Got a Minute? – Weekly Watch Round-Up (Mar 16–22, 2025)

From ultra-affordable digital beaters to seven-figure tourbillons, it’s been a timepiece tornado this week. Buckle up for a casual ride through the latest watch buzz, big releases, sweet deals, and insider chatter from March 16–22, 2025.

📜 Deep Dive Saturdays – This Week’s Feature

Every Saturday, we take a closer look at a major watch topic. This week, we published The Ultimate Guide to Mechanical Watch Complications, Part I.

Mechanical watches are far more than mere timekeepers — their complications elevate them into feats of engineering and artistry. This week’s feature uncovers the intricate world of mechanical watch complications, from precision-enhancing mechanisms to celestial displays. Discover how these additional functions have evolved over centuries, transforming watches into marvels of human ingenuity.

🔹 Innovations like the tourbillon and constant-force mechanisms that boost precision.
🔹 Complications tracking moon phases, stars, and the equation of time.
🔹 From simple dates to perpetual systems that conquer leap years.

Read it here: 👉 The Ultimate Guide to Mechanical Watch Complications, Part I

🆕 New Releases – Fresh Tick-Tocks & Watch of the Week

It was a blockbuster week for new launches across the spectrum.

Ressence wowed enthusiasts by unveiling its first-ever integrated-bracelet sports watch, the Type 7 GMT, bringing the brand’s oil-filled orbital display into a sleek titanium tool watch format​.

Meanwhile, in a creative collaboration across continents, Louis Vuitton and independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen released the LVKV-02 GMR 6, a limited-edition dual time stunner blending haute horology artistry with practical GMT functionality​. Not to be outdone, Girard-Perregaux teamed up with Aston Martin’s F1 team for a racing-inspired Laureato Absolute edition in signature British Racing green, and Chronoswiss made waves with a modern “Pulse One” regulator on an integrated bracelet – both bringing bold color and design to the mix. From microbrands to maisons, everyone had something new on tap.

Watch of the Week: Richard Mille RM 43-01 Ferrari – This week’s standout is an unapologetically extravagant creation from Richard Mille’s ongoing partnership with Ferrari​. The new RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph is a hyper-technical showpiece limited to 150 pieces – 75 in titanium and 75 in Carbon TPT – each carrying a price tag that’ll make your eyes water​. Under its sculpted tonneau hood, the RM 43-01 packs a manual-wind engine with a one-minute tourbillon, split-seconds chronograph, power reserve and torque indicators, plus the brand’s signature function selector​. In true Ferrari fashion, it’s all about extreme performance: the movement took three years to develop and is crammed with high-tech materials, yet the case maintains 50m water resistance​. The titanium version costs $1.3 million and the Carbon TPT version $1.535 million​ – firmly placing this “superwatch” in pole position.

💰 Affordable Watches – Deals, Steals & Microbrand Magic

Good news for budget-conscious collectors: this week brought serious value to the table.

Citizen celebrated its 105th birthday by launching the new Citizen “Premier” category – merging its Series 8 and Attesa lines into a modern “inclusive luxury” lineup of sub-$2k sport models​. These watches, like the limited Series 8 Ice Blue, come in around $1,095 and aim to deliver upscale design and tech without breaking the bank​.

On the microbrand front, RZE (the indie out of Singapore) introduced its first-ever digital watch, the UTD-8000, and it’s already generating buzz among enthusiasts. This chunky digital tool watch is forged in RZE’s UltraHex-coated titanium for extreme toughness​ – think of it as a G-Shock’s cool cousin – and packs 200m water resistance, alarm, chrono, and auto-calendar in a retro-cool display​. Early adopters scored it at a launch promo price of $169 (pre-orders before month’s end)​, making it one of the best bang-for-buck deals around.

If you’re hunting discounts, keep an eye on microbrands clearing inventory ahead of spring. Several fan-favorite models are marked down: enthusiasts on forums noted sites offering Seiko Prospex divers under $400 and Tissot PRX automatics dipping below retail in pre-Watches&Wonders sales (time to snag that PRX!).

And in the indie world, Worn & Wound’s collaboration with Brew Watch Co. – the Metric Chrono Regulator “Lumed Edition” – dropped this week, offering a funky meca-quartz chronograph with a fully lumed dial for under $400. It sold out in a flash​, underscoring that cool design + affordable price = gone in 60 seconds. Don’t worry if you missed it – more micro collabs are on the horizon, so budget collectors have plenty to smile about.

🔍 Collector’s Corner – Auctions, Vintage Finds & Market Trends

It’s been an exciting week for collectors of vintage and rare watches.

Hodinkee’s latest Bring A Loupe installment served up some drool-worthy old-school pieces: among them, a quirky Cartier “Pocket Gambler” watch (yes, a tiny roulette wheel in a pocket watch!) and an “almost too perfect” 1950s Patek Philippe ref. 1589J Calatrava in unpolished, mint condition​. That latter piece, with its large 36mm gold case and untouched dial, is a mid-century gem that reminds us how well-made vintage can outshine even modern high-end offerings​. Spoiler: it’s already attracted multiple offers from savvy collectors.

Auction news also made headlines. Part of the private wine collection of the late Jörg Bucherer – yes, the same Bucherer family behind the famous watch retail business sold to Rolex – is headed to Christie’s for a charity sale, and is expected to raise over £1 million for the Bucherer Foundation​. While it’s wine, not watches, funding a horological charity makes it relevant to collectors (perhaps a few lucky bidders will celebrate winning a Patek with a bottle of rare Bordeaux!).

🌍 Industry & Business News – Strategy Shifts & Big Moves

The watch industry saw strategy in motion this week, as major players recalibrate for the future.

The headline story: Breitling’s bold expansion into becoming a multi-brand watchmaker. In a move reported across numerous outlets, Breitling CEO Georges Kern confirmed the acquisition of Gallet, a storied Swiss brand founded in 1826 known for its vintage chronographs​. This comes on the heels of Breitling buying Universal Genève in 2023. Kern plans to relaunch Gallet as a “value-oriented sister brand” offering mid-level Swiss watches (~CHF 3,000–5,000) by 2026​. “Many people walk into our boutiques and walk out because it’s just too expensive – now we’ll have something to offer them,” Kern said of the Gallet reboot​. It’s a savvy play: Breitling’s own average price has climbed to ~CHF 7,400, so Gallet will capture more entry-level luxury buyers​. This strategy of reviving dormant brands to diversify price points (with UG positioned higher, Gallet lower) shows Breitling thinking more like a luxury group than a single marque​. Keep an eye out for Gallet’s first new chronographs next year – the multi-chron revival is real.

We also saw a fascinating service-side development: Sotheby’s announced a partnership with a startup called WatchCheck to simplify watch maintenance for clients​. The idea is an online portal where owners of any of 38,000 models can get repair estimates, shipping kits, and track service status – all backed by Sotheby’s and executed by an expert workshop​. Essentially, Sotheby’s is adding a concierge-style after-sales service, which could become a value-add for their customers (and a revenue stream in itself). As vintage and pre-owned watches change hands, having a trusted service hub is a big deal, and it shows the auction house thinking beyond auctions. From acquisitions to after-sales, the industry’s biggest players are staying nimble to keep us all ticking along.

🎞️ Cultural & Historical Insights – Watches in Pop Culture & History

On the historical front, this week marked a significant anniversary in watch lore: 60 years since the first spacewalk. On March 18, 1965, Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov left his spacecraft for 12 minutes, becoming the first human to walk in space​. And what watch was strapped to his suit? A Strela chronograph, making it the first watch worn outside a spacecraft. While Omega’s Speedmaster famously became the Moon watch later, it was this humble Soviet chrono that beat everyone to the EVA punch. Collectors of space watches commemorated the occasion on forums, sharing photos of vintage Strela and commemorative reissues. It’s a cool reminder of how intertwined watch history is with human history – every milestone often had a ticking companion.

📝 Quick Takes & Extra Bits

Seagull Watch (China) quietly celebrated its 70th anniversary​. Founded in 1955, Seagull has become one of the world’s largest mechanical movement makers – a reminder that innovation isn’t just Swiss-made. They commemorated the milestone with a limited reissue of a classic design (and yes, it’s already sold out).

⏳ That’s a Wrap! – Until Next Week

From boardrooms to spacewalks, that’s your whirlwind tour of watchland this week. If your head’s spinning like a tourbillon, fear not – next week promises even more excitement as Watches & Wonders 2025 kicks off in Geneva. We’ll be back with all the hottest reveals (we’re hearing whispers of new Rolex and Patek launches) and the usual mix of news, reviews, and behind-the-scenes scoops. Have a great week, keep watching the clocks, and as always, hit “reply” and let us know which story or watch impressed you the most – we love hearing your take. Stay tuned and keep it casual – see you next time on the wrist!