If you want to know what the current fashion trends in luxury watches are, I believe everyone has their own opinion in their heart. Among the many answers, we can summarize what they have in common, that is, the frequency of gold, carbon fiber, small size, sports style and silicon hairspring must be quite high. Next, we will combine these core vocabulary to predict the popular direction of watches in 2025.
Omega Seamaster 300-meter Diver Watch (Model 210.30.42.20.06.002)
Although the position of formal watches in the market is still unassailable, it cannot be ignored that in recent years, sports-style products such as diving watches, flight watches, and luxury sports watches have gradually accounted for an increasing share of new products. Diving watches are sports watches that originated in the 1950s. Although they have a history of more than half a century, their popularity remains undiminished. Going back to 2024, many well-known series such as Longines Legend Diver 39, Oris Aquis, TAG Heuer Professional 300, Tudor Black Bay, Omega Seamaster 300m, Breitling Super Ocean, Rolex Submersible, Ulysse Nardin DIVER, Blancpain Fifty Professional Rabbit, etc. have successively updated and upgraded their product lines. Looking ahead to 2025, they are likely to become a hot trend due to the continued popularity of sporty styles, especially dive watches.
Rolex Submersible 18K gold model (model 136668lb)
Since 2022, international gold prices have been rising, and this trend has also triggered the so-called “gold watch fever.” In 2024, it has evolved from a million-level luxury brand to a 100,000-level luxury brand, and has successively released gold watches including gold, platinum and rose gold. Some series that have not used 18K gold before will also begin to enter the gold watch market in 2024, including the well-known Rolex Submariner. As the first product launched after DEEP SEA was upgraded from Sea-Dweller to an independent series, this 18K gold watch takes the luxury of the entire series to a new level. If there is no unexpected popularity of gold watches, this trend is expected to continue by 2025.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 watch (model WBP5110.FT6257)
In recent years, the resurgence of small watches has become a popular trend. After more than ten years of admiration and popularity of large watches, more and more game enthusiasts are now beginning to realize that the wearing comfort of a watch is usually more critical than its “recognizability”. Therefore, among many watches released in 2024, there is a trend of downsizing. For example, the size of TAG Heuer Aquaracer’s 300-meter watch has been reduced from the previous generation’s 43 mm to 42 mm, and a 42.3 mm non-limited edition 5010 has been added to Blancpain’s 50th record.
IWC Portuguese Series Navigation Elite Moon Phase and Tide Watch (Model IW344002)
The widespread use of carbon fiber watches is the third popular trend. Carbon fiber has won the favor of many modern design watches because of its lightness, high toughness, corrosion resistance and unique texture and feel. There was a time when watches made of carbon fiber were the exclusive preserve of high-end luxury brands, with Richard Mille, Audemars Piguet, Hublot and Ulysse Nardin leading the industry. At present, with the increasing maturity of technology, the price of watches made of carbon fiber has dropped to the level of 10,000 yuan. As shown by the carbon fiber watch launched by the Tissot PRX series in 2024, it has successfully promoted this material to the “popularization”.
IWC Portuguese Series Navigation Elite Moon Phase and Tide Watch (Model IW344002)
The growth of the silicon hairspring camp is the final development trend. Compared with traditional metal hairsprings, the biggest advantage of silicon hairsprings is their antimagnetic properties. In the current environment where electronic devices are often disturbed by magnetic fields, its importance is obvious. Due to patent restrictions, silicon hairsprings have been monopolized by the Swatch Group, Rolex and Patek Philippe for a long time; when the patent protection period is cancelled, it means that all brands will be eligible to adopt this technology in the future.
Seagull Grand Craftsman Series guilloché silicon hairspring tourbillon mechanical watch (model 518.57.8841)
In 2024, IWC released the Portuguese series of nautical elite moon phase and tide watches. This watch uses the 82836 movement equipped with a silicon hairspring for the first time; at the same time, the well-known domestic Seagull watch brand also successfully developed its first independent silicon hairspring movement ST8260. It is expected that by 2025, silicon hairspring movements will welcome more brands to join, so do you have high expectations for the upcoming new products?