This year, Revolution turns 20. Two decades of chronicling watches, people and ideas have given us a front-row seat to a remarkable story: how an age-old craft has both preserved its soul and reinvented itself for the 21st century. To celebrate, we’ve chosen over 100 names and milestones that, for us, define the era so far. From leaders to watches, you can see the whole list here.

To most journalists, Louis Ferla, who has been CEO of Cartier now for just over a year, is something of an enigma, as he clearly prefers to focus on the business dimension of the maisons he leads rather than engage with the media. As I’ve gotten older, I find myself appreciating his rationale for this. For Ferla, time is finite, and as such, he has made the conscious decision to spend his on the things that will impact his brand in the most positive way.

At Vacheron Constantin, that meant him identifying a clear step-by-step pathway that would take the maison — for the first time in its 270-year-old history — to a turnover in excess of 1 billion Swiss francs. He focused first on ensuring his business was on solid ground in key markets like China and the U.S. Then he began to steadily build the brand first with the Overseas collection, making it a real viable alternative to the Patek Philippe Nautilus and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and setting the stage for the reintroduction of the Reference 222. But unlike Audemars Piguet, Ferla was also able to push other dimensions of his brand, through his Historiques collection, the neoclassic Traditionnelle and Patrimony collections, and in complications.

(From left) 1977 Vacheron Constantin 222 “Jumbo” and Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222, an 18K yellow gold re-edition

Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Complete Calendar Openface (©Revolution)

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Self-Winding (©Revolution)

But it is really in two categories — métiers d’art and grand complications — that Vacheron Constantin has distinguished itself and carried on the great tradition of true technical innovation in a period where its key competitors have largely stopped. Timepieces like 2024’s Les Cabinotiers “Berkley Grand Complication” or this year’s Les Cabinotiers “Solaria” are of immense importance, because they demonstrate the very summit of high watchmaking prowess. At the same time, Ferla focused on métiers d’art even before the current trend for these crafts swept through watchmaking. He spearheaded the extraordinary collaborations with the Musée de Louvre and the creation of amazing watches in Les Cabinotiers, uniting Vacheron’s twin competencies in crafts and complications.

Les Cabinotiers “Berkley Grand Complication”

Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication (Revolution©)

On a more personal note, I have to thank him for helping me when I struggled with asking my future in-laws’ permission to propose to the woman who is now my wife. He listened to my quandary and replied, “You should tell them the truth, which is that your only objective is to take care of her and your future children, then they can only say they approve or she can decide.” He was right because it worked.