Fratello Favorites: The Best Watches Of 2025 — Daan’s Picks From MB&F, Parmigiani Fleurier, Tissot, And More

Finally, it’s my turn to tell you about my picks for the best watches of 2025. Several of my colleagues have already published theirs. Some chose watches that I’d also scribbled down for my list. Luckily, though, there were many great releases this year, so I’m happy to report that I can still highlight five of them that haven’t been mentioned as favorites yet. There are some rather pricey watches on the list, but there were also great releases on the more affordable end of the spectrum.

Before I get to my top five, I’ll touch on some of my colleagues’ favorites, as these watches might also have been on my list. Both Lex and Jorg already featured the Laventure Marine Type 3, but I’m not ashamed to mention it here, once again. I find its technical look, full-lume dial, and titanium case irresistible. Thomas surprised me by picking the IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Top Gun Mojave Desert. It might be a bit too big for my wrist, but I completely agree with him; I also want one!

Thomas also mentioned the Angelus Chronographe Télémètre, which was one of my highlights from Watches and Wonders this year. I’d happily wear the yellow gold version with the grainy white-nickel dial. All right, let’s get to my actual list of favorites.

The best watches of 2025 — Pick #1: Parmigiani Toric Quantième Perpétual in platinum with a Morning Blue dial

My absolute favorite meeting this year at Watches and Wonders was the one with Parmigiani Fleurier. There were so many watches to try out during that session, and they were all so good. The original designs, great finishing, and sophisticated colors all stood out to me. In the real world, I’d probably end up with the 36mm Tonda PF Automatic with a Stone Blue dial someday. However, if I had unlimited funds, I’d most definitely go for the Toric Quantième Perpétuel.

The 40.6mm platinum case fits my 17cm wrist exceptionally well, and the matte and grainy Morning Blue dial looks stunning with its polished bevels. It’s probably also one of the cleanest dials ever created for a QP. I even like the fact that the sub-dials sit more toward the bottom. In combination with the PF logo at 12 o’clock, their placement balances out the dial so well. Finally, the hand-wound movement is beautifully finished. I’ll probably never spend €100k on a watch, but if I ever do, the platinum Parmigiani Toric Quantième Perpétuel will be a strong contender.

Pick #2: MB&F SP One

On my way to spending €100k, though, there might be another tempting candidate. It’s also platinum with a blue “dial” — well, a flange — but it features an almost completely open-worked 38mm case. The SP One is the closest MB&F will probably ever get to creating a dress watch, and it’s fabulous. My mouth was already watering when I read Dave’s article based on the press release. But when I saw these two pieces during Geneva Watch Days, I was sold.

I like MB&F’s daring designs in general, but I’m not sure if I’d ever wear one of the more extreme ones. However, the SP One is the perfect combination of a classic round watch with regular lugs and one of the brand’s horological machines. As Dave mentioned, the lack of a dial and the movement’s construction will keep quite a lot of wrist skin visible, but I don’t mind that detail. Besides, I’d probably take the SP One off my wrist all the time to look at it and proudly show it to others.

The best watches of 2025 — Pick #3: Sartory Billard × Studio Underd0g SB05 Sunfl0wer

You might know I’m a sucker for guilloché dials. I can look endlessly into the depths of my Breguet 5907’s silvered gold hand-guilloché dial. When we were packing for Watches and Wonders, Sartory Billard and Studio Underd0g released their SB05 Sunflower. The idea of a watch with a sunflower on the dial sounds quite cheesy and could’ve gone horribly wrong. However, I think the SB05 Sunflower was executed so well.

The gold and brown tones on the dial were perfectly chosen, and the guilloché pattern added significantly to the sunflower design. I also loved the green stems on the hour and minute hands. Again, it could have quickly gone over the line and become childish, but this somehow managed to maintain sophistication. It’s also a shout-out to Richard Benc and his brand, Studio Underd0g, which consistently surprises us with fun and interesting collaborations. Unfortunately, the SB05 Sunfl0wer was a 10-piece limited edition that sold out in a wink.

Pick #4: Echo/Neutra Rivanera Piccolo

I’ve gradually been moving downward in price and am now reaching the more affordable range. Last year, Echo/Neutra left us flabbergasted with its original Rivanera. The rectangular titanium case surprised us all in a very positive way. However, its 40mm lug-to-lug was also slightly too long for my wrist. Luckily, the Italian brand returned with a smaller version this year, the Rivanera Piccolo.

The Rivanera Piccolo on Jorg’s 18.5cm wrist

Its 33mm lug span is absolutely perfect for my 17cm wrist, and I love the version with the Musou Black dial. I still want to see what it looks like on non-black straps, as I’m usually not a fan of all-black watches on my wrist. However, as it stands, it’s already very desirable. I also appreciate the fact that it follows the trend of dressier watches with automatic movements. It’s just so much more convenient in our busy daily lives.

The best watches of 2025 — Pick #5: Tissot PRX Titanium 38mm

For my final pick, I think Tissot deserves a mention with its 38mm PRX in titanium. Unfortunately, we didn’t receive the blue-dial version for review, as that would have been my pick. However, this watch makes so much sense. For me, the 35mm PRX is a tad too small, but the 40mm PRX never felt right on my wrist either. The new 38mm version is precisely the right size, and the choice of titanium makes this a real enthusiast’s option.

I haven’t bought one yet because I suspect my Rolex Explorer 114270 would be some tough competition for wrist time. Nevertheless, it’s tough to resist. I can already imagine this as the perfect summer watch. This lightweight PRX is water resistant to 100 meters, features a comfortable 80-hour power reserve, and boasts a summery blue dial. What else do you need?

Honorable mentions

So, those were my absolute favorites, but there were many more watches on my long list, of course. Some of those also deserve a mention. What about the anOrdain Model 2 featuring a beautiful black porcelain field-watch-like dial? I also appreciate how this watch makes the brand’s creations more readily available to fans. By the way, anOrdain’s sister brand, Paulin, also deserves a mention with its playful yet very serious Mara Dive watch.

Then, there’s Serica, an all-time favorite of mine. With the recently introduced 6190 TXD, the brand demonstrates its commitment to continually improving its watches with each iteration. The 6190 is an excellent package, boasting a slim profile, an automatic movement, and an excellent tuxedo-style dial, making it a no-brainer at that price point.

All right, a few more…

Another Watches and Wonders favorite was the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph collection. Sure, at almost €2,000, these watches might be a bit pricey, but they look like a lot of fun on the wrist and are super convenient with their solar-powered quartz movement inside. My favorite is the one with the black bezel, white dial, black rubber strap, and numerals at 6, 9, and 12 o’clock. I think it was a limited edition and might already be sold out by now, but there are plenty of other great versions out there.

Then, there was the Singer Caballero with its four-barrel movement. Singer’s watches often already look unlike anything else on the market, and with the Caballero, the brand did it again. The combination of the glassy dial, fluted chapter ring, and funky sword hands gives it such an original look. Many people couldn’t stand the four jewels peeking through the dial, but I happen to enjoy that look behind the scenes.

Finally, I’d like to applaud Ming’s Polymesh 3D-printed titanium bracelet/strap. I recently experienced it in person at Ace Jewelers in Amsterdam, and it’s awesome. I’d seen a 3D-printed bracelet at Holthinrichs, but this Polymesh by Ming feels almost like fabric. It caught my attention and also made me want to examine the brand’s watches in more detail.

Getting ready for more!

Wow, looking back on 2025, I realize it has been an excellent year for watch releases. Even though the market slowed down a bit, brands still dared to present us with some great watches. Now it’s time for a little holiday break, but I already can’t wait to see what they’ll bring us next year.

What about you, dear Fratelli? What were your favorite watches of 2025, and what are you looking forward to in 2026? Let me know in the comments below.