Fratello Favorites: The Best Watches Of 2025 — Thomas’s Picks From Berneron, Louis Vuitton, Angelus, And More

It’s that time of year again! I have the pleasure of kicking off a new series of Fratello Favorites. This time, our writers will cover their selections of the best watches of 2025. We’ll each pick our five favorites from the hundreds of watches released this year.

Naturally, this makes our lists completely personal and subjective. Your mileage will surely vary. Now, without further ado, let’s jump into my five winners of 2025, in no particular order!

The best watches of 2025 — Pick #1: Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 in steel

Let me kick off my list of the best watches of 2025 with one you will probably see on other writers’ lists in the near future. Vacheron Constantin already had a winner with the re-released 222 in full gold, but I like this year’s steel version even more.

The steel case has a 37mm diameter, a 45.3mm length, and a 7.95mm thickness. The proportions couldn’t have been any better in my book. The design sings to me even more than the full-gold version. I love the way the golden Maltese cross contrasts the cool steel and blue theme, for instance. Speaking of blue, the matte dial looks so cool. Vacheron kept it simple and clean, and it’s all the more impactful as a result.

Inside ticks the automatic caliber 2455/2, complete with the Hallmark of Geneva. The movement offers a fairly standard 40 hours of autonomy at a 28,800 vibrations per hour beat rate. That’s all well and good, but the steel Historiques 222 made it onto my list of favorites thanks to its delicious ’70s design. If you wish to make it yours, you will have to part ways with €35,500 of your hard-earned cash.

Pick #2: IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Top Gun Mojave Desert

My second pick for the best watches of 2025 dates back to June. IWC gave the basic 41mm Pilot’s Watch a ceramic makeover. You can have your choice of white or beige; my pick is the beige one.

Admittedly, the Top Gun Mojave is far from perfect. The date is a bit intrusive, the crown could have been ceramic, and I could certainly live without the Top Gun branding on the backside. Lastly, the price of €9,200 makes little sense to me. Still, the watch made it to my list for one simple reason: I want one.

I find the color scheme supremely cool. This watch and a jean jacket are a match made in horological heaven. I also love IWC’s fabric-and-rubber strap. Caliber 32112 inside this Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 offers 120 hours of power reserve. That should suffice to bridge the days between suitable outfits to pair with this fashionable little number.

The best watches of 2025 — Pick #3: Angelus Chronographe Télémètre Steel Rose

If you follow my writing, you saw this one coming. The Angelus Chronographe Télémètre was the first on my shortlist for the best watches of 2025. I was particularly enamored with the steel version with the rose dial. This watch made it to our headquarters in May, and I spent some very pleasurable time with it.

The Chronographe Télémètre Steel Rose has absolutely perfect proportions, with a 37mm diameter, a 44mm lug-to-lug, and a 9.25mm profile. That’s unheard of in the world of ébauche-caliber chronographs. This one, however, uses a modified La Joux-Perret 5000-4. This monopusher chronograph caliber gives this Angelus model its distinct cross-eyed look, which I love. The movement is also a bit of a looker, providing the owner a magnificent view through the sapphire display in the case back.

This all comes at a cost. The steel version goes for CHF 17,900, which is a lot. Still, to me, the watch looks and feels like no other, making it utterly desirable.

Pick #4: Louis Vuitton Tambour Convergence in rose gold

For my fourth pick for the best watches of 2025, we go back to January. Louis Vuitton surprised friend and foe with the Tambour Convergence, a montre à guichet. As I write this, I spot a theme in my selections: four of the five picks have 37–38mm cases. For years, we have cried out for this size, and it seems our prayers are now being answered. This Louis V. pairs its 37mm diameter with a lithe 8mm thickness, meaning it’s another winner in terms of ergonomics and subtlety.

The star of the show here is the rose gold case with its narrow apertures at 12 o’clock. The hours and minutes pass on two rotating discs, with a lozenge-shaped marker discreetly indicating the time. The Convergence shines in elegance, from the suave case shape to the sculpted apertures and the typography on the discs. It all looks very neat and appealing.

Inside ticks the in-house automatic caliber LFT MA01.01. It achieves 45 hours of autonomy while ticking away at 28,800 vibrations per hour. The movement is neatly decorated and visible through the case back’s sapphire display. All this style does not come cheap, though, as this Tambour Convergence costs a whopping €37,000. Still, it is easily one of my favorite releases of the year.

The best watches of 2025 — Pick #5: Berneron Quantième Annuel

I might have just saved the best for last. My final pick for the best watches of 2025 is the Berneron Quantième Annuel. This masterpiece features a platinum case with a 38mm diameter, a 10mm thickness, and a 45mm lug-to-lug. Again, these are perfect proportions in my book.

This annual calendar offers some neat innovations. It protects the movement from date-setting mistakes, for instance. Interestingly, the platinum case also features a 904L stainless steel removable armor, which can be replaced during service. Next, there is the amazing-looking dial and movement, the latter of which sits behind a classical hunter-style case back.

Lastly, Berneron innovates in terms of its business model. Employees co-own the business, and salaries are capped with a maximum ratio between the highest- and lowest-paid employees. Furthermore, Berneron announces its production and releases years ahead, including fixed production numbers and price hikes for each year. It’s a forward-thinking and transparent strategy. Those who secured a Quantième Annuel for 2026 or 2027 paid CHF 120,000 or 130,000, respectively. Currently, allocations are open for the 24 examples the brand will produce in  2028, each for CHF 140,000.

Closing thoughts

There you have it — the five best watches of 2025 in my humble opinion. Looking back, I see more elegance and high watchmaking than in previous years. I always tend to pick one or two dive watches, but I haven’t seen one I like enough this year.

I enjoy the fact that brands gave more attention to their watches’ designs in 2025. It seems we dare to celebrate beauty and style without going to extremes. If this is a sign of things to come in 2026, I am on board!

What are the best watches of 2025 in your eyes? Let us know in the comments section below!