By WELCOME TO Esquire’s annual round-up of the best watches on the planet. This year’s list reveals a broad spectrum of luxury, design philosophies and pricing tiers within the watch world. A few clear trends emerge.
First, sports and tool watches remain dominant, with models such as the Omega Seamaster Diver 300m, Longines Conquest and Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Tech underlining our enduring fondness for durability and underwater functionality.
Similarly, chronographs and travel complications — seen in the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore and Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Geographic — highlight the ongoing appeal of multifunctional elegance.
Design-wise, brands embrace both minimalism and bold statement-making pieces. Gucci’s G-Flat and Chanel’s J12 Bleu come with a sleek, modern aesthetic, while Hublot’s Big Bang 20th Anniversary All Black and Piaget’s ultra-thin perpetual calendar show off the high-tech, avant-garde side of watchmaking.
Prices span a broad spectrum — from the approachable Tissot PRC 100 to the high end icons such as Vacheron Constantin’s Fiftysix — showcasing how the watch world is reaching out to both seasoned collectors and those just starting their journey.
Elsewhere, limited editions, sustainability themes (like Blancpain’s Ocean Commitment) and heritage driven designs (Cartier’s Santos; Rolex’s Land Dweller) underscore the careful blend of innovation and tradition that defines many of the most successful models.
Beyond technical specifications and smart design, brands are also focusing on strong storytelling. Whether it’s the rugged narrative behind Bremont’s MB Meteor, named for the Gloster Meteor — Britain’s first jet fighter, and the aircraft used for Martin-Baker’s original live ejection test in 1946 — or the geometric and architectural influences behind Hermès’ artsy Cut, they’re conversation pieces.
In mid 2025, watches are less about punctuality and more about a perspective — nodding to history, craftsmanship or derring-do adventure. Mechanics with meaning, if you will.
Rolex Land-Dweller, $24,200
Breitling Top Time B31, $8,190
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique 5010, $29,300
Cartier Santos de Cartier (small model), $10,700
Chanel J12 Bleu Watch, 12.1 Calibre, $18,250
Chopard LUC Quattro Mark IV, $63,000
Grand Seiko Rikka – Early Summer 62GS, $9600
Hermès Cut, $11,290
Hublot Big Bang 20th Anniversary All Black, $37,600
Longines Conquest, $3,425
Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen Mount Vinson Limited Edition, $15,060
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m, $23,100
Panerai Radiomir Tre Giorni, $10,800
Piaget Polo Perpetual Calendar Obsidian, POA
Rado Captain Cook Over-Pole Limited Edition, $4,700
TAG Heuer Carrera Date Twin-Time, $7,250
Tissot PRC 100 Solar Quartz, $765
Tudor Black Bay 58, $6,850
Vacheron Constantin Fiftysix Self-Winding, $42,500
This story appears in the Winter 2025 issue of Esquire Australia, on sale now. Find out where to buy the issue here.
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