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5 conversation-starting watches from Watches and Wonders 2025

Watches & Wonders 2025’s Wildest Releases: From Ultra-Thin Marvels to Meteorite Dials

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Visitors during Watches and Wonders GENEVA, in Geneva, Switzerland, Saturday, April 5, 2025. The Master Event of the Watches and Wonders ecosystem brings together the leading names of the Watchmaking and luxury industry from April 1 to April 7, 2025 at Geneva Palexpo.
(WWGF/KEYSTONE/Cyril Zingaro)

From avant-garde timepieces to designs that defied the current traditional aesthetics to watchmaking, Watches & Wonder 2025 presented some of the most stunning and record-shattering feats of engineering. This year’s presentation was all about stepping outside the norms and challenging boundaries that sparked conversation, innovation, and the recalibration of the rules. Notable debuts this year included one of the thinnest tourbillons ever and a few futuristic-looking dials, with the following just some of the astonishing watches from Watches & Wonders 2025 releases that redefined the definition of horological luxury.

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon
Bulgari

Expectations are to be defied, boundaries to be pushed, and Bulgari has once again set the bar high and then raised it with their latest release, the Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon. Pushing the boundaries of watchmaking craftsmanship at a world-breaking 1.85mm, it now holds the title of world’s thinnest tourbillon watch. This micro-engineering achievement was made possible due in part to extreme skeletonization and the integration of the movement directly into the main plate. This latest release goes grand technically with the incorporation of tourbillon mechanisms at the tiniest of dimensions. The overall process necessitates near-perfection as any slight of hand can impact the structural integrity. Powering this watchmaking feat is a manually wound BVF 900 caliber, a COSC-certified movement that proves that ultra-thin models are also capable of precision and performance.

  • Case Size: 40 mm
  • Case Material: Titanium lugs, bezel, and middle case. Tungsten carbide main plate. Time-setting wheels and winding in stainless steel.
  • Power Reserve: 50 hours
  • Strap: Sandblasted titanium bracelet
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Piaget’s Andy Warhol

Piaget Andy Warhol
Piaget

Releasing the Andy Warhol ‘Clou de Paris’ in 1972 was a stroke of artistic genius, and Piaget went one step further by introducing two more gem-centric versions of the timepiece. The first features an opal dial framed by round-cut blue sapphires and three concentric rows of baguette-cut diamonds, and the second features a tiger’s dial with a minimalist look. To paraphrase the great Warhol, everyone must have more than one fantasy. 

  • Case Size: 43 mm x 45 mm
  • Case Material: 18-karat white gold
  • Power Reserve: 40 hours
  • Strap: Dark blue and brown alligator straps
  • Price: Starting from $51,000 for the tiger’s eye, $421,000 for the blue sapphire edition

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Shahnameh’

Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Shahnameh’
Jaeger-LeCoultre

The brand’s most beloved model, the Reverso, had several new releases this year, but the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Shahnameh’ required 100 hours of work when it came to the creation of each caseback. This model delves back to ancient Persian times through hand-painted enamel that is now featured on these limited editions. (There are four different timepieces featuring four different paintings with 10 pieces each.) The paintings depict illustrations from the Persian epic poem, Shahnameh. 

  • Case Material: 18-karat white gold
  • Power reserve: 42 hours
  • Strap: Black alligator

Hermès Arceau Le Temps Suspendu

Hermès Arceau Le Temps Suspendu
Joel Von Allmen/Hermès

It may have taken 15 years, but Hermès finally listened to their clients and collectors to revive the Arceau Le Temps Suspendu, which allows wearers to pause the hour and minute hands. The wearer can now view movement through the dial side and continue until ready to return to tracking the time. Push the button one more time and it automatically catches up – a marvel in horological innovation. 

  • Case Size: 42mm
  • Case Material: Rose gold, white gold
  • Strap: Alligator, calfskin
  • Price: TBD

Chanel J12 Box “Dripping Art”

Chanel J12 Box “Dripping Art”
Chanel

More than 200 hours of research and due diligence went into the creation of Chanel’s J12 Box ‘Dripping Art’ collection, meant to simulate drips of nail polish, a technique made famous by Jackson Pollock. The high-fashion brand went through more than 100 different color tests to perfect the process of matching nail colors to ceramics. The end result is the look of splattered color poured onto a canvas to create five works of art. The lacquered box maintains the splash pattern across all five boxes for an all-together cohesive look.

  • Case Size: 38 mm
  • Case Material: Black ceramic
  • Power Reserve: 70 hours
  • Strap: Black ceramic bracelet
  • Price: Five-set limited edition, price upon request

What these outrageous releases signify for watch collectors

Watches & Wonders 2025 once again broke barriers in horology, keeping collectors intrigued with bold designs, record-breaking mechanical feats, and the use of materials previously unused in watchmaking. These latest releases signify how luxury horology is headed towards a vibrant, more experimental era. Watch enthusiasts of today have far more choice as the industry ventures towards more progressive creations; the wristwear of today and tomorrow promises to resonate for generations to come. 

Triston Brewer
Triston Brewer
Triston Brewer is a journalist, creative director, fashionisto, and jetsetting digital bon vivant. Brace yourself!
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Gaming meets horology in Hamilton’s Death Stranding 2 timepiece
Hamilton's Kojima collaboration creates futuristic death stranding 2 timepiece
Hamilton Death Stranding 2 watch

Hamilton takes its first step into gaming by working with Kojima Productions to make a special watch for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. This work shows a change from the brand's well-known movie projects, such as Interstellar, Dune: Part Two, and Indiana Jones—it represents Hamilton's initial move into interactive entertainment.
The partnership joins Hamilton with game designer Hideo Kojima, whose studio works under the motto "From Sapiens to Ludens" while reshaping interactive entertainment. Death Stranding 2 continues the science fiction story of Sam—this story happens in a post-apocalyptic place where life and death mix through emotional plots, exploration, and strange pictures.
"Hamilton was a perfect choice as a partner to design and create a product set in the near future. Please take this watch in your hands and experience the product that connects the world of the game and the real world," explains Hideo Kojima, emphasizing the bridge between virtual and physical experiences.
The American Classic Boulton Death Stranding 2 Limited Edition displays a titanium case build with black PVD treatment that draws from Hamilton's original Boulton plan. The light, rust-proof structure shows smooth, curving lines that copy the game's distinct look while holding up well.
Seven sapphire crystals form the watch's most noticeable part. One main crystal sits in the middle, and six others pair along the case, this setup creates shifting light and a science fiction feel. The crystal layout shows the game's strange design ideas while helping people read the time.
The simple dial plan shows future plainness through grey hour markers, a bright orange seconds hand, and looped open hands that reflect the sapphire crystal pattern. A matching black PVD titanium bracelet finishes the rough, technical look suitable for post-apocalyptic journeys.
The watch includes a three-hand automatic movement with 25 jewels and an 80-hour power reserve. A Nivachron™ balance spring offers resistance to magnetism, shock, and temperature changes—these are necessary traits for surviving tough places, both virtual and real.
Art director Yoji Shinkawa worked on the design, combining Hamilton's movie history with the game's future setting. This work shows how classic Swiss watchmaking can adapt to current entertainment forms while keeping its technical quality.
The company produced 2,000 individually numbered watches. Each watch comes with special game-themed packaging that adds to its collector appeal. The work shows Hamilton's growth past traditional cinema projects into the growing gaming entertainment area.
This release puts Hamilton at the front of watch-gaming projects while honoring both brands' dedication to creative storytelling through their respective crafts.

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Grand Seiko’s claw-inspired watch costs $16,400
Angular evolution: Grand seiko's tokyo lion tentagraph features brilliant hard titanium construction
Grand Seiko Tokyo Lion

Grand Seiko added a watch to its Tokyo Lion collection— the Sport Collection Tokyo Lion Tentagraph. This watch comes with the brand's first mechanical chronograph movement and holds to the angular design that has set the series apart since 2019. The watch costs $16,400 and will be available in August 2025. This 43mm watch shows a clear step forward for the collection.
The lion sign stays important to Grand Seiko's identity—it stands for how easy a watch is to read, how long it lasts, how comfortable it feels, and how good it looks. This symbol has been part of the brand's history since 1960. The Tokyo Lion collection turns this symbol into a bold, angular shape that copies a lion's paw through its geometric form and surface finishes.
The newest Tentagraph watch shows more of the feline idea. Its surfaces have hairline finishes that look like claws, and this design brings out cat-like shapes across the case. The watch measures 43mm across and 15.6mm thick—these large sizes catch the eye right away. The watch feels good to wear because of how it is shaped to the body.
Grand Seiko uses Brilliant Hard Titanium in the Sports Collection for the first time. This metal is twice as hard as regular stainless steel. The alloy looks brighter than common titanium and also resists rust and scratches better, which is needed for sports watches.
The chronograph buttons have a new shape—this change makes them easier to use when someone is active. The three small dials at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock look three-dimensional. A Lumibrite coating on them makes sure a person can read them in all light, from bright day to full dark.
A brown silicon rubber strap comes with the watch, it has a lion's paw design on the back that adds a subtle design touch. The strap bends easily, so it feels good to wear. The case back has a slight curve. These details make the watch comfortable to wear in many places, and the watch also holds out against water down to 200 meters.
The Tentagraph Caliber 9SC5 is the main technical feature. It has a chronograph part that works at 5Hz. This fast-moving part runs for 72 hours on one charge and also protects against magnetic fields up to 4,800 A/m—these are important features for a modern sports watch.
The chronograph functions add to the Tokyo Lion's sports appeal while keeping the collection's specific look. Grand Seiko's mechanical skill joins with its angular design idea, forming watches that go against how people usually think about sports watches.
People can get the watch in August 2025. It will be on Grand Seiko's website and at stores that sell its watches, this makes it easy for people around the world to buy good Japanese mechanical watches. The $16,400 price shows the better materials, the in-house movement, and the special design that set Grand Seiko's sports watches apart.
This Tentagraph shows Grand Seiko's continued step forward in expensive sports watches. It shows how old Japanese craftsmanship can take on modern design styles while keeping its technical lead and wearing comfort for demanding uses.

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