For the common of mortals, a birthday can be a stark reminder that time is passing and none of us are getting any younger. For watch brands, on the contrary, the longer they have been around, the more reason there is to celebrate. The vast majority view an anniversary as a moment rich in emotion; a perfect opportunity to spotlight their history, traditions and talent, while contemplating a bright future shaped by innovation and reinvention. In this respect, 2025 has been a remarkable year, with brands blowing out anything between ten and… 290 candles, and a number of famous watches commemorating several decades on our wrists. While some brands chose to let these milestones quietly slip by, those that marked the occasion did so with great fanfare.

At the head of this Gerousia, Blancpain marked the 290 years since its foundation in 1735 with a Grande Double Sonnerie. A world-first, this flying tourbillon retrograde perpetual calendar plays two melodies on four notes, in grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie and minute repeater mode. Second on the list and the oldest Manufacture in continuous activity since its creation in 1755, Vacheron Constantin turned 270 this year. Unveiled at Watches and Wonders Geneva, Les Cabinotiers Solaria is the most complicated wristwatch ever, with a total of 41 functions plus a tourbillon regulator. This exploit was followed just a few months later by La Quête du Temps, an astronomical clock engineered from 6,293 components, with 23 watchmaking complications together with a musical automaton that indicates the time. Also a world first.

Joining this rarefied circle of brands aged 200 or more, Breguet concluded its 250th anniversary celebrations with the launch of the Expérimentale collection. The inaugural timepiece is fitted with a 10 Hz tourbillon (72,000 vibrations/hour, 1/20th of a second precision) combined with a constant-force magnetic escapement: a mechanical feat if ever there was. No less impressive, A. Lange & Söhne’s Minute Repeater Perpetual marks 180 years since the company’s founding in Glashütte. A “mere” 165 years old, Chopard released the L.U.C Grand Strike with grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie and minute repeater complications sounded on sapphire gongs. It is the most complex watch ever produced by Chopard Manufacture. Rounding off this litany of high mechanics are the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked, made by Audemars Piguet for its 150th anniversary, and the Monaco and Carrera watches that TAG Heuer has fitted with the TH-Carbonspring, a novel oscillator with a carbon balance spring that marks the brand’s 165 years of existence.

Horology’s “younger generation” was also in celebration mode this year. Having reached a respectable 45 years old, Hublot hosted a year-long party for the 20th anniversary of its rule-breaking Big Bang. The five anniversary limited editions unveiled at Watches and Wonders Geneva showcased the Unico chronograph calibre as well as Hublot’s signature fusion of materials. Marking its 30th anniversary, Roger Dubuis reconnected with its origins and presented the Excalibur Biretrograde Calendar, the display favoured by the brand’s very first model, which paired rose gold with elements in mother-of-pearl. Both Gerald Charles (25 years) and Czapek Genève (10 years) presented anniversary watches: the Maestro GC39 for the former, the Time Jumper for the latter, each with a jumping hours movement. Unsurprisingly, the prize for “most original celebration” goes to MB&F: a brand whose business model, like its watches, break new ground. Having weathered every storm to reach a round two decades, it gave away 20 limited-edition pieces —ten LM101 Longhorn and ten M.A.D.1S – to the lucky winners of a raffle. A wonderful way to say a heartfelt thank-you to its community.

Among the watches celebrating a special birthday this year, Girard-Perregaux marked the Laureato’s half-century with a skeletonised Three Bridges version. For the 40 years of its Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar, IWC debuted a 41mm interpretation in steel. Meanwhile, Omega’s partnership with Agent 007 is 30 years old. With no new film release this year, and speculation still rife as to who will step into Daniel Craig’s tuxedo as the new James Bond, Omega presented two Seamaster Diver 300M in Bronze Gold: its proprietary alloy of bronze, gold, silver and palladium. Both models are inspired by the Seamaster Diver that came out in 2020 for the last film in the franchise, No Time to Die. A fitting title for watchmakers and the promise of many more anniversaries to come.