From new escapements and oscillators to radical chronograph architectures and unprecedented chiming complexity, 2025 revealed a shift in luxury watchmaking. If recent years were defined by consolidation, anniversary-driven releases and cautious evolution, 2025 saw brands increasingly willing to make visible, structural bets on the future of mechanical watchmaking rather than relying on incremental updates or archival reassurance — from industrial giants to high-complication specialists.
Rolex unveiled an entirely new escapement after a decade of development. Audemars Piguet reevaluated its chronograph mechanics from first principles. TAG Heuer replaced the weakest component of the traditional oscillator rather than refining it. Blancpain expanded the limits of chiming watches not by scale, but by acoustic ambition. Even Patek Philippe, long defined by restraint, presented a high complication designed for contemporary wear.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller marks one of the brand’s rare full-collection launches and for collectors — that alone carries weight. Introduced in 2025, it pairs an integrated-bracelet case with a dial unlike anything else in the current Rolex catalogue, defined by a laser-sculpted honeycomb motif that gives the surface depth without sacrificing legibility. The timepiece’s design is deliberate rather than overtly nostalgic, extending familiar Rolex cues — the Flat Jubilee bracelet, ice-blue dial on platinum, fluted bezel — into a distinctly contemporary register.
What elevates the Land-Dweller into collector territory, however, is the Calibre 7135. Ten years in development, it beats at 5Hz and introduces the Dynapulse escapement, a newly engineered regulating system that reduces friction, improves energy efficiency and allows the movement to measure time to a tenth of a second. Combined with a ceramic balance staff, reworked Syloxi hairspring and visible finishing through a sapphire caseback — still a rarity for Rolex — the Land-Dweller signals a technical direction the brand rarely reveals so openly. As a new platform rather than a variation, it stands as one of the most consequential modern Rolex releases for collectors in 2025.
Zenith Defy Extreme Lapis Lazuli
Zenith marks its 160th anniversary with the Defy Extreme Lapis Lazuli. Limited to just 50 pieces, it transforms the cosmos into a wearable masterpiece. Its openworked dial, crafted from deep blue lapis lazuli streaked with natural pyrite, shimmers like a star-studded night sky — no two dials are alike, making each watch uniquely personal. Powered by the El Primero 9004 calibre, it is one of the few mechanical chronographs capable of measuring 1/100th of a second, with dual escapements — one for time, the other for the chronograph — propelling the central hand around the dial every second.
The sculptural 45mm case pairs polished steel with a warm, matte gold dodecagonal bezel, reflecting Zenith’s bold, architectural design language. True to the Defy Extreme spirit, three interchangeable straps — steel, black rubber, and black Velcro — allow the watch to move effortlessly from formal to sporty settings. With its rarity and precision, the Defy Extreme Lapis Lazuli stands as one of 2025’s most exclusive collector-only watches.
Ulysse Nardin’s Freak [X Crystalium]
Ulysse Nardin writes a new chapter in the story of its Freak collection, this time devoted to material science and high-tech decorative arts. Fresh from Geneva Watch Days is the Ulysse Nardin Freak [X Crystalium], whose most distinct feature is its rotating hour disc made of Crystalium, which was so complex to manufacture that the Freak [X Crystalium] is presented as a limited production of just 50 pieces. The process of creating Crystalium took years to develop and perfect. Starting from ruthenium, a metal that is 10 times rarer than platinum and prized for its strength and shine, days of controlled crystallisation via vapour deposition methods result in shimmering, intricate and irregular fractal-like crystal structures, meaning each disc bears a unique pattern.
Underneath the Crystalium hour disc sits the automatic calibre UN-230, which provides 72 hours of power reserve and operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour, while above the Crystalium one finds the flying carousel and the silicon balance wheel and escapement, made by the brand’s silicon lab, SIGATEC, and suspended by a bridge that doubles as the minute indicator.
Audemars Piguet’s RD#5
The Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5 is Audemars Piguet’s most technical statement of its 150th anniversary. Limited to 150 pieces, it introduces the entirely new Calibre 8100, marking the first time the Jumbo has combined a flyback chronograph with a flying tourbillon. The significance lies in the chronograph itself: traditional pushers and heart-piece mechanisms are abandoned in favour of a patented rack-and-pinion system that stores energy instead of dissipating it.
This allows ultra-short pusher travel, a lighter touch, an instant minute jump and a near-imperceptible reset — all while eliminating the friction spring that has defined chronographs for over a century. Achieving this within the Jumbo’s historic proportions required glass-box sapphires, a peripheral platinum rotor and lessons carried forward from earlier RD projects. For collectors, RD#5 is a chronograph rethought at a fundamental mechanical level and one that exists only because Audemars Piguet is willing to redesign complications from first principles.
A. Lange & Söhne Minute Repeater Perpetual 2025
The A. Lange & Söhne Minute Repeater Perpetual sits at the very top of the Saxonia line and represents one of the brand’s most technically concentrated releases of 2025. Limited to 50 pieces in platinum, it combines a minute repeater with a full perpetual calendar, powered by the new manually wound calibre L122.2. The repeater strikes hours, quarter-hours and minutes with no silent gaps, thanks to Lange’s pause-elimination mechanism, while a flying governor ensures controlled, quiet operation without residual buzz. The perpetual calendar is displayed across a four-part black enamel dial made in-house, with indications for day, month, leap year, moon phase and small seconds. Accurate to 122.6 years, the moon-phase display alone features 100 hand-engraved stars. At 40.5mm wide and just 12.1mm thick, the watch balances extreme mechanical density with restrained proportions, making it one of the most uncompromising collector-only complications released this year.
TAG Heuer’s Monaco Flyback Chronograph and the Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Extreme Sport
TAG Heuer’s TH-Carbonspring marks one of the brand’s most consequential technical developments in decades, addressing the weakest point of traditional oscillators through material science rather than incremental tuning. Developed over nearly ten years, the carbon-based hairspring is lighter than silicon or metal, impervious to magnetism and far more resistant to shock — qualities that directly improve long-term rate stability rather than theoretical performance. Its debut is deliberately restrained: two forged-carbon flagships, the Monaco Flyback Chronograph and the Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Extreme Sport, each limited to just 50 pieces. The spiral dial motifs subtly reference the hairspring itself, while the movements — TH20-60 and TH20-61 — retain familiar architectures to foreground the oscillator’s real-world impact. For collectors, these watches are not about novelty aesthetics, but about owning the first visible step in TAG Heuer’s post-silicon future.
Blancpain’s Grande Double Sonnerie
Blancpain’s Grande Double Sonnerie Ref. 15GSQ occupies a space so rare that even seasoned high-complication specialists may encounter only one or two in a lifetime. While grande and petite sonneries already sit above minute repeaters in both difficulty and autonomy, Blancpain complicates the complication by giving the wearer two fully realised chiming systems — a traditional Westminster sequence and a newly composed four-note melody — selectable at will. Achieving this required parallel acoustic architectures, independent energy management via a dedicated striking barrel and micron-level tuning of the governing components that control tempo and pitch.
Unlike historic sonneries built for clocks or safes, this is an integrated, wearable wristwatch with a flying tourbillon, perpetual calendar and a case engineered to be worn daily rather than preserved. Produced at a rate of roughly two pieces per year and assembled end-to-end by named watchmakers, the Grande Double Sonnerie is less a showcase of excess than a demonstration of what modern high watchmaking can still do when technical ambition, acoustic sensitivity and restraint align.
Patek Philippe’s 5308G ‘Quad Comp’
The reference 5308G represents a reorientation of Patek Philippe’s high-complication philosophy toward modern use. The reference 5308G is not Patek Philippe abandoning restraint so much as redefining it on modern terms. Where earlier grand complications prioritised lineage and continuity, the Quad Comp is built around contemporary use: a microrotor architecture to manage height, an instantaneous perpetual calendar to improve legibility, and a modular split-seconds chronograph designed for reliability rather than theatrical exposure. Its scale, dial graphics and serial production mark a clear departure from the museum-grade ideal of references like the 5016, positioning the 5308G as a high-complication meant to be worn, not revered at arm’s length. In doing so, Patek signals a future where maximal complication is no longer a historical exercise, but a living, evolving product shaped as much by modern collectors’ expectations as by the brand’s technical inheritance.
Platinum Watches: Exploring Luxury Timepieces and Top Brand Innovations
The densest metal in popular use in watchmaking is a favourite with this magazine and developments on the gold front continue to give us hope; however, by ranking platinum right in the middle here, we concede that the world is unlikely to see radical developments. Skip ahead to our concluding section for a personal take on this. For now, as usual, here are just a few pointers on platinum, lifted from our special three years ago; more details are available online and we will link to them in the online version.
Platinum Properties
Platinum’s atomic number is 78 and it is listed in the periodic table of elements as Pt (also how it is denoted on watch cases). It is part of the group 10 chemical elements in the periodic table, alongside humble nickel and palladium, while also being the core constituent of what we call the platinum group of metals, alongside palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium. We will make a note about density shortly, but first, on hardness, platinum tops gold. On the Vickers scale (in MPa), platinum scores 549 while gold is just 216. For some context, aluminium is 167 and titanium is 970; these numbers are all for pure metals and will change once alloyed. In terms of tensile strength, platinum and gold are roughly equal.
Platinum has been in watchmaking and jewellery for a very short time, relative to gold and silver. This means the early 20th century, and there is just one standard for platinum, which is platinum 950 (95% pure). Aside from titanium, platinum might just be the purest metal in use in watchmaking; gold is just 75% pure, by way of contrast.
This brings up the most common refrain about platinum, as mentioned above. In pure forms, platinum is just 8% denser than gold, and that number might surprise you. This is primarily because we are often told that platinum is 60% denser than gold, which is a reference to platinum 950 and 14k gold. When it comes to 18k gold, the number is approximately 30+%. The practical effect of the resulting confusion from these numbers is primarily felt most viscerally in watches and jewellery, but the effect overall is that the general public has the idea that this brings up the most common refrain about platinum, as mentioned above.
Patek Philippe Cubitus Ref. 5822P-001
Density vs Gold
In pure forms, platinum is just 8% denser than gold, and that number might surprise you. This is primarily because we are often told that platinum is 60% denser than gold, which is a reference to platinum 950 and 14k gold. When it comes to 18k gold, the number is approximately 30+%. The practical effect of the resulting confusion from these numbers is primarily felt most viscerally in watches and jewellery, but the effect overall is that the general public has the idea that platinum is so heavy as to be impractical to wear.
As mentioned in the introduction, platinum is today mainly used for industrial purposes, with the automotive industry using up to 50 per cent of available material (projected as 41.45 per cent for 2022 on Statista). The estimated percentage for watches and jewellery stands at 21.27 per cent; investments do not even warrant a predicted percentage. Gold, by way of contrast, is estimated to be used by the watch and jewellery sector, and for investments, to the tune of 90 per cent.
Like many pundits, we predicted a rise in platinum cases and continue to argue for more. This year sees brands continue on this path, but just the usual suspects, including Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin (the Traditionnelle Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar, to cite just one example), Chopard, Cartier, A. Lange & Sohne and Parmigiani Fleurier. To see a big wave in this area, we need to see offerings from watchmaking brands that are climbing the value chain, such as Hublot. After all, Parmigiani Fleurier’s embrace of cermet is one of the reasons we think so highly of ceramic as a material to watch in watchmaking.
2025 Lunar New Year Snake Watches
As the Year of the Wooden Snake dawns on 29 January 2025, it heralds a time of transformation, introspection, and strength. This celestial year is one of profound evolution and self-improvement, making it the perfect backdrop for luxurious timepieces that reflect timeless artistry and bold design, setting new standards in zodiac-inspired horology. As one will come to see, many of these timepieces are limited to just 88 pieces, symbolising good luck while reinforcing an element of exclusivity. LUXUO discovers the finest zodiac-inspired timepieces for the Year of the Wooden Snake.
IWC
IWC introduced its Chinese New Year watch at Watches and Wonders Shanghai 2024 in September. This Portofino model — limited to 500 pieces — features a burgundy dial and an automatic winding rotor shaped like a snake. The design remains largely unchanged from the standard model, with the primary difference being these two distinct elements. This follows a trend seen with previous editions, where burgundy dials were paired with thematically shaped rotors. The approach began with the Pilot’s Chronograph for the Year of the Tiger in 2022, continuing with the Rabbit watch in 2023. The possibility of completing a full 12-year zodiac cycle with specific design elements adds to the appeal for collectors, despite earlier disruptions due to pandemic-related challenges.
Longines
The Conquest Heritage Year of Snake model closely follows the standard Conquest Heritage time-only watch design, with a gradient red domed dial and an engraving of a snake holding a Lingzhi mushroom on the closed caseback. Over the years, Longines has released several zodiac symbol watches following a similar design approach, although the brand does not specify how far back this tradition extends. This limited edition — with 2,025 pieces — has the highest availability among the Longines Chinese New Year models.
Regarding the history of the wide circulation of Lunar New Year watches at Longines, it is possible that the brand only began this tradition last year with the Dragon model, which had a limited run of 888 pieces. The Year of Snake model — like its predecessor — features a collaboration with Chinese artist Wu Jian’an, who conceptualised and executed the motif on the caseback, inspired by The Legend of the White Snake. Similarly, The Dragon watch involved a collaboration with artist Zinan Lam, suggesting that this series may continue as a regular feature for Longines.
Bvlgari's Serpenti Collection
To usher in the Year of the Snake, Bvlgari pays homage to the serpent’s rich symbolism and its deep ties to Chinese culture with the introduction of Serpenti Infinito — a new concept symbolising the transformative power of the snake as a representation of infinity. Continuing the legacy of its iconic emblem, Bvlgari unveils 13 new Serpenti creations, including jewellery, watches, and leather goods, that seamlessly blend the brand’s distinctive serpent design with elements of nature.
Capturing the pure essence of the serpent, the Serpenti Viper pieces are reimagined in rose, yellow, and white gold, adorned with dazzling diamonds. Two new jewellery sets — crafted in either rose or yellow gold — feature a sleek necklace with the signature serpent head gracefully curling around its tail. Accompanying the necklace are hoop earrings, a looped bracelet, and rings enriched with white gold and diamond pavé, showcasing stylised serpent scales. For a more artistic expression, four Serpenti rings draw inspiration from Bvlgari’s High Jewellery creations. Crafted in rose gold, these rings are adorned with multi-sized diamonds, and feature sapphire, ruby, or emerald beads on the serpent’s body, with matching gemstone eyes. A stunning white gold version, embellished with a baguette and brilliant-cut diamonds, adds a touch of luxury to this collection. In the realm of watches, the Serpenti Seduttori combines the elegance of stainless steel with a diamond-set bezel and a bracelet inspired by the scales of a serpent. Meanwhile, the Serpenti Tubogas seamlessly weaves rose gold and stainless steel with pavé diamonds, forming a flexible, solder-free bracelet that coils gracefully around the wrist.
Breguet
Breguet has crafted a limited edition of eight Classique 7145 watches, showcasing the brand’s creative artistry through métiers d’art techniques such as guilloché and engraving. The 40mm rose gold case houses an ultra-slim automatic movement. The dial is hand-engraved in bas-relief, depicting a snake figure with scales and foliage. Guilloché patterns are applied for texture and depth, accentuated with a black galvanic treatment and hand-painted translucent green leaves. The 40mm rose gold case has a slim profile of 6.5mm, with straight lugs and a delicately fluted caseband. The open-tipped hour and minute hands, combined with subtle rose gold indices, complement the handcrafted dial. The Breguet calibre 502.3 is an ultra-thin 2.4mm automatic movement, featuring a 22k gold rotor adorned with hand-guilloché decoration.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
The Reverso Tribute Enamel serves as a stunning homage to the 2025 Year of the Snake, crafted at Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Atelier des Métiers Rares. Featuring deep black Grand Feu enamel dials on both the front and reverse, the watch embodies meticulous artistry through its layered enamelling process and multiple kiln firings at 800°C. The reverse of the watch showcases a majestic snake, intricately engraved amidst fiery motifs, a detail that took over 80 hours to perfect.
Harry Winston
Harry Winston celebrates the Chinese Year of the Snake with an exclusive, limited-edition timepiece — the Chinese New Year Automatic 36mm. Crafted in 18K rose gold, this distinguished watch blends the artistry of fine watchmaking with the symbolism of ancient Chinese culture and mythology. Adorned with a meticulously lacquered snake on the dial, the piece reflects the serpent’s revered role as a guardian of hidden treasures, symbolising the timeless value of time itself. The dial, complemented by green beaded mother-of-pearl and adorned with Harry Winston diamonds, captures the essence of transformation and infinity. With only eight pieces in existence, this limited-edition timepiece embodies the fusion of heritage, luxury, and artistry, making it a rare gem for collectors and connoisseurs alike.
Arnold & Son
Arnold & Son celebrates the Lunar New Year with the release of the Perpetual Moon 41.5 "Year of the Snake", a limited series of eight exquisite timepieces crafted in red gold. This masterful creation combines the brand’s hallmark features: a manufacture calibre, a large astronomical moon, and an aventurine glass dial base. Adding to its allure, the watch showcases intricate artisanal craftsmanship, making it a stunning tribute to the Year of the Snake.
The highlight of the timepiece is the hand-engraved snake, meticulously carved from 18-carat rose gold. Its lifelike details, including fine scales, a forked tongue, and a broad, flat head, are set against a shimmering blue aventurine glass dial. Enhancing this celestial scene is a large mother-of-pearl moon, complete with realistic shadowing and overlaid with Super-LumiNova for a soft luminescence. The dial also features the constellations Ursa Major and Cassiopeia — delicately painted with luminescent material — creating an ethereal night-sky effect. The case back houses a secondary moon phase display, allowing precise and swift adjustments. At the heart of this timepiece is a manually-wound calibre renowned for its extraordinary precision. The movement tracks the lunar cycle — lasting 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 2.8 seconds — so accurately that it would take 122 years of continuous operation to accumulate a 24-hour deviation from astronomical reality.
Franck Muller
To celebrate the Year of the Snake, Franck Muller has unveiled the Silhouette CX Snake — a limited-edition timepiece that blends serpentine elegance with technical innovation. Marking the debut of the Silhouette CX case, this creation redefines the brand’s legacy, presenting an asymmetrical design inspired by the snake's fluid motion and enigmatic charm. Crafted in 18k rose gold, the Silhouette CX Snake embodies the snake's mystique through undulating curves that suggest its form without fully revealing it. Guided by co-founder Vartan Sirmakes, the new case is a bold evolution of Franck Muller’s iconic Curvex designs, offering a tactile and visual experience that is as dynamic as it is elegant. Limited to just 28 pieces, this Asia-Pacific exclusive timepiece builds on the brand’s tradition of crafting unique zodiac watches, following last year’s Vanguard Year of the Rabbit edition and the Cintrée Curvex Ryoko Kaneta Dragon.
The Silhouette CX Snake’s intricate dial mirrors the asymmetrical case, with carefully aligned numerals and a snake motif handset with emeralds in a snow-setting technique. The glittering emeralds form a dazzling, mysterious pattern across the dial, capturing the snake's allure without overt depictions. Completing the design is a green calf leather strap embossed with a snakeskin texture and reinforced with a rubber underside for durability and comfort.
Hublot
Since 2016, Hublot has honoured each Lunar New Year with exquisite limited-edition creations from its Spirit of Big Bang collection. For 2025, the Swiss watchmaker presents the Spirit of Big Bang Year of the Snake — a masterful celebration of this symbolic creature — available in an exclusive series of 88 pieces. At the heart of this timepiece is a mesmerising gold-plated snake, brought to life with extraordinary three-dimensional detail. Using cutting-edge laser engraving technology, Hublot has etched the serpent with remarkable precision, capturing its lifelike scales and fluid movement.
The black, barrel-shaped ceramic case — a hallmark of the Spirit of Big Bang — is paired with Hublot’s innovative "One-Click" strap changing system for effortless versatility. The ceramic bezel is engraved with an intricate snake-scale pattern, a motif that extends seamlessly onto the black rubber strap. Finished with a unique velvet texture and subtle shimmer, the strap demonstrates Hublot’s ingenuity in creating luxurious details from a single piece of rubber through advanced embossing techniques.
Vacheron Constantin
In honour of its historical connection to China, Vacheron Constantin introduces a new chapter in its Métiers d’Art series, titled "The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Snake". This annual tradition celebrates the zodiac sign with exceptional artistry, showcasing the Maison's dedication to blending traditional craftsmanship with horological excellence. For 2025, Vacheron Constantin unveils two limited editions of 25 pieces each, crafted in pink gold and platinum. The dials feature the snake, a symbol of wisdom, renewal, and prosperity, meticulously rendered as a coiled cobra atop a textured rock. This motif pays homage to the centuries-old relationship between Chinese and Swiss cultures, dating back to Vacheron Constantin’s early explorations into Asia in the 19th century when the brand created intricately decorated jewellery watches for Chinese dignitaries.
The "Year of the Snake" timepieces exemplify Vacheron Constantin’s mastery of engraving and enamelling, combining these two métiers to produce breathtaking detail. The cobra and rock are sculpted by a master engraver, who painstakingly carves pink or white gold over three days to create intricate textures and lifelike relief. The cobra’s ochre tones on the pink gold model and anthracite grey hues on the platinum version are enhanced with patina and miniature painting. The dial's background is crafted using Grand Feu enamel, showcasing a gradient effect that transitions seamlessly from the centre to the edges. The flora, painted using the Geneva technique of opaque flux-coated enamel, adds further depth.
Piaget
Piaget captures the season's brilliance with exquisite timepieces that shine with vibrant colours and masterful craftsmanship, celebrating life's golden moments. At the heart of this festive collection is the Limelight Gala Watch, a true testament to Piaget's artistry and timeless glamour. An icon reimagined, the Limelight Gala Watch draws inspiration from the bold sophistication of 1970s design. Its 32 mm case — crafted in 18K rose gold — is adorned with 62 brilliant-cut diamonds, highlighting the watch's asymmetrical lugs that gracefully embrace the wrist. The diamond-paved bezel enhances its refined silhouette, exemplifying the signature allure of the Limelight Gala collection. The watch’s Milanese bracelet is a work of art in itself. Meticulously engraved by Piaget artisans, the bracelet features a scale-like texture that shimmers with iridescent brilliance, turning every movement into a statement of luxury. The boutique-exclusive Limelight Gala Precious Watch elevates opulence with its round rose gold case set with 40 brilliant-cut diamonds totalling 4.736 carats, further highlighting the Maison's commitment to craftsmanship and grandeur.
Parmigiani Fleurier
Parmigiani Fleurier’s TONDA PF Xiali Complete Calendar is a landmark creation in watchmaking, honouring the intricate beauty of the Chinese calendar. This world-first timepiece seamlessly blends technical mastery with cultural homage, showcasing the complex lunar-solar calendar system in an elegant and innovative design. The Chinese calendar combines lunar and solar cycles, synchronised through the addition of an intercalary (13th) month approximately every three years. It divides the solar year into 24 terms reflecting the agricultural seasons, while the lunar year follows a 60-year cycle governed by zodiac animals and elemental associations. This meticulous system ensures that Chinese New Year — marking the arrival of spring — aligns with specific astronomical conditions between 21 January and 19 February in the Gregorian calendar.
The TONDA PF Xiali Complete Calendar embodies this complexity through its intricate mechanics and refined aesthetics. The watch features a 42 mm stainless steel case — polished and satin-finished — with Parmigiani Fleurier’s signature platinum 950 fluted bezel. Its imperial red dial — adorned with hand-guilloché Grain d'Orge detailing — is a stunning centrepiece, complemented by rhodium-plated 18ct gold appliqué indices and skeletonised delta hands. The dial displays a remarkable array of information, including the year and zodiac sign, the day and month, and indicators for leap months and long or short months. The TONDA PF Xiali celebrates the precision of the Chinese calendar, honouring its blend of tradition, astronomy, and symbolism. With its perfect marriage of technical innovation and cultural heritage, the TONDA PF Xiali Complete Calendar offers a fitting tribute to the Year of the Snake.
Blancpain
Blancpain marks the arrival of the Year of the Wood Snake in 2025 with its latest Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel, a timepiece that beautifully bridges Eastern and Western traditions. For the 14th year, Blancpain commemorates the Chinese zodiac with a limited-edition creation, featuring a newly designed snake motif engraved on the watch’s 22K white gold rotor. This edition debuts an elegant platinum case paired with a green Grand Feu enamel dial, a first for the collection. The Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel is renowned for its groundbreaking integration of the Chinese calendar with the Gregorian calendar and moon phases. First introduced in 2012, it embodies Blancpain’s commitment to blending cultural heritage and technical mastery. With the transition into its second 12-year zodiac cycle in 2024, Blancpain refreshed the designs of the zodiac animals, now showcased through an aperture at 12 o’clock. For 2025, the intricately detailed wood snake appears for the first time on this remarkable timepiece.
The snake — symbolising intuition and wisdom — takes centre stage on the meticulously engraved rotor. Crafted in Blancpain’s Métiers d’Art workshop, the design includes Chinese characters for "serpent" and "wood," as well as a natural ruby accent. The dial layout ensures that the extensive calendar indications remain legible and intuitive. At 3 o’clock, the watch displays the five elements and their Yin-Yang associations linked to the sexagesimal cycle, while 9 o’clock features Chinese days and months. Double Chinese hours and the zodiac sign of the year appear at 12 o’clock, alongside an aperture for the Chinese leap month. A serpentine hand indicates the Gregorian date, while Blancpain’s signature moon phase is positioned at 6 o’clock. Limited to just 50 pieces, the Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel 2025 is a fitting tribute to the Lunar New Year and the wisdom and renewal symbolised by the snake.
Dior
The new Dior Grand Soir celebrates the Year of the Snake. Within Chinese mythology, the snake is the symbol of wisdom and strength. The rose-gold-adorned snake is placed in a miniature Toile de Jouy landscape, navigating through a foliage of leaves and flowers delicately made of mother-of-pearl. This mysterious and magical environment is punctuated with rose gold butterflies, echoing the scales of the gliding snake.
CIGA Design Year of the Snake
CIGA DESIGN captures the Lunar New Year with a stunning timepiece that embodies wisdom, vitality, and prosperity. The watch features a golden snake crafted using sculptural techniques and symbolic abstraction. Set against an abstract snakeskin-inspired pattern, the satin-textured, gold-plated snake radiates elegance. The snake itself is more than decorative — it rotates to tell time. The snake’s head indicates hours while its tail tracks minutes. As a nod to Eastern traditions, the watch case is made from jadeite, a material with thousands of years of cultural history. Its jade-like warmth enhances the design, reflecting the fusion of modern aesthetics with timeless heritage. The use of jadeite not only symbolises prosperity and vitality but also highlights the watch’s distinctly Eastern character. CIGA DESIGN’s Year of the Snake watch represents a harmonious blend of culture and contemporary innovation, bringing a fresh perspective to zodiac-themed timepieces.
Perrelet
Perrelet unveils the Turbine Snake, a striking timepiece dedicated to the Year of the Wood Snake. Limited to just 88 pieces — a number symbolising prosperity and luck — the watch celebrates the zodiac sign known for its wisdom, creativity, and mysterious allure. Associated with the element of wood, the Wood Snake embodies resilience and renewal, heralding a harmonious and opportunity-filled year.
The Turbine Snake exemplifies this vision, combining Swiss precision with symbolic storytelling while adhering to cultural themes and rituals. The Turbine Snake is a visual masterpiece. Its red lacquered sub-dial — a nod to luck and protection — is adorned with gold-etched ideograms symbolising well-being and prosperity. At its heart lies a gilded, three-dimensional snake, its head poised above intricately textured coils. This dynamic reptilian motif is revealed in full when the 12 black anodised aluminium blades of the watch’s signature rotating turbine spin with the wearer’s movements. With only 88 pieces available globally, the Turbine Snake is not merely a timepiece but a collector’s item imbued with cultural symbolism and artisanal expertise. Perrelet’s latest creation offers aficionados a unique blend of mechanical precision and artistic expression, making it a fitting tribute to the Year of the Wood Snake.
Raymond Weil
In celebration of the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Snake, Raymond Weil introduces the Millesime Burgundy — a limited-edition masterpiece that seamlessly blends tradition with contemporary elegance. With only 88 pieces available, this exquisite timepiece captures the transformative symbolism of the snake, embodying wisdom, prosperity, and refined craftsmanship.
The Millesime Burgundy honours Raymond Weil’s legacy of fine watchmaking while embracing bold design and understated sophistication. Its deep burgundy dial, a rich symbol of good fortune and prosperity, serves as the centrepiece. Complemented by a matching leather strap and encased in polished stainless steel, the design achieves a harmonious balance between classic simplicity and modern allure. Powered by the RW4200 central seconds automatic movement, the Millesime Burgundy showcases the precision and artistry for which Raymond Weil is renowned. The engraved "ONE OF 88" on each piece underscores its exclusivity, transforming the watch into a coveted collector’s item that celebrates the intersection of time and culture.
Panerai
For the Year of the Snake, Panerai presents a collection of timepieces that seamlessly blend tradition and innovation. Inspired by the snake's wisdom, grace, and transformative nature, these watches symbolise change and the continuous flow of time. Panerai's Perpetual Calendar captures the passage of time in its most refined form. With intricate mechanics, it not only tracks every moment but also embodies the enduring essence associated with the snake, making it the perfect companion for this significant occasion.
Here are three stand-out red-dialed watches from the collection:
Luminor Perpetual Calendar PAM01688
The Luminor Perpetual Calendar PAM01688 — a limited-edition watch, with only 100 pieces available, features — a burgundy dial paired with Panerai Goldtech, this combination represents prosperity and longevity. The reference number 88, deeply rooted in Chinese tradition, pays homage to good fortune and the cycle of prosperous years ahead.
Luminor Due PAM01424
The Luminor Due PAM01424 showcases a 42mm steel case with a burgundy dial that transitions from a lighter center to a deeper gradient at the edges. Its sandwich dial design includes a date display at 3 o’clock and a small second hand at 9 o’clock, complemented by white Super-Luminova that glows in the dark.
Luminor Due Metal Bracelet PAM01539
The Luminor Due Metal Bracelet PAM01539 features a polished 42mm steel case and bezel. Its burgundy sun-brushed sandwich dial, with a soleil finish that lightens towards the center, is paired with white Super-Luminova for a bright, luminous effect.
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Why You Should Check Out Breitling Watches at Jomashop and the Hamilton Watch Collection
Have you ever fantasised about owning a watch that not only tells time but exudes a style all its own? Look no further than a tale of two brands known for making a bold impression: Breitling and Hamilton. Whether you have a taste for the daring elegance of Breitling or prefer the recreant sophistication of Hamilton, there are watches that integrate the best in design, material, and function—sure to make a lasting impression. We know what you’re thinking. Yes, to everything we just mentioned, but you’re not independently wealthy? Enter stage left: Jomashop. Whether your collection whims are inspired by aviation history or in need of a semi-casual vibe, there’s a watch for any personality. Sounds exciting? See what we mean and do some browsing.
Why Choose a Breitling Watch?
Breitling has long been considered a brand with both the models of aviation and luxury watches. The Swiss watch has demonstrated accuracy and ruggedness in the air and on the ground, which can be demonstrated in a similarly bold and oversized design, advanced chronographs, and durable body for those seeking high quality. -A clock. Perhaps all a watch lover will appreciate when it comes to timekeeping.
Fortunately, if you are looking for a new Breitling watch, you can buy it at Jomashop at a discounted price. In recent years, Jomashop has become a reliable source for authentic and second-hand watch designs so that no one gets the main offer.
The Charm of Hamilton Watches
Hamilton falls on the opposite side of the watch brand pendulum, with timeless American heritage and Swiss watch-making expertise. Known for military and aviation collaborations, Hamilton watches are casual and refined. Ranging from the durable military watches of the Khaki Field collection to the sophisticated Jazzmaster models, Hamilton watches can be worn for any occasion.
What separates Hamilton from other brands is its focus on creating watches that are both practical and refined. From field watches that can take a beating to dress watches suited for black-tie events, Hamilton has a timepiece for every wrist. While affordable, Hamilton watches do not lack versatility and can be worn during long work days or trips around the world.
Why Shop at Jomashop?
Jomashop is a retailer with an array of boxes elaborating the most luxurious watches and extras that you could take the bundling out of with the help of Jomashop promo codes. Enjoy your purchasing of Breitling’s and Hamilton’s, the best-regarded watch manufacturer accessible within the online shopping world for more than a 3rd of a century. Fetch their garments worn by individual values, and make all your desires taken to life from Jomashop.
Shop for everything and anything; you can shop using your Hamilton watch collection or check Breitling watches at Jomashop, and you can make everything you need with a single mouse click. Avail these items for a cheaper deal with a purchase using Jomashop discount codes.
Final Thoughts
Every man out there is either a fan of a modern pop of performance luxury that Breitling does so well — or a kind of watch in style that is as nice as can be noticed. Check out the Hamilton Watch collection, and Breitling watches at Jomashop (and many more). These are two options that every man can meaningfully add to his life — or get to enjoy in memory of you. Each has their own story. Each item connects time-honored tradition with contemporary design. There is no better thing to collect — to have — than making an uninspired outfit — yours — and letting luxury accessories do all the rest.
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DOXA SUB 300T Aristera: A Legendary Dive Watch Reinvented for Left-Handers
SUB 300T Aristera
If there is a simple watch that encompasses the purpose of the Legacy issue of WOW, it is a DOXA diver, like the SUB 300T Aristera here. Not only is it evocative of a very specific period in the history of watchmaking, DOXA itself is what is known as a legacy Swiss watchmaker. Named "Aristera," the Greek word for "left," the SUB 300T Aristera model signifies DOXA’s first foray into left-handed dive watches, with the crown positioned at 9 o'clock for those who prefer wearing their watches on the right wrist. This name resonates with DOXA's own Greek etymology, where "doxa" means "glory," linking tradition and excellence in a timepiece built for modern-day adventurers.
The simple story here is that although DOXA is known today primarily for dive watches, it was founded long before such watches were possible – back in 1889, the sports watch was not a thing, and time was still confined to the pockets of men. Founder Georges Ducommun could scarcely have imagined the development of tool and sports watches, and that his brand would have created one of the most powerful visions of the dive watch in the 1960s.
SUB 300T Aristera
We hope there will be time to get into the backstory of DOXA at some point, going beyond the dive watch. For this story, we must necessarily skimp on the narrative in favour of the details about the SUB 300T Aristera because the watch demands attention that goes further than its orange dial. To begin with, orange is inextricably linked with DOXA dive watches as that was how the brand took the plunge in the 1960s. It is no exaggeration to say that this was the most distinctive dive watch in the world from the get-go; the SUB 300T in particular debuted in 1968.
SUB 300T Aristera
In 2024, DOXA brings this heritage to the fore with its first dive watch made for left-handers (otherwise known as people who prefer to wear their watches on their right wrists). Yes, this is the first automatic DOXA with the crown shifted to 9 o’clock rather than the traditional 3 o’clock. Somewhat unusually, DOXA made this lefty without resorting to moving the date window to 9 o’clock too. According to the press release, the brand managed this by rotating the movement powering the watch by 180 degrees. Such a change, while seemingly simple, still requires rigourous tests. On that note, that movement is the Sellita SW 200- 1, with an escapement beating at 28,000 vph and a power reserve rated at 38 hours.
SUB 300T Aristera
Importantly, the SUB 300T Aristera is in every way a paragon of the DOXA dive watch, being cased in 316L steel, with a unidirectional rotating bezel to time dives, a helium release valve, and a superlative water-resistance rating (1,200 metres). The distinctive case shape remains, as you can see, and the bezel insert is still in aluminium. To aid in keeping the time visible in low-light settings, Super-Luminova is deployed on the hands and hour markers of the 42.5mm watch. The watch comes with both a beads-of-rice steel bracelet and a NATO strap, both of which can accommodate professional use, as one would expect of DOXA. The bracelet has an expandable folding clasp while the fabric strap uses the classic and flexible pin buckle. You could not ask for more in a dive watch, especially in the accessible segment.
SUB 300T Aristera
Limited to 300 pieces worldwide, the SUB 300T Aristerais now available at DOXA retailers and on the official DOXA website retailing for CHF 2,290, EUR 2,490 and USD 2,490.00 USD
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Norqain Independence Skeleton Chrono 8K With All-New Flyback Chronograph Calibre
Making waves in the industry since 2018, the young, family-owned, independent Swiss brand is known for creating high-performance timepieces with a distinctly adventurous spirit. Inspired by the world’s highest peaks, the Independence Skeleton Chrono 8K blends precision engineering with a visually arresting design. Featuring Norqain’s first flyback chronograph manufacture movement, this watch is made for modern-day adventurers who demand more from their watches.
Norqain Independence Skeleton Chrono 8K With All-New Flyback Chronograph Calibre
This commanding 42mm model sees the introduction of the Norqain 8K Manufacture Calibre (NK24/1), the brand’s first-ever flyback chronograph movement developed in partnership with Manufacture AMT. Under the guidance of Norqain founder Ben Küffer and legendary watch industry expert Jean-Claude Biver, the new calibre is inspired by the Eight-Thousanders, which comprises the world’s highest 14 mountains with peaks over 8,000 metres. It is a fitting name for a timepiece designed for those with a taste for life’s most demanding and rewarding experiences.
Norqain Independence Skeleton Chrono 8K With All-New Flyback Chronograph Calibre
The flyback chronograph function is made for those who need precision timing in an instant. With a single push, the chronograph resets and restarts—a feature once crucial for pilots, but now perfectly suited for the fast-paced world of athletes, sports enthusiasts or anyone who lives a life marked by speed and precision. And if you’re into the finer details, you’ll appreciate the column wheel mechanism, a hallmark of high-end chronographs that ensures the smoothest possible activation of the stopwatch function. This robust movement also boasts a 62-hour power reserve—ideal for those moments when the adventure goes beyond the day—and independent chronometer certification, ensuring that this watch is more than just a pretty face.
Norqain Independence Skeleton Chrono 8K With All-New Flyback Chronograph Calibre
The 8k calibre is further elevated by skeletonisation, transforming the entire timepiece into a three-dimensional visual spectacle. Norqain celebrates the tradition of Swiss watchmaking with bespoke touches that give the 8K its distinctive high-energy appeal. Every element is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, starting with the cutaway segments in the dial shaped to evoke the brand’s signature mountain motif. To add an unmistakable touch, the movement’s mainplate, bridges, and oscillating weight are further adorned with engravings of the Norqain double-N logo. Another standout design element is the unique graphic motif inspired by the 14 majestic peaks that make up the Eight-Thousanders, reflecting Norqain’s love for adventure and the mountains. The movement is finished with a blend of polished and sandblasted surfaces, creating a complex yet cohesive aesthetic that commands attention.
Norqain Independence Skeleton Chrono 8K With All-New Flyback Chronograph Calibre
The timepiece is offered in two captivating references. The Independence Skeleton Chrono 42mm Titanium DLC version is lightweight, tipping the scales at just under 90 grams, but with all the presence you’d expect from a luxury sports watch. Its skeletonised black dial features eye-catching purple accents, while gunmetal-plated hands and markers with lume lend it a futuristic elegant edge. Complemented by a purple rubber strap made from animal-cruelty-free materials, this model is limited to 300 pieces, each engraved with “Limited Edition One of 300” on the caseback.
Norqain Independence Skeleton Chrono 8K With All-New Flyback Chronograph Calibre
Equally impressive is the Independence Skeleton Chrono 42mm Steel variant. Featuring a black satin-finished skeletonised dial with gold-plated detailing, this model is paired with a four-link stainless steel bracelet for a more classic yet powerful presence. While this reference is not a limited edition, production will be constrained, with only 600 8K calibres available initially. A second batch is expected to be released in time for Watches and Wonders Geneva 2025.
Norqain Independence Skeleton Chrono 8K With All-New Flyback Chronograph CalibreNorqain Independence Skeleton Chrono 8K With All-New Flyback Chronograph Calibre
Both watches—the first chronographs in Norqain’s Independence collection—flaunt a prominent central chronograph seconds hand and a twin-counter layout with a 30-minute counter at 12 o’clock, and a running seconds counter at 6 o’clock. They also boast 100 metres of water-resistance, screw-down crowns, and double anti-reflective sapphire crystals for added durability and clarity. The open sapphire caseback offers a clear view of the 8K calibre, showcasing that the precision and craftsmanship within are just as remarkable as the watch’s bold design. Additionally, the signature Norqain plate on the side of the case can be personalised with custom engraving, making each watch as distinctive as the individual who wears it.
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Bvlgari, Bvlgari
Bvlgari Aluminium Black GMT, 40mm aluminium case with rubber strap, BVLGARI
You'd probably find it odd holding a Bvlgari Aluminium for the first time. You heft it in your hands, unsure of its weight. It’s undeniably metal, but the light, cool, matte aluminium feels unlike any watch you’ve encountered. Then there is the rubber bracelet, each supple piece of rubber linking to the next, softly swivelling on partially exposed joints. You can’t quite put a finger on its design either—is it a sporty watch? Contemporary? You'd wager it’d look equally at home paired with a suit though. The Bvlgari Aluminium is complex, avant-garde even, but it’s a haute horlogerie affair, and this one is unmistakably Bvlgari.
A Brief History
It’s 1998, Bvlgari, a titan of luxury, just revealed its latest collection—a luxury watch line made from two heretical materials: aluminium, a material typically relegated to soda cans, and, well, rubber. It was a defiant move that sent shockwaves rippling through the realm of haute horlogerie. Little did Bvlgari know, this one step would propel the brand into the future, and it was dragging the entire watchmaking industry along with it, whether they liked it or not. Just ask what Apple thinks of aluminium watches.
Having received acclaim as an iconic watch at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève 2020, Bvlgari finally took its celebrated timepiece out of its award case and unveiled the second generation in the same year. The Bvlgari Aluminium returns in 2024 with three new models—a black GMT model, an emerald green chronograph, and a white automatic version—and they’re arriving with upgrades.
Bvlgari Aluminium Black GMT, 40mm aluminium case with rubber strap, BVLGARI
While each differs in capabilities, all three variations share a hallmark: the unabashed “BVLGARI • BVLGARI” signature carved around the 40mm watch face—its stirring arrogance inspired by the names of past Roman emperors stamped on coins, subdued by the black velvety surface of the rubber bezel. Born out of FKM rubber—a notoriously durable material in watchmaking—its bracelet features rectangular rubber blocks held together by pivoting aluminium links. This ensures a perfect drape on your wrist, providing an airy feel absent in most rubber straps while eliminating that clingy grip on sportier days. Though powered by different calibres, all three watches have a power reserve of 42 hours and water resistance of 100m.
Bvlgari Aluminium Black GMT, 40mm aluminium case with rubber strap, BVLGARI
As the only watch widely available in the collection, the Bvlgari Aluminium Black GMT builds upon its predecessors by introducing a Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) function, flaunting its capacity for dual-time zone capabilities. This serves as a homage to the inception of the Bvlgari Aluminium when it was brazenly printed onto the fuselage of an Alitalia Boeing 747, which, of course, shared a material common between them: aluminium. Speaking of which, Bvlgari has developed an alloy of aluminium designed to be more durable than the original 1998 collection. Set against an off-white dial, the black hands with luminous sword ends stretch towards the indices surrounded by a colour-coded GMT function with red representing day and black for night. Nestled deeper lies the Calibre B192, a self-winding mechanical movement that allows adjustments for seconds, minutes, hours, GMT hands, and the date to be made through the watch’s single crown.
Mediterranean Odyssey
Bvlgari Aluminium Chronograph Smeraldo, 40mm aluminium case with rubber strap, BVLGARI
In a nod to its Italian heritage, the limited-edition Chronograph Smeraldo draws inspiration from the alluring island of Capri. The name of the game is la dolce vita: picture yourself at the heart of Capri, wading in the turquoise water of the Marina Grande. The sand, so fine it feels like powdered sugar squishing between your toes. As you venture deeper, the water deepens just enough to lap at your calves. The water shimmering like shattered gemstones, an impossible emerald so vivid it seems to hold the entire sky itself captive. Here, you feel only the sun on your skin, the cool embrace of the water, and you let the breeze carry your soul into the ocean.
This scene is brought to life in the Chronograph Smeraldo that’s limited to just 1,000 pieces. Now, let’s talk design. Dark green dominates here, unifying the bezel and rubber bracelet to form a cohesive theme. Dark green hands sweep across a gradient dial, transitioning from white to turquoise—a reflection of the Capri coastline. The chronograph counters echo the same palette, hammering home the elegance and essence of an Italian summer. Just as the sun's energy fuels life on Earth, the automatic B130 mechanical movement powers the chronograph and date function of the watch. An engraving of the compass rose adorns the aluminium caseback, ready to rest flush against skin.
Bvlgari Aluminium White Automatic, 40mm aluminium case with rubber strap, BLVGARI
The White Automatic completes the 2024 Bvlgari Aluminium trilogy, embodying a blend of minimalist elegance and unflinching boldness, while capturing whispers of the Colosseum’s grandeur all at once. Perhaps the most striking piece in the collection, this limited edition watch evokes the spirit of '90s Bvlgari being draped in all white, mirroring the brand’s audacity back in 1998 during its initial release. The inspiration from ancient Roman coins is magnified by a sleek, one-toned aluminium white dial, creating an honest canvas that complements the splash of red added by the seconds hand. Rhodium-plated indexes and hands treated with Super-LumiNova® only add to the grandeur. Legibility is close to perfection with this timepiece, featuring the classic Bvlgari touch of a 12 and 6, and a clean date display at 3 o’clock. The White Automatic owes its soul to the Calibre B77, the reliable automatic mechanical movement that energised its predecessors.
From the functionality of the Black GMT to the Italian charm of the Chronograph Smeraldo and the minimalist Roman grandeur of the White Automatic, each Bvlgari Aluminium is a conversation starter. On its own, it's a watch that serves as a statement, a bold declaration that luxury can be redefined, that elegance can be found in the unexpected. But on your wrist, it’s a watch that not only speaks for itself as a symbol of supreme confidence in one's own artistry, but also one that undoubtedly screams Bvlgari, Bvlgari.
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Quartz Watches: What They are and How They Work
There are several types of watch mechanisms. Alongside mechanical and automatic ones, there are quartz watches, which exploit the piezoelectric properties of this mineral to make the hands of the watch move in a regular rhythm. Characterised by a high level of precision, due to regularity of the oscillations of the quartz crystal, the quartz watch is available in many models, ideal for satisfying all requirements of taste and style. Below we will discover together how they work and how to find the perfect model for your style.
The Origin of Quartz Watches
To find out when watches equipped with this mechanism were born, it is necessary to go back a little in time and, more precisely, to the 1920s, when, in the United States, Horton and Morrison invented the quartz movement: it was 1927. Twelve years later, in 1939, the mechanism found its first practical application for calculating time at the Greenwich Observatory.
Several more years were to pass before the mechanism became small enough to be used inside wristwatches. This important step took place in the 1960s and opened the door to the production of increasingly accurate quartz watches.
How They Work
But how exactly does the mechanism of a quartz watch work? To begin with, this type of timepiece always requires the presence of a tiny capsule containing a thin quartz crystal in the shape of a tuning fork and a battery.
The latter transmits electric current to the crystal and causes it to vibrate at a frequency generally equal to 32,768 oscillations per second or 32,768 Hertz. This frequency, passing through the drive circuit and motor, sets the hands in motion, ensuring precise and constant movement.
How to Choose a Quartz Watch
On the market, it is possible to find many models of watches with quartz mechanism, for both men and women. In order to find the right one, several factors need to be taken into account, starting with the style, which can be either sporty, thus perfect to complete a casual look, or elegant, ideal to wear on formal occasions or to give an extra touch to casual chic outfits.
Elements to consider include the type of strap, shape, colour, materials, dial size and, last but not least, the presence of additional functions (or complications), such as date and chronograph.
It is also essential to take into account the cost, which must be within your budget, and the price-quality ratio.
The Elegance of Quartz Watches
If you want to show off an accurate, high-quality quartz watch that is made of stainless steel, also with yellow or red PVD coating, and equipped with a steel or leather strap, they owe their high quality and inimitable design to the long history they have behind them. Among the perfect models to complete men's looks are those with strong, elegant lines and high performance, equipped with a round case and date display. Sportier and solid, but no less elegant, are the water-resistant models equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel, you can opt for a model of the renowned Swiss brand with the winged hourglass.
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