
The Year Ahead for The Watchmaking World by Issac Sultan Cohen
Jan 13
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As we enter 2025, the world of horology is up for a treat with a packed year full of anniversaries, not just brand anniversaries but watch models, honoring endurance, and craftsmanship excellence. From Czapek Geneve’s 10th anniversary of their relaunch, after the death of their founder, to Rolex’s 120th anniversary, Audemars Piguet (AP)
150th anniversary, Zenith's 160th, Breguet celebrating 250 years, Vacheron Constantin achieving a remarkable 270 years of continuous operation, and Blancpain's 290th.

While all these anniversaries are noteworthy, some resonate more deeply with me and, I suspect, other horologists. For instance, Breguet has been less prominent in recent years, so its activities and launches for its 250thyear will be telling in many ways. Audemars Piguet tends to take any excuse to release “special editions,” however their 150th anniversary is a genuine milestone that deserves recognition. Similarly, Czapek’s anniversary, in my opinion, is particularly special despite some of their lines being excessively produced, aka the Antartique range, there’s no denying that what Czapek is doing is beautiful and innovative.
Moving beyond brands to individual watches, watch anniversaries serve to contrast where the watch began, to where they are now, and give us insights into the future of horological designs.
The roster of noteworthy timepiece anniversaries includes Tudor’s North Flag line, discontinued in 2021 but marking its 10th anniversary since its release, could see a revival. Their Prince chronograph hits 30 years, while Hublot’s distinctive Big Bang turns 20. The James Bond-Omega partnership reaches its third decade, and Girard-Perregaux’s Laureato celebrates half a century. Perhaps most significantly, several Rolex milestones loom: the GMT Master celebrates 70 years, and the iconic DATEJUST reaches its 80th year. IWC’s Ingenieur line marks seven decades of innovation.

In horology, as in life, not every anniversary demands a celebration, and brands should be mindful of their releases. Especially as independent watchmakers continue to set industry trends, and in doing so, reshape our expectations of heritage brands. For those of us who collect these timepieces, the current trends and anniversaries are not merely opportunities to acquire new additions to our collections. They are moments to celebrate the artistry, the stories, and the human ingenuity that tick behind every watch face.