With an industry that dates back centuries and honors traditions, it's no surprise that anniversaries are celebrated in style. And honestly, if we do it right, we won't complain. This year, several brands paid homage to watchmaking milestones like a clockwork, from the 250th anniversary of a watchmaking institute to the 20th anniversary of a then-groundbreaking watch and more. And judging by these six events, which we think are some of the very best festive events of the year, it was a very historic year for a number of reasons!
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Fifty
We start with the aptly named “Fifty” edition of the Girard-Perregaux Laureato, celebrating the 50th anniversary of this legendary sports watch. Launched in 1975, the company was among the first to define this new style and has earned its place in history. While it took until 1995 for the Laureato to become mechanical and for the design to evolve in many directions, the Laureato DNA has stood the test of time. This Laureato Fifty is available in stainless steel and yellow gold, with a gray Clous de Paris dial, GP's new in-house caliber GP4800 and a two-tone integrated bracelet with a micro-adjustable folding clasp. Only 200 pieces will be made and the price is 25,000 francs.
For more information, visit Girard-Perregaux.com.
Quick facts – 39 mm x 9.8 mm – Brushed and polished stainless steel case – Yellow gold bezel – Sapphire crystal front and back – 150 water resistance – Sunray gray dial – Clous de Paris guilloche pattern – Luminous yellow gold hour markers and hands – GP4800 caliber, in-house automatic – Skeleton rotor – 28,800 vibrations per hour – 55 hour power reserve – Hours, Minutes, seconds, date – integrated bracelet made of steel and yellow gold – folding clasp with micro-adjustment system – limited to 200 pieces – 25,000 francs
Vacheron Constantin Traditional Tourbillon perpetual calendar
The biggest watchmaking milestone this year comes from Vacheron Constantin as the Maison celebrated its monumental 270-year legacy. With several celebratory watches released throughout the year, let's take a look at the Traditional Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar. This extremely sophisticated and complex watch is a true example of Vacheron Constantin craftsmanship and features a special hand-guilloche anniversary motif on the solid gold dial. The movement and its decoration are stunning, with a tourbillon escapement and peripheral rotor being just two of the highlights. Limited to 127 pieces, price on request.
For more information, visit Vacheron-Constantin.com.
Quick facts – 42 mm x 11.1 mm – 950 platinum case, fluted and polished – Sapphire crystal front and back – 30 m water resistant – Silvery white solid gold dial – Anniversary guilloche motif – White gold markers and hands – Perpetual calendar display – Exposed tourbillon escapement – Manufacture caliber 2162 QP/270 – Automatic with peripheral rotor – 18,000 vibrations per hour – 72 hours of power reserve – 324 individual parts – dark blue alligator leather strap with platinum folding clasp – limited to 127 pieces – Price on request
Classic Breguet subscription 2025
Speaking of true watchmaking milestones, Breguet celebrated its 250th anniversary in style this year. Not only were we able to see re-editions of the famous Type 20/XX, but also anniversary editions of the Tradition, Marine and Classique (to name a few). However, the star of the show has to be the Classique Souscription 2025. A homage to AL Breguet's Souscription pocket watch, it features a single hand rotating over a white Grand Feu enamel dial in a Breguet gold case. The construction of the movement is also similar to the 1796 pocket watch and is completely breathtaking. It will be added to the permanent collection for a price of 52,800 euros.
For more information, visit Breguet.com.
Quick facts – 40 mm x 10.8 mm – 18K Breguet gold case, brushed and polished – Sapphire crystal caseback front and back – 30 m water resistance – White Grand Feu enamel dial – Single blued central Breguet hand – Black Petit Feu enamel numerals and logo – Caliber VS00, in-house – Hand-wound – 144 components – 21,600 vibrations per hour – 96 hour power reserve – navy blue alligator leather strap with gold Breguet pin buckle – permanent collection, individually numbered – 52,800 euros
Chopard LUC quality Fleurier 20
Chopard celebrated something other than the brand's birth year, as the LUC Qualité Fleurier 20th Anniversary Edition celebrates the most demanding Swiss industry certification, the Qualité Fleurier seal of approval. This homage to Chopard's first QF-certified watch is available in yellow gold and brown. The sculpted lugs coupled with a wonderful two-tone dial make for a very unusual yet devilishly captivating watch. The in-house caliber LUC 96.09-L with two spring barrels arranged one above the other for a running time of 65 hours and a micro rotor as a drive pass brilliantly. The price is limited to only 20 pieces 33,000 euros.
For more information, visit Chopard.com.
Quick facts – 39 mm x 8.92 mm – ethical 18K yellow gold case, polished and brushed – sapphire crystal front and back – 30 m water resistance – two-tone sector dial – brown chapter ring with applied gold markers – gold hands with SLN – caliber LUC 96.09-L, in-house – micro-rotor automatic – COSC and QF certified – 172 components – 28,800 vibrations per hour – 65 hours of power reserve – brown calf leather strap with yellow gold pin buckle – limited edition of 20 pieces – 33,000 euros
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Chronograph RD#5
Celebrating 150 years of watchmaking under the Audemars Piguet name, the Royal Oak Jumbo Chronograph RD#5 completely reimagines the design of a mechanical chronograph mechanism. Using the Royal Oak platform, the RD#5 presents a radical reinterpretation of the chronograph with a unique tactile experience. When starting the chronograph, energy is stored instead of being drawn from the main gear, ensuring precise and smooth start-up. This is all very clever, and we explain it in detail in our hands-on, including video, here. This limited edition of 150 pieces, one for each year the brand exists, costs 260,000 CHF.
For more information, visit AudemarsPiguet.com.
Quick facts – 39 mm x 8.1 mm – Case made of titanium and solid metal glass – Pushers and function selection chip – Front and back made of sapphire crystal – 20 m water resistant – Blue dial with Petite Tapisserie pattern – Applied gold hour markers and hands – Flying tourbillon at 6′ – Caliber AP 8100, in-house movement – Automatic with peripheral rotor – Completely revised chronograph mechanism – Integrated titanium and BMG bracelet with AP folding clasp – limited edition of 150 pieces – 260,000 CHF
Hublot Big Bang 20th Anniversary
If there's one thing that can be said about the original Hublot Big Bang, it's that it was a very head-turning watch when it was introduced. It surpassed the original concept of Carlo Crocco's porthole-like design with a 44.5mm diameter case made of titanium and ceramic, which was rather exotic at the time. The layered construction was eye-catching to say the least and became a huge success. This year, to mark the 20th anniversary of the original Big Bang, Hublot presented a series of limited editions that combine the 2005 Big Bang design with modern elements such as the in-house Unico Flyback chronograph movement in a 42mm case. This titanium and black ceramic is the most faithful to the original design and limited to 500 pieces. The price is at 21,600 euros.
For more information, visit Hublot.com.
Quick facts – 42 mm x 13.2 mm – titanium case, brushed and polished – black ceramic bezel with functional screws – sapphire crystal front and back – 100 m water resistant – checkered embossed dial, black – black sub-dials with red details – applied markers and hands with SLN – caliber HUB1280, manufacture – automatic flyback chronograph – 28,800 vibrations per hour – 72 hour power reserve – interchangeable black rubber strap with diamond pattern – folding clasp – limited to 500 pieces – 21,600 euros
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