The Best Watches Of 2025 — RJ’s Picks From Breguet, Chopard, Rolex, And More

We’ve almost reached the end of 2025, and what a year it was for horology! First of all, I have the feeling it really flew by. It started with a bang when LVMH hosted its watch week last January, and just last week, I returned to Paris for Breguet’s 250th-anniversary celebration.

My picks for the best watches of 2025

In between, it was a busy year with exhibitions (Watches and Wonders, Geneva Watch Days, WatchTime NYC, Dubai Watch Week, and many more) and brand-organized events. Luckily, at Fratello, we have a relatively large team that can cover most of these exhibitions and events.

But what did all this activity bring us? Well, 2025 was an excellent year for watches. We’ve seen numerous cool new releases from both big and small brands that fulfill nearly all the needs of those who love watches.

When Nacho asked me to compile a list of my favorites from 2025, I wondered where to begin. I’ve been collecting watches for over 25 years now, and my taste has evolved. It hasn’t changed drastically, but I’ve learned I am leaning a bit more toward dress watches now.

While I used to love watches with as many complications as possible, I’d rather keep it simple these days. As you will see, there are not many affordable pieces on this list, but I’ve also come to the point where I don’t need to be able to purchase a watch to enjoy or appreciate it. I’ve come to peace with the fact that I won’t be able to own all the watches I love. This also doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a nice microbrand watch or a more affordable one, but this list only includes those watches that wowed me.

Rolex Land-Dweller

Let’s start with the obvious — the Rolex Land-Dweller! The news had already leaked before Watches and Wonders, but it was a surprise to see the development of the new Rolex movement. It’s a high-frequency (36,000vph) caliber with a new escapement composed mainly of silicon parts, as well as a ceramic balance staff, resulting in more than a dozen new patents filed for this caliber 7136.

However, aside from its technical achievements, the design is primarily based on the Oysterquartz case and bracelet, which are now making a comeback. The Rolex Datejust 1530 used this design in 1974, and from 1977 to 2003, Rolex used a similar case and bracelet design for its Oysterquartz line. The new Land-Dweller is a new collection, and I expect Rolex to expand it in the coming years with additional dial colors and material choices. I have seen and tried the new Land-Dweller several times now, and I like it so much that it makes me forget about its name (which I don’t like).

Omega Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon

I remain a Speedmaster guy, and although my collection consists mainly of Moonwatch variations, this new Grey Side of the Moon would be one I would happily add to it. The gray ceramic is less dramatic than the black (Dark Side of the Moon) models, and the laser-engraved caliber 3869 brings storytelling and watchmaking together like peanut butter and banana. It looks great on the new fabric strap, but I had a blast wearing it on the soft rubber strap with a folding clasp.

In all honesty, I had to get used to the somewhat busy dial after wearing the Dark Vader variation in the days leading up to it, but I quickly adjusted! Even with its 44.25mm case, the Grey Side of the Moon is easy for me to wear, as the dry specifications are somewhat deceiving, I feel. It wears just slightly bigger than my 42mm Moonwatch models on my 18cm wrist.

A special mention should go out to the Planet Ocean 600M, though. I only wanted to pick one watch per brand, and this Speedmaster prevails in my book. But the Planet Ocean was a pleasant surprise, especially the orange and blue variations on stainless steel bracelets. These are the first Planet Oceans I genuinely like, and I will definitely consider buying one next year.

Chopard L.U.C Qualité Fleurier 20th Anniversary Edition

Chopard has been on a roll in the past few years, and this new L.U.C Qualité Fleurier 20th Anniversary Edition ticked a lot of boxes for me. I love its case shape, especially the individually welded lugs. The gold and brown dial looks fantastic, creating a beautiful classic dress watch. Inside is Chopard’s L.U.C 96.09-L movement, entirely developed and manufactured in-house. There’s nothing I don’t like about this watch, front or back. Chopard introduced more watches in 2025 that I found interesting, whether it was for their dial designs or mechanical complications, but this simple three-hand dress watch stood out for me.

Piaget Polo 79

My absolute favorite watch of 2024 was the yellow gold Piaget Polo 79. It was completely over the top with its heavy gold case and bracelet, both of which featured its signature gadroons. Think of the TV series Heart to Heart, Dynasty, or simply a Mercedes SL from the 1980s, and that watch would make a perfect companion. In 2025, after many customers’ requests, Piaget introduced the same model in white gold. I have to say, although yellow gold is a bit louder, the white gold version looks just as good!

Patek Philippe Calatrava 6196P

The entire Fratello team agrees on how nice this introduction from Patek Philippe was during Watches and Wonders 2025. What an impressive successor to the classic reference 5196(P), with a 38mm platinum case and a salmon dial. Whereas I found myself more interested in the Nautilus and Aquanaut for many years, today, my pick would be a dressier watch, such as a neo-vintage 3940 or this Calatrava 6196P.

Singer Heritage Chronograph

Singer Reimagined was never really on my radar, although my colleagues have raved about the brand’s chronographs for years. It’s not that I wasn’t impressed by the designs or movements, but I was more focused on other watches. Then, in 2024, I saw the Divetrack for the first time when Singer exhibited in the Beau Rivage in Geneva. I was blown away! It’s an incredibly cool piece of engineering and design, making it a very different dive watch (and I am usually not even close to the water). It’s a high-horology PloProf, and I am saying this with the utmost respect for both the PloProf and the Singer Divetrack. It was easily one of my favorites of 2024!

This year, Singer brought us the Heritage Chronograph, housing a vintage Valjoux 236 chronograph movement, completely revised, reworked, and fitted into a watch with the typical Singer design language. It’s a 39mm chronograph with two counters, mushroom-shaped pushers, and a flat winding crown. The Heritage Chronograph was first available with a black or green dial, and a small batch of 10 pieces with red dials debuted for the Dubai Watch Week exhibition. Another Singer watch worth mentioning is the Caballero, featuring a beautiful, newly constructed movement with a substantial six-day power reserve.

Daniel Roth Extra Plat Souscription

Just like the Piaget Polo 79, here’s another returning customer to this list of the best watches of the year. The Daniel Roth Extra Plat Souscription in 18K yellow gold is a pleasant-wearing dress watch, measuring just 35.5mm wide, 38.6mm long, and 7.7mm thick. The non-Souscription version in red gold is also beautiful, but I prefer the all-gold case back of the yellow gold Souscription model.

The new Daniel Roth watches are manufactured by La Fabrique du Temps, a subsidiary of LVMH. However, each new model is first presented to Daniel Roth himself, who sold his company back in 2000.

Breguet Classique Phase de Lune 7235

This year, Breguet seems to be rising from its long winter sleep. Nicolas Hayek purchased the brand from Investcorp by Nicolas Hayek in 1999 for 200 million Swiss francs. Hayek Sr. had ambitious plans for Breguet, and with the reproduction of the Marie-Antoinette watch and the introduction of the Tradition collection in 2005, Breguet made significant strides. Without rehashing the history of this majestic Haute Horlogerie brand too much, as Lex did so here, I will just write that I am deeply impressed with what recently appointed CEO Gregory Kissling has accomplished. Hayek Sr. would have been immensely proud, I am sure.

To celebrate the brand’s 250th anniversary this year, Kissling and his team went all out with beautiful new watches. The Souscription 2025 watch even won the GPHG “Aiguille d’Or” prize, and I am sure that this watch was not only voted for just that (the watch), but also because it is Breguet. Everyone, including competing brands, has huge respect for this old brand and wants it to succeed. This prize and the new collection will hopefully help Breguet reach new heights and attain the commercial success that accompanies it.

My absolute favorite watch of 2025

My favorite Breguet of this year wasn’t the Souscription 2025 or the impressive Expérimentale 1. No, it was the Classique 7235. Paying tribute to a 1794 watch (Breguet No. 5), this Classique in Breguet gold features a gold ton-sur-ton dial accompanied by a beautiful moonphase indicator and an exceptionally mesmerizing hand-guilloché motif. If I had to pick one favorite watch from 2025, it would be this Classique Phase de Lune 7235.

I could have selected some more watches that I thoroughly enjoyed seeing and trying this year, such as the Blancpain Grand Double Sonnerie, JLC’s full-gold Reverso, the new Girard-Perregaux Laurato Fifty, or the recently introduced Lange 1 Daymatic in Honeygold. Still, I will keep it to these eight. Let me know about your favorites of 2025 in the comments below.