The Top 5 Most Surprising Watches of 2025: A Fresh Start for the New Year
Happy New Year, everyone! As we wrap up 2025 and step into a fresh 2026, we’re excited to bring you the first edition in our series of lists highlighting the best watches of the year. Today, we’ll explore five timepieces from 2025 that may have flown under your radar – each one surprising us in the best possible way. So, let’s take a moment to appreciate these standout watches!
Creating Our Surprising Watches List
In compiling this list, we drew inspiration from our mid-year picks and made some swaps for watches that debuted later in the year. When we talk about “surprising,” it’s about more than just an unexpected release; it encompasses the overall context of the watch and how our opinions may have shifted upon closer inspection. Without further ado, here are our five most surprising watches of 2025!
1. Louis Vuitton Tambour Convergence in Rose Gold
First on our list is the captivating rose gold Louis Vuitton Tambour Convergence. As Thomas highlighted, true surprises in the watch world are rare, but this watch exceeded our expectations thanks to its innovative montre à guichet layout, offering a design that isn’t for everyone but certainly turned heads.
This watch is crafted with incredible workmanship, available in both rose gold and platinum, with the latter featuring a stunning snow-set diamond finish. For our list, we chose the rose gold model, which balances elegance and sophistication perfectly.
2. A Unique Way to Display the Time
The Tambour Convergence sets itself apart with its unique time display. The top arched apertures show the hours and minutes, with the hours rotating on a continuous disc. This might require a little mental adjustment, but it provides a refreshing twist on conventional watch displays.
3. The Engine Behind the Watch
Powers this innovative watch is the newly developed Caliber LFT MA01.01. It operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and boasts a power reserve of 45 hours. When you peek through the sapphire case back, you’ll be delighted to see the intricately finished 18K gold rotor and other impressive details.
Encased in a gracefully rounded 37mm × 8mm rose gold case, the details of this watch truly reflect the artistry of La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. It’s a perfect blend of tradition and modernity.
2. Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds in Pink Gold
Our next highlight is the striking pink gold Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds, unveiled at Watches and Wonders 2025. We got an early glimpse of this beauty, and it left us absolutely amazed.
The elegant pink gold case paired with a matching mesh bracelet is stunning. This watch features intricate details that reveal themselves upon close inspection, including a textured dial with a subtle sub-seconds register at six o’clock. The refined hour markers and sharp dauphine hands enhance its sophistication.
3. A Statement Piece from Jaeger-LeCoultre
While we’ve seen pink gold Reversos before, the fresh take on this model offers something truly exceptional. Gone are the usual stylish and chic attributes; here, you have a bold monochromatic design that commands attention while maintaining grace.
The handmade Milanese bracelet is another highlight; it’s comfort-driven and exquisitely crafted, requiring 16 meters of pink gold wire to create. The integrated sliding clasp ensures a perfect fit for your wrist.
4. A Star in the Reverso Collection
While the Reverso has traditionally showcased elegant details, this model stands out with its striking proportions and the classic JLC Caliber 822. If you’re interested in diving deeper into the technical aspects, check out Robert-Jan’s insightful review of this gorgeous watch.
This exquisite model, priced at €44,800, has set a new standard for the Reverso collection. We can’t help but wonder what a yellow gold version might look like, even though it might not offer the same surprise element as this stunning rose gold piece.
3. Richard Mille RM 16-02 Automatic Extraflat Terracotta Quartz TPT
Next up is the Richard Mille RM 16-02 Automatic Extraflat, which first appeared on our radar months ago and made an impression during the year. I wouldn’t have imagined featuring a Richard Mille watch in 2025, yet, here we are.
This watch, part of a duo introducing the RM 16-02 models, retains the essence of the original RM 016 outline from 2007, while showcasing new materials and an eye-catching terracotta hue.
4. The Evolution of RM 16-02
The new RM 16-02 features a striking terracotta case blending sophistication with a playful spirit, especially with its burgundy rubber strap. The unique rectangular shape and open-worked dial make this timepiece visually stunning, filled with a warmth reminiscent of Mediterranean landscapes.
Inside, the CRMA9 caliber matches the distinctive presence of the case beautifully, showcasing a modern labyrinth of intricately finished elements. With its signature style and creativity, this watch is priced at an impressive €225,000.
4. Rolex Submariner Date Desk Clock
Our fourth surprising pick isn’t a wristwatch at all. We were intrigued when we first heard about the Rolex Submariner desk clock, and once we got our hands on it, we were blown away by its quality and design.
The desk clock boasts an impressive 80mm design while retaining the classic proportions of the iconic Submariner watch. The glossy black dial, adorned with luminescent indexes, complements the black ceramic bezel and adds to its sophistication.
5. Quality Meets Functionality
You can immediately feel the high production quality when you pick up this clock. The weighty 316L steel casing maintains the recognizable dome shape, and the circular pedestal allows you to rotate the clock as needed. Fueled by the reliable ana-digi quartz caliber 8335, it also features a secular calendar, making it both elegant and practical.
It’s also equipped with a small LCD screen on the back displaying the current month and year, ensuring you stay informed. This desk clock is a marvelous surprise priced at €10,320, making it a wonderful conversation starter and a collector’s item for fans of the brand.
5. Hermès Arceau Rocabar de Rire
We conclude our list with a unique and playful entry: the Hermès Arceau Rocabar de Rire. This watch doesn’t just stand out but exudes a sense of joy. Affectionately dubbed “Licky the Horse,” its dial features a horse with a mechanical function that playfully sticks out its tongue!
Thanks to the creativity of Hermès, this whimsical design ingeniously translates a horse, modeled after Dimitri Rybaltchenko’s Rocabar de Rire scarf, into a delightful timepiece that brings smiles to everyone who sees it.
6. The Whimsical Dial of “Licky the Horse”
The dial is colorful and engages users when they press the pusher at 9 o’clock, triggering the horse to playfully extend its tongue. This charming feature invites endless interaction and is guaranteed to elicit laughter!
However, due to its unique charm, only 12 units were produced, each artfully designed with blue or green dials featuring colorful stripes. The automatic H1837 movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, providing a 50-hour power reserve to keep the fun going. Priced at €163,000 in white gold and €168,000 in rose gold, this piece promises joy and a little bit of whimsy on the wrist!
Final Thoughts on 2025’s Most Surprising Watches
And there you have it – our top five most surprising watches of 2025! Each piece brought something unique to the table, making quite an impression on the Fratello team. Now, we’d love to hear from you: What were your biggest horological surprises of the year? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to join us next week for another list!