It is a tie with two winners for Brand of the Year: Breguet, which celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2025, and Vacheron Constantin, which marked its 270th anniversary.

First, Breguet. The most famous name in all of watchmaking is undoubtedly Abraham-Louis Breguet, the individual who created the first automatic-winding watch, the first minute repeater on wire gongs, the tourbillon, and the first interactive timepiece, the Sympathique. Yet this represents only a small sample of his achievements and, over the centuries, his eponymous brand has experienced both triumphs and challenges.

Breguet invented wire steel gongs in 1783

It was a particularly exciting period from 1975 to 1988 — during and in the aftermath of the Quartz Crisis — when the brand revived mechanical complications in an exceptional tribute to its history. Another defining chapter began when Nicolas Hayek Sr. took the helm, introducing timepieces such as the Tradition collection and recreating the legendary Marie-Antoinette pocket watch. Under the leadership of Marc A. Hayek, the brand achieved a notable milestone with the creation of the first magnetic pivot watch, the Classique Chronométrie 7727, widely recognized as one of the best-testing timepieces of all time at the Concours International de Chronométrie.

(From left) The Original Marie-Antoinette pocket watch reference 160; Breguet reference 1160 crafted as a tribute to the stolen watch is accurate to the original

Breguet Classique Chronométrie 7727

In recent years, however, the Breguet brand had been somewhat somnambulant. That was until, at the behest of Raynald Aeschlimann and Nick Hayek Jr., Gregory Kissling took over as CEO.

The impact Kissling has made in just a year has been remarkable: he reintroduced the world to the Breguet Souscription, won the GPHG’s grand prize, relaunched the perfect Type XX, and unveiled an all-new technical division with the Expérimentale 1, an insane timepiece featuring a magnetic constant-force escapement.

Breguet 250th Anniversary Souscription (©Revolution)

Breguet Type XX Chronographe 2075

Wei’s wristshot of the Breguet Expérimentale 1, showcasing its openworked architecture and groundbreaking magnetic-escapement tourbillon in full motion

Our second winner is Vacheron Constantin. Expectations for its 270th Anniversary were already high. After all, the brand had single-handedly kept the culture of grand complications alive with the incredible Berkley pocket watch in 2024. It didn’t disappoint: the Solaria, a jaw-droppingly complex, yet surprisingly intuitive timepiece, took the prize as the world’s most complicated wristwatch.

Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers The Berkley Grand Complication

Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication (©Revolution)

Then, at Watches and Wonders, Vacheron unveiled a truly appealing 270th Anniversary collection, with my favorite being the 41mm open-worked Traditionnelle Complete Calendar. In the fall, the brand celebrated its anniversary in a truly inimitable way with parties both in Paris at the Louvre and at its Geneva manufacture, alongside the unveiling of La Quête du Temps, a collaborative work of time-telling art that blew our minds.

Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Complete Calendar Openface (©Revolution)

La Quête du Temps

Later in the year, Vacheron also launched a white gold, red-dial Overseas Perpetual Calendar, one of the most damnably sexy watches I’ve ever seen. All this was achieved while remaining steadfast in its championing of the mechanical fine art we know as haute horlogerie.

Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin

Equally impressive is that Vacheron has retained its signature warmth and friendliness, which is evident in every dimension of the brand — from the way even a total stranger is treated in its boutiques to the inclusiveness of the top management. Together, these achievements make it clear that Vacheron Constantin is stronger than ever.