It’s a factor… The watch trade likes to have a good time anniversaries and essential milestones. Being emotionally pushed merchandise, taking part in on nostalgia emotions has lengthy confirmed an environment friendly technique for watch manufacturers. And in actuality, such anniversaries have seen the creation of some actually essential fashions – the Kermit for the fiftieth anniversary of the Submariner, the Calibre 89 for the a hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Patek Philippe, and the Grandmaster Chime for its 175 years, the Tour de l’Ile for Vacheron’s 250th anniversary… This yr, in 2025, we all know that three of probably the most prestigious manufacturers shall be celebrating essential jubilees, in addition to particular fashions reaching important anniversaries. And this could already give us a moderately clear picture of what to anticipate for 2025.
Vacheron Constantin’s 270th anniversary
Vacheron Constantin was based in 1755 (one of many oldest watch manufacturers round) and shall be celebrating its 270th anniversary this yr. We all know that VC is especially inclined to have a good time such milestone moments in its historical past, as we’ve seen many instances already previously. For its 250th anniversary in 2005, the model launched the Tour de l’Ile, the world’s most complex wristwatch on the time (and it was awarded the Aiguille d’Or on the GPHG). There have been extra fashions (4 wristwatches in whole) to have a good time this anniversary too, such because the calendar reference 85250. In 1977, for its 222th anniversary, the model launched a really particular watch, the 222, its imaginative and prescient of a luxurious sports activities mannequin to compete with the Royal Oak and Nautilus.
So, what can we count on from Vacheron Constantin in 2025, with a purpose to have a good time its 270th anniversary? Properly, it’s laborious to inform however actually one thing extremely advanced coming from the Les Cabinotiers assortment. Will the model be capable to surpass the insane complexity of the Berkley Grand Complication or the reference 57260, which was launched for the model’s 260th anniversary in 2015? Most likely not, however with a brand new CEO at its head (Laurent Perves) we will think about that the model should be impactful. And by some means, I nonetheless dream a few metal 222 to have a good time this milestone – although it has nothing to do with 270 years of steady exercise.
Breguet’s 250th anniversary
Most likely probably the most traditionally essential watchmakers round, Abraham-Louis Breguet based his manufacture in 1775 in Paris. Now with a brand new CEO in place – Gregory Kissling, ex-Omega, appointed in October 2024 – it might appear related for the model to have a good time this main milestone. As soon as once more, the brand new CEO additionally must make its entrance and such anniversaries are a strategy to make historical past, even when Kissling’s appointment may be too current for him to have created new fashions. However who is aware of, the earlier boss might need left some goodies in a drawer…
What we’d wish to see from Breguet to have a good time 1 / 4 of a millennium is one thing as traditional as it may be. One thing actually Breguet, one thing that mixes technical audacity and innovation with conventional visible components – guilloche dial, architectural actions, all of the model’s unmistakable indicators. One thing within the vein of the missed Classique Chronométrie 7727, traditional outdoors, extremely technical inside.
Audemars Piguet’s a hundred and fiftieth anniversary
One other essential model, one other main jubilee to be celebrated, and one other not too long ago appointed CEO… Audemars Piguet was based in 1875 by Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet and it thus celebrates this yr its a hundred and fiftieth anniversary. A brand new CEO has been not too long ago appointed (early 2024) within the identify of Ilaria Resta however by some means we now have the sensation that the emblematic earlier CEO, François-Henry Bennahmias, didn’t go away the corporate and not using a few hidden gems.
What to anticipate from AP with a purpose to have a good time its a hundred and fiftieth anniversary…? Arduous to inform seeing the model’s present route and connections with popular culture. It may very well be a mixture of traditional horology and trendy design, because the model nonetheless holds among the biggest watchmakers round. One other watch to count on this yr is a revamped Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, as we’ve seen with the John Mayer version that the present mannequin was phased out. However this won’t have something to do with the model’s a hundred and fiftieth anniversary. Perhaps one thing that surpasses the Code 11.59 Extremely-Complication Universelle…?
Some extra watch manufacturers’ anniversaries
Apart from the large three we’ve talked about above and that may certainly convey spectacular new fashions, different manufacturers are celebrating essential anniversaries this yr. We will point out, for instance, the thirtieth anniversary of Roger Dubuis – the corporate was based by Roger Dubuis and Carlos Dias in 1995 – which might end in particular version fashions. In the identical vein, Czapek was relaunched in 2015 and will additionally convey one thing fairly spectacular to have a good time its first decade. Lastly, Rolex will have a good time its one hundred and twentieth anniversary this yr, as the corporate was based in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis in London, as Wilsdorf and Davis. The chances of seeing one thing particular from The Crown are low, nonetheless.
The seventieth anniversary of the Rolex GMT-Grasp
As we’ve defined on this in-depth historic article, the Rolex GMT-Grasp was first launched in 1955 and can have a good time its seventieth anniversary in 2025. Though it didn’t actually speak about it, the model by some means celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the GMT-Grasp assortment in 2005 by launching the reference 116718LN, a deeply revised model of its traveller’s watch and the primary Rolex mannequin with a ceramic bezel.
One thing price mentioning too is the fifty fifth anniversary this yr of the Apollo 13 mission, and we all know now that astronaut Jack Swigert was carrying one in the course of the flight… Will Rolex play on this double historic connection? Perhaps not. What we might see, nonetheless, is both a particular version of the GMT-Grasp II (possibly a platinum model or a Coke mannequin) and a devoted, official GMT-Grasp e-book, like Rolex did with the Submariner not too long ago.
The eightieth anniversary of the Rolex Datejust
Rolex’s oldest assortment nonetheless in manufacturing, the Datejust, was first introduced in 1945 and can thus have a good time its eightieth anniversary this yr. This traditional time-and-date mannequin has been in steady manufacturing ever since and the newest main replace to the mannequin dates again 2016, with the introduction of the Datejust 41 with calibre 3235 inside. Will Rolex use the event of this eightieth anniversary to current an up to date model of its all-rounder mannequin? We’ll have the reply at Watches and Wonders 2025.
30 years of Omega and James Bond
Most likely probably the most well-known secret service agent within the historical past of cinema, James Bond has been carrying Omega Seamaster watches since 1995 and film Goldeneye. 9 films later and ten totally different watches used, 2025 will mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Bond x Omega connection and we’ll certainly see one thing particular from the Biel-based model. We’ve not too long ago seen a devoted Seamaster Diver 300M to have a good time the sixtieth anniversary of the primary Bond film, so it’s solely pure to count on a watch celebrating 3 many years of joint service.
The fifty fifth anniversary of Apollo 13 and the Silver Snoopy award
It’s one thing of a practice for Omega to have a good time its function within the Apollo 13 mission (which launched on April 11, 1970). For the reason that Omega Speedmaster performed an essential function throughout Apollo 13, as one of many items of apparatus that served as backup to the defective devices and thus helped save the crew members, on 5 October 1970 NASA gave the Omega and the Speedmaster a Snoopy award to acknowledge the essential function the watch performed.
Since then, we’ve seen a number of Apollo 13 editions of the Speedmaster, the primary launched in 2003 (not linked to an anniversary). Then got here the Apollo 13 Speedmaster forty fifth anniversary version in 2015, and in 2020, the Omega did it once more with a fiftieth anniversary version of the Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award, with one thing fairly cool to see on the again. We have now the sensation that Omega might do it once more this yr with a Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award fifty fifth Anniversary…
fiftieth anniversary of the Girard-Perregaux Laureato
Girard-Perregaux’s reply to the rising pattern for luxurious sports activities watches with built-in bracelet got here early available on the market… Actually, it was introduced earlier than Patek’s Nautilus 3700 (1976), IWC’s Ingenieur SL Jumbo (1976) and Vacheron’s 222 (1977). In 1975, Girard-Perregaux introduced the Laureato, but in contrast to its rivals, it was powered by a Quartz Chronometer motion. Since then, the Laureato has developed as a contemporary assortment with mechanical actions and an array of sizes, supplies and issues.
Nonetheless, with its fiftieth anniversary simply across the nook, we will count on GP to be artistic and to launch one thing particular to have a good time half a century of its emblematic elegant sports activities watch.
twentieth anniversary of the Hublot Large Bang
Whereas the model was based in 1980 by Carlo Crocco, probably the most essential moments within the historical past of the model occurred in 2005, with the presentation of the Large Bang assortment – by some means probably the most emblematic fashions of the model. Following Jean-Claude Biver’s appointment in 2004 as CEO, he set about creating a brand new flagship assortment that was unveiled in Basel in April 2005, an audacious and putting chronograph named the Large Bang. A direct success, the mannequin is now synonymous with the model’s design language.
This yr, the Hublot Large Bang assortment celebrates its twentieth anniversary and there’s excessive probabilities to see particular editions or perhaps a absolutely revamped mannequin being launched. Perhaps smaller, a bit extra discreet…
seventieth anniversary of the IWC Ingenieur
Whereas most will image the IWC Ingenieur because the SL Jumbo launched in 1976 and designed by Gerald Genta, the gathering really dates again to 1955 with the launch of the Reference 666, an instrument watch devoted to scientists and providing superior magnetic resistance. This yr, the watch will have a good time its seventieth anniversary, and even when the chances of seeing a re-edition of the inaugural mannequin are low, we will by some means dream of a classic-looking, semi-elegant, semi-instrument wanting watch as a tribute to this essential mannequin within the model’s historical past.
fortieth anniversary of the IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph
Perhaps not the best-looking watch, however a extremely essential mannequin on each historic and technical ranges, the IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph was launched in 1985 and it’s a watch that issues. Whereas the trade was nonetheless affected by the results of the quartz disaster, IWC began to develop a wristwatch mechanical perpetual calendar chronograph watch – with a QP module developed by trade legend Kurt Klaus and tailored on high of a Valjoux 7750. The watch, the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar ref. 3750, made a sensational entrance because it was courageous for a watch model again within the mid-Eighties to launch such a sophisticated mannequin. However that was achieved because of the visionary thoughts of Günter Blümlein.
May we count on one thing new from IWC within the area of perpetual calendars, or possibly a comeback of the Da Vinci assortment, which is now discontinued?
thirtieth anniversary of the Tudor Prince Oysterdate 79200 Fourth Era
I do know, this one is a little bit of a stretch. The explanation why I’m mentioning this Tudor Prince Oysterdate 79200, a watch launched in 1995, isn’t actually for the sake of seeing a re-edition, however it’s to convey again on the desk the concept of the brand new manufacture chronograph motion that Tudor teased not too long ago – the distinctive Tudor Prince Chronograph One introduced in 2023 was outfitted with an unprecedented computerized, built-in chronograph motion made along with Kenissi. We will’t think about growing such a motion only for a novel piece and it’s, indubitably, a teaser for what’s to return within the close to future.
That being stated, we predict 2025 is the fitting time for Tudor to convey a brand new racing-style chronograph outfitted with this potential motion, and possibly a watch that may look near a 1995 Prince Oysterdate 79200 – no less than, the distinctive Prince Chronograph One in all 2023 was not too removed from that.
