyone from Patek Philippe to Rolex and even Tissot uses some form of a silicon-based escapement, underscoring the importance of Ulysse Nardin’s achievement. But what of the Freak itself? Well, it’s doing just fine; new iterations are added to the lineup every year, with the collection cementing itself as a staple of both the brand and the haute horlogerie sector.
For more information on this collection, head on over to Ulysse-Nardin.com!
Hermès H08 (2021)
Ever heard the term ‘fashion watch’? It’s a bit of a derogatory label in watch circles. It usually refers to fashion brands whose main focus isn’t horology, conjuring images of cheap quartz pieces that are the timekeeping equivalent of ‘coworker music’. But as the watchmaking landscape has shifted in the 2020s, many fashion houses have started shedding that stigma.
Parisian leather goods powerhouse Hermès was among the first through the breach, eager to carve out a serious place in the industry. At first, their ambition was met with plenty of scepticism from the watch community. But the release of the seminal H08 line in 2021 quickly silenced those doubts.
A distinctive timepiece built from the ground up, the H08 was far from a simple ‘brand it and sell it’ effort. It earned respect through its refined design and impressive technical pedigree. The distinctive yet unmistakably Hermès aesthetic came from Philippe Delhotal, while its mechanical credibility was supplied by Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. That’s the same movement maker behind Richard Mille and Audemars Piguet!
I understand that it may be a little more off the beaten path than other entries on this list, but its impact can be felt all the same. The H08 set a new benchmark for how fashion brands can successfully step into the world of serious watchmaking.
For more information on this collection, head on over to Hermes.com!
Omega Seamaster Professional 300 (1993)
Alright, so this might technically be cheating. This timepiece is well beyond the 25-year cutoff, but hey, if Leonardo DiCaprio can bend his ‘25 and under’ rule every now and then, so can I. Since its debut in 1993, the Seamaster Professional 300 has become the standard-bearer for Omega’s dive watch line. Taking over from the earlier 200-metre water-resistant Seamaster collections, it’s established itself as a hardy go-to for any mechanically inclined professional diver — or, at least, for those who wish they were.
But that’s not where the Seamaster Professional 300 gets its real clout. That credit goes to one Lindy Hemming. You might not know the name, but you certainly know her work: the Academy Award-winning costume designer was the one who strapped the watch to Pierce Brosnan’s wrist in 1995’s GoldenEye.
From that moment on, the Seamaster Professional 300 became inseparable from the suave British spy. While Lindy’s involvement with Bond’s wardrobe ended after 2006’s Casino Royale, Omega stayed on — cementing itself as the watch of choice for Bond fans everywhere. These days, you can almost guarantee that anyone wearing one has thought about the silver-screen connection or is definitely a Bond-head. Trust me, I’m related to one.
For more information on this collection, head on over to OmegaWatches.com!
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo (2014)
Finally, we round off the list with what has to be one of my favourite watch designs ever — and it might well have taken the top spot if it were just a little smaller. Still, don’t let my small wrist distract you from the architectural awe that the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo inspires.
Designed by Fabrizio Buonomassa Stigliani in 2014, the Octo Finissimo has become a defining figure in the rise of brutalist-inspired watch design. Looking almost as if it were born from a neo-futuristic Roman Empire, its monolithic silhouette is matched only by its mechanical prowess. With Bvlgari’s deep knowledge of jewellery craftsmanship applied to horology, the Octo Finissimo’s case measures an astonishingly thin 5.15mm.
The Italian jeweller-watchmakers didn’t stop there. The Octo Finissimo has become the blueprint for Bvlgari’s pursuit of record-breaking feats. They currently hold the world record for the thinnest chronometer-certified watch with the Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC — and have claimed the title of world’s thinnest watch twice. But will they eventually surpass the current record holder, Konstantin Chaykin? They certainly have the resources to do so, but only time will tell.