The Coolest Watch Trends of 2025

Despite the stereotypes, most watch enthusiasts aren’t actually snobby. Sure, you’ll occasionally run into the, shall we say, affected collector who judges your “too ’90s” strap or your “so obvious” Rolex. Largely though, we support each other’s right to wear what we love. I keep my finger on the pulse of watch trends—not just for work, but because I enjoy it when my forecasts affirm my friends’ tastes. Watch fans relish hearing “Looks like you were ahead of the curve!” or “I think it’s going to be your year!”

My brother, a calculator-watch nut, was thrilled when I hypothesized that retrofuturism would explode in 2024. (It did, by the way. There were so many Casios in movies!) Personally, since I wear a 28-millimeter Seamaster, I was pleased to see the rise of small cases: 2024 ended bigger-is-better dominance; celebs like Paul Mescal and Tyler, the Creator are constantly seen in teeny-tiny watches. Then there was the renewed interest in elegant simplicity, thanks to influencers discovering old-money style. GPHG introduced a Time Only category, while Breitling made plans to revive Universal Genève.

A new year can mark a rejection of prior trends—or an evolution of them. From what I’ve seen so far, I predict that watch trends for 2025 tend more toward the latter.

See our full 2025 trends forecast here.

Dig deeper: 

• The Ultimate Quiet-Luxury Watchmaker
• A Beginner’s Guide to Seasonal Watches
• The Charms of the Birth-Year Watch
• Dude, Your Watch Is Too Big

Small watches have proven to be more than a 2024 fad; they’re here to stay. Piggybacking on that, vintage timekeepers are now trending, particularly precious metal pieces and dress watches. Similar to how we escaped the decades-long grip of big watches last year, I believe dress watches will likewise end sport-watch dominance this year. 

Perhaps it stemmed from James Bond’s tendency to pair diver with tuxedo, but for a long time, sport watches were a man’s go-to everyday timekeeper. I’m a product of that era. And though I don’t often wear dress watches, I welcome their ascendance because I do prefer small cases. My ladies’ Seamaster will look less “weird” on my male wrist in a world where men wear 34-millimeter dress watches as everyday timepieces.

“Top brands have limited availability of new watches,” says Maria, my dear friend and Rolex liaison manager. “Many clients love the instant gratification of a pre-loved piece. Plus, the link to our past makes them more valuable and irreplaceable regardless of market value.” She also confirmed that the vintage groundswell is partly due to a soft secondary market. Remember this formula: A shift in tastes plus a more accessible market equals major trends. 

Now, here are some vintage timepieces to consider.

Thanks to that aforementioned bear market, now is the time to buy that vintage Rolex you’ve always wanted. The Oyster Precision is as timeless as it gets. As the non-COSC-certified cousin to the Oyster, the Precision has always been one of the more affordable vintage Rolexes. The design takes the brand’s hallmarks, including the 12 o’clock crown application and solid build, then elegantly pours it into a much dressier silhouette than Rolex offers today.

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Defunct lines from big brands are my favorite vintages, especially when they don’t look like anything the brand currently makes. Between its moonphase, square case, and Deco sensibilities, the Cosmic Moonphase’s Omega lineage might surprise some people. With its in-house 381caliber though, this conversation piece is Omega through and through. Plus, the mix of romantic, scientific, and celebratory aesthetics is truly compelling. 

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A vintage boom will invariably result in brands rummaging through their archives to see what they can reissue. That means you can get old-world style without having to deal with the hassle that sometimes comes with vintage acquisition. Archimede is known more for its tool watches, so I was chuffed when they reissued their charming 1950 dress watch. It even features the era-appropriate curved dial and hands, so you get the vintage charisma to full effect.

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Ages ago, for my first-ever Art Basel business trip, my boss and mentor imparted sartorial advice for the multi-day, multi-event affair: “Stick to the same basic uniform, but wear a LAMD so our clients recognize you and notice you.” 

A LAMD is a look-at-me device. Men have long used their watches as LAMDs, but it looks like the tide is turning this year. Say goodbye to superfluous crystals, bells and whistles, and maximalist color combinations.

Just look at some of 2025’s new releases thus far. Omega’s Milano Cortina is a master class in infusing restraint with detail. The Grand Seiko SLGH027’s calm colors organically temper the dial’s textures. Even the Hermès Arceau Petite Lune, encrusted with 114 diamonds, whispers rather than shouts thanks to its sober composition and monochrome palette.

I’m not saying daring designs are out this year. There’s room for boldness in a low-volume setting. The funeral we’re attending is that of blatant try-hard aesthetics and unnecessary shock value. The death of the low-hanging fruit, so to speak. The following watches beautifully exemplify this.

Rolex doesn’t go off-script that often. When they do, it’s because they definitely want your attention. Think Rainbow Daytona or Tiffany Celebration Oyster Perpetual. When Rolex released the 1908 line almost two years ago, a countdown to the return of elegant simplicity was activated. It was a brand new line. Not a new Submariner colorway. Not a new case size for the Explorer. Rolex paused the heavy rotation playlist and brought us an actual brand new line—of dress watches. These uncomplicated but distinct timepieces were way ahead of the curve.

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I know that the titanium Giorgio Galli S2Ti was the Timex that made headlines last year. And I want to mention it because it so perfectly aligns with the anti-LAMD trend. However, I’m spotlighting an old faithful and budget standard-bearer: the Timex Marlin. It’s quintessential Timex, it represents the simplicity trend and the vintage trend, and it’s my go-to example of how bold design doesn’t have to compromise class and restraint.

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Simple doesn’t mean boring. The Seiko S23159 may be highly minimalist, but it’s also deeply engaging. It’s nicknamed the Seiko Braille because the crystal is hinged; you can swivel it open and tell the time by touching the silver dial’s topography. Now that’s one heck of a party trick.

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Some say the rise of shape cases opened this door. I think it was the retrofuturism trend, which continues into the new year with the popularity of classic Casios, the Hamilton Pulsar, and the Bulova Computron. Regardless, my favorite anticipated trend of 2025 is bringing the joy back into watches. 

I’m talking timepieces that you can play with like a toy, cheerful collaborations with artists, and a general disposal of the more uppity elements of the watch world. My friend Brittany, who does high jewelry client development at Bulgari, told me that heritage brands are trying to inject a cool factor into their new projects. They’re also looking to produce pieces that are the result of an artist’s enthusiasm and passion rather than a product team’s quantitative data.

This fun and creativity is happening at every price point, as you’ll see with these fantastic examples.

A thrillingly unlikely team-up, MB&F essentially robotizes the majestic Bulgari Serpenti. The result is a sort of sophisticated, grown-up Transformers toy or the chicest, most luxurious Megazord in history. It’s also quite the feat of engineering. It took three years for MB&F’s Maximilian Büsser and Bulgari’s Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani to translate Bulgari’s almost 80-year-old institutional snake motif into the MB&F language. There’s a lot of wow factor here.

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G-Shock’s J. Balvin collaboration, the DWE5600JB1A9, flaunts a modular design that makes it both interactive and customizable. You can switch out each side of the strap and the bezel to and from matte black and a workwear-esque yellow; it’s reminiscent of a street sign but far more electric. Want a classic all-black G-Shock? What about a black watch with a yellow bezel? Perhaps you want a two-tone strap. This is a timepiece you can play around with.

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By tapping legitimate artists for individual designs, Mr. Jones is on a mission to make you happy. The Mispoes! Watch is drawn by Belgian artist Kaat Deceuninck, who was inspired by how anything a pet does is wildly fascinating to the pet’s owner. The hand-mixed colors on the dial sit vividly behind illustrative outlines. It’s calming, engaging, and cute but not cutesy.

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