2025 marks a year where heritage takes centre stage. From landmark anniversaries to modern reinterpretations, these releases honour the moments that shaped watchmaking history.
2025 was another big year for the world of horology. From standout releases at Watches & Wonders and a bigger-than-ever Geneva Watch Days, to yet another impressive edition of Dubai Watch Week, the calendar was packed with major moments for both media and, more importantly, enthusiasts. It was a year that reminded us just how dynamic and creative the watch industry continues to be.
Beyond these major events, one of the defining themes of 2025 was the number of anniversaries being celebrated this year. Several brands marked significant milestones, with three brands in particular celebrating being the oldest in the world of horology. Others celebrated key milestones, celebrating their collections hitting an important benchmark. These anniversaries didn’t simply look back at history, they have inspired brands to create special releases that pay tribute to their heritage, while showcasing modern watchmaking.
In this article, I take a look at the best releases of the year, highlighting the timepieces that stood out in 2025 for all the right reasons. These are watches that go beyond a simple anniversary celebration, offering a more thoughtful design, technical improvements, and a deeper connection to the brand’s history. They showcase how anniversaries can be used to push creativity forward while respecting heritage!
A.Lange & Sohne’s 180th Anniversary
Minute Repeater Perpetual
A. Lange & Söhne was founded in 1845, which makes 2025 the brand’s 180th anniversary. Going into the year, expectations were high, with many hoping to see limited-edition timepieces that reflected the brand’s rich heritage, exceptional craftsmanship, and mechanical excellence. For me, though, there is one clear standout release that brings all of these qualities together in a single watch.
As a fantastic way to celebrate its 180th anniversary, A. Lange & Söhne has released the Minute Repeater Perpetual, the first timepiece from the brand to combine these two complications in a single watch. Individually, both complications already represent the very pinnacle of watchmaking complexity, so bringing them together is no easy task. It’s a challenge that places immense demands on both engineers and watchmakers, and one that A. Lange & Söhne has successfully delivered on.
Related Reading: A. Lange & Söhne Introduces Striking New Minute Repeater Perpetual
Audemars Piguet 150th Anniversary
Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Calibre 5135
When one of the brands that make up the Holy Trinity celebrates a major anniversary, as Audemars Piguet does with its 150th this year, you’d expect the brand to go all out. The Swiss watchmaker has certainly delivered on that front, releasing a host of timepieces that made it genuinely challenging to pick out a single standout piece.
After speaking with the WatchAdvice team, there was a clear consensus that the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in 18-carat sand gold was the standout release from the brand’s 150th anniversary celebrations. Not only does this model feature Audemars Piguet’s latest Calibre 7138 Perpetual Calendar movement, but it’s also finished in sand gold, a material that looks absolutely stunning in person. And if that wasn’t enough to seal the deal, the watch was also awarded the Iconic Watch Prize at the 2025 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
For More Information: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Calibre 5135
Blancpain’s 290th Anniversary
Grande Double Sonnerie (The Sound of Eternity)
Blancpain is celebrating its 290th anniversary this year, making it widely regarded as the oldest watch brand in the world. While there have been ongoing debates about the legitimacy of that title, one thing that’s certainly beyond argument is just how incredible the Grande Double Sonnerie timepiece is.
A fitting release to celebrate such a grand occasion, the Grande Double Sonnerie introduces a world first: a wristwatch Grande Sonnerie with two selectable melodies, the timeless Westminster chime, and an original Blancpain melody composed by Eric Singer. It is the most complicated watch in Blancpain’s extensive history, requiring 1,200 technical drawings and 21 filed patents. The timepiece also incorporates an extraordinary list of complications, including a grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, minute repeater, fully integrated retrograde perpetual calendar, and a flying tourbillon.
For More Information: Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie
Breguet’s 250th Anniversary
Expérimentale 1
Another brand celebrating a major milestone anniversary is Breguet. To commemorate its 250th anniversary, the Breguet released a number of special timepieces throughout the year, many of them crafted in the brand’s signature “Breguet Gold” material as part of the celebrations. I had a few favourites from Breguet this year, but it’s hard to look past the most recent, and final, release of 2025, the Expérimentale 1. This timepiece is particularly special as it introduces a revolutionary, world-first high-horology innovation: a 10 Hz tourbillon paired with a constant-force magnetic escapement.
The timepiece is fittingly named Expérimentale 1, as it truly paves the way for future innovative creations from the brand. One of the most exciting outcomes of this anniversary was the formation of a dedicated research and development (R&D) team focused on pushing the boundaries of mechanical watchmaking. And if the Expérimentale 1 is anything to go by, I honestly can’t wait to see what Breguet has in store over the next few years.
For more information: Breguet Expérimentale 1
Girard-Perregaux’s Laureato Collection’s 50th Anniversary
Laureato FIFTY
Celebrating a true watch icon, Girard-Perregaux marks the 50th anniversary of the Laureato this year. For this special release, the brand looked back to the Laureato’s roots, using the original 1975 model as the main source of design inspiration. The Laureato FIFTY features a two-tone steel and gold aesthetic, an integrated bracelet, and, of course, the signature Clous de Paris dial, just like the original.
Now refined for the modern era, the Laureato FIFTY carries all the qualities that make the Laureato such a fantastic everyday wearable, with the two-tone aesthetic adding an extra touch of luxury and class. To mark the 50th anniversary, Girard-Perregaux has also unveiled a brand-new in-house movement, the Calibre GP04800. The movement features a silicone escapement and a winding rotor inspired by the brand’s iconic Three Bridges logo.
Related Reading: Girard-Perregaux New Laureato FIFTY Continues 50th Anniversary Celebrations
Grand Seiko’s 65th Anniversary
Spring Drive Ultra Fine Accuracy (U.F.A)
Celebrating its 65th anniversary, Grand Seiko marked the occasion in a big way by releasing the most precise mechanical timepiece in modern watchmaking. The Grand Seiko Ultra Fine Accuracy (U.F.A.) is a true masterpiece of mechanical precision, achieving a groundbreaking accuracy of ±20 seconds per year.
That’s right, 20 seconds a year! Using the brand’s proprietary Spring Drive technology, this incredible level of accuracy is achieved through advanced thermo-compensation, vacuum-sealed components, and a newly developed IC. On top of that, the 37mm case size makes it a highly wearable watch for a wide range of wrist sizes, showing that the brand is truly in touch with the community and the modern watch enthusiast. The icing on the cake is the beautiful range of dials, each referencing locations or details inspired by Japanese nature.
Related Reading: Hands-On Review With The New Grand Seiko Spring Drive U.F.A
Hublot’s Big Bang 20th Anniversary
Big Bang Unico Winter Sapphire Edition
Hublot is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its iconic Big Bang collection this year. To mark the occasion, the brand released a dedicated anniversary lineup featuring Big Bang Chronograph models crafted from a range of materials, including titanium, King Gold, red ceramic, and full Magic Gold. However, the Big Bang model that easily stood out the most for me was the one released just a few short weeks ago.
The Big Bang Unico Winter Sapphire features a stunning skeletonised ice-blue dial inspired by winter, paired with my favourite Hublot “material” creation: sapphire. If you’ve ever worn a sapphire timepiece, you’ll know just how incredible it looks on the wrist, even more so in sunlight, where it refracts light beautifully. For anyone who enjoys a winter aesthetic, this Big Bang is bound to leave you frozen in awe, with its intricate dial on full display alongside Hublot’s signature “Art of Fusion” innovation.
Related Reading: Hublot’s New Big Bang Winter Editions Are Perfect For Summer!
MB&F 20th Anniversary
HM11 Art Deco
MB&F is one of the leaders in independent watchmaking, constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible while working alongside other watchmakers to do the same. Over the last 10 years or so, the brand has seriously elevated its game, releasing some truly mind-blowing timepieces. One of those Horological Machines was the HM11, released back in 2023. The HM11 draws inspiration from the futuristic house architecture of the 1960s and 1970s.
The HM11 features a central flying tourbillon beneath a double-domed sapphire crystal that acts as the “roof,” while four peripheral “rooms,” or pods, each with its own sapphire window, showcase the time, power reserve, mechanical thermometer, and a dedicated “time-setting room” that offers a view into the movement itself. To celebrate MB&F’s 20th anniversary this year, the brand introduced a new Art Deco–inspired HM11, drawing influence from early-20th-century architecture, from Parisian cinemas to Manhattan skyscrapers.
For More Information: MB&F HM11 Art Deco
Rolex 120th Anniversary
Land-Dweller
To celebrate Rolex’s 120th anniversary, the brand introduced an entirely new collection to its already extensive range. While the launch was met with mixed reactions initially, the new Land-Dweller collection has quickly become one of the more sought-after releases from the brand. The design of the Land-Dweller isn’t completely new either, taking inspiration from Rolex’s own Datejust Oysterquartz reference 17013, originally released in 1977.
What really makes the Land-Dweller special and worthy of Rolex’s 120th anniversary celebrations is the introduction of an all-new calibre, the 7135. This movement operates at a 5 Hz frequency and features the innovative Dynapulse escapement, paired with an integrated flat Jubilee bracelet and a honeycomb-patterned dial. Altogether, the Land-Dweller incorporates a dozen patents, representing a major leap forward in cutting-edge technology for the Swiss watchmaker.
Related Reading: World’s First Rolex Land-Dweller Review In The Wild!
TAG Heuer 160th Anniversary
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Extreme Sport TH-Carbonspring
Another icon at the forefront of modern watchmaking, TAG Heuer is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year. It wouldn’t be an anniversary celebration without the introduction of a special timepiece from one of the most iconic collections in watchmaking: the Carrera. While there were some fantastic Carrera releases throughout the year, the real standout came from the introduction of an entirely new material.
The brand pushed the envelope of innovation this year by introducing a new carbon hairspring. Available across both the Carrera and TAG Heuer’s other signature line, the Monaco, this new proprietary TH-Carbonspring oscillator is an ultra-light, shock-resistant, and anti-magnetic regulating organ developed and produced entirely in-house, ensuring greater stability and consistent accuracy under tough conditions. TAG Heuer took things a step further with the Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Extreme Sport TH-Carbonspring, integrating a tourbillon at 6 o’clock, with the case, bezel, and dial all crafted from forged carbon.
Related Reading: TAG Heuer Introduces TH-Carbonspring In Stunning New Monaco And Carrera Timepieces
Vacheron Constantin 270th Anniversary
Solaria Ultra Grande Complication La Première
The oldest watchmaker in the world, still in continuous production to this day, is Vacheron Constantin. Celebrating a monumental 270 years, the brand released so many mind-blowing timepieces that it honestly became hard to keep track. They certainly weren’t holding back this year, and as a watch enthusiast, it was a delight to see such a wide range of horological creations and Métiers d’Art timepieces from a brand known for its craftsmanship, heritage, and exceptional watchmaking.
It was certainly hard to pick just one model from such an extensive lineup celebrating the brand’s 270th anniversary, but in the end, I had to go with the Solaria Ultra Grande Complication La Première. This timepiece now officially holds the title of the world’s most complicated wristwatch, featuring an astonishing 41 complications. It also includes a world-first combination of five astronomical functions, alongside an innovative Westminster minute repeater. Taking eight years to develop, this is a timepiece truly befitting a brand celebrating its status as the oldest watchmaker in continuous production.
Related Reading: Vacheron Constantin’s Grand Complications: The Art Of The Impossible
Zenith 160th Anniversary
G.F.J Calibre 135
Zenith’s 160th anniversary celebrations this year were quite a blue spectacle, quite literally. For this momentous occasion, the brand leaned heavily into its signature blue colour, dressing its celebratory timepieces in shades that made them instantly recognisable and visually stunning in person. There were plenty of releases that caught my eye throughout the year, with the all-blue full ceramic DEFY Skyline Chronograph being a standout example. However, when it came down to it, the timepiece that truly stood out for me was the G.F.J. Calibre 135.
The Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135 revives a legendary, record-setting observatory chronometer movement, while modernising it with COSC-certified precision of ±2 seconds per day. What made the original Calibre 135-0 so special was its dominance in observatory chronometry competitions, where it went on to win hundreds of awards. Sitting on top of this technically impressive movement is an ethical lapis lazuli dial, with the outer section featuring a brick-patterned guilloché finish.