If These Swiss Watchmakers are Not in Your Wardrobe, You're missing Out

Manifest picks out some of the top Swiss watchmakers that are celebrating landmark moments in haute horlogerie, shaped by time and legacy.

Breguet Reine de Naples Crazy Flower

The celebrations for Breguet kicked off last year in April, as they rolled out a series of timepieces to honour the brand’s momentous milestone. And among these, the Reine de Naples Crazy Flower needs no introduction. One of the brand’s most iconic creations, it stands out for its jewelled design coupled with technical prowess—exhibited in both the movement as well as the complex design. The new version is crafted in Breguet gold—a proprietary 18-karat yellow-gold alloy, consisting of 75 per cent gold, along with silver, copper, and palladium. This innovation has been one of their major highlights as it pushes the brand into the 21st century.  Developed specially for this unusual geometry, the diamonds are set in an inverted manner, their raised points mimicking the pistil of a flower and creating an unexpected play of light. Powered by the automatic ultra-thin calibre  586/1, offering a 38-hour power reserve, the Crazy Flower is as much a jewel as it is a timepiece.

Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers

Homage to Epic Warriors Minute Repeater One of the oldest watchmakers in the business with an uninterrupted history of producing horological masterpieces since its establishment in 1755, Vacheron Constantin celebrates its 270th anniversary with a new series—Les  Cabinotiers  ‘La  Quête’, which pays tribute to astronomy and the great conquerors of ancient times. The Homage to Epic Warriors Minute Repeater timepieces is a tribute to Alexander the Great, Antar (Antarah ibn Shaddad), Genghis Khan, and Sasaki Moritsuna— while showcasing the Maison’s expertise in crafting grand complications along with a mastery in ancient decorative artistic techniques.  Crafted in options of yellow gold or white gold, the cases are hand-engraved. However, the highlight here is the 18-karat yellow gold dial, miniature painted in grand feu enamel, depicting each warrior in action.  The 41mm timepieces are driven by the  Calibre  1731—an ultra-thin manufacture minute repeater movement, measuring just 3.9mm in thickness, and are a testimony to the brand’s enduring pursuit of excellence for nearly three centuries. 

Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie

The oldest watchmaker turned 290 last year, and to celebrate this milestone, the brand unveiled the most complex watch in their repertoire—the Grande Double Sonnerie— suited to mark their grand horological legacy. Developed over eight years, this timepiece is composed of a total of 1,116 components, of which 1,053 parts are in the movement. This allows for complexity within the mechanism, replete with two different melodies, a perpetual calendar, and a tourbillon. The timepiece is available in both an 18-karat red or white gold case, with a completely skeletonised dial and caseback. It is brought to life by the Calibre 15GSQ—an in-house, manual winding movement with a 96-hour power reserve. There is also a dedicated 12-hour power reserve for the strike work in grande sonnerie mode and a 14-hour power reserve in the petite sonnerie mode. Presented on an alligator leather strap with a gold folding clasp, this watch is available in a limited production of only two pieces per year

Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon 38mm

To celebrate 150 years of watchmaking excellence, the La  Brassus-based manufacture  has released a spanking new version of the Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon, crafted in 18-karat  sand gold—an alloy which combines gold with copper and palladium—to give this hue. Set with 235 brilliant cut diamonds, the round case measures 38mm—a new size for this complication- and it is topped by a gold-toned dial, which matches the colour palette of this timekeeper.  On turning the watch over, one can get a glorious view of the ultrathin Calibre 2968 (RD#3) movement (introduced in 2022 in small Royal Oak models), thanks to the open sapphire crystal caseback. Adorned with a pink-gold rotor, this powerhouse keeps the dazzling timepiece ticking for at least 50 hours.  

Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike

While most people associate the brand with exotic high jewellery creations, Chopard has produced some of the most complex timekeepers in the last three decades, especially since the brand established their in-house movement manufacturing facility in Fleurier in 1996. And to celebrate this achievement, the brand has introduced the L.U.C Grand Strike—a highly technical creation that showcases its expertise in crafting chiming timepieces.  With over 11,000 hours of focused  R&D, this watch carries 10 patents, making it one of the most complicated offerings from their manufacture, featuring a tourbillon, minute repeater, and a grand and petite sonnerie. It comes in a 43mm ethically mined white-gold case, which houses the  Calibre  L.U.C 08.03-L, visible through the skeletonised dial. The COSC-certified movement guarantees supreme precision and keeps the timepiece ticking smoothly for about 70 hours.  

Longines Master Collection Year of the Horse

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Horse, which represents power, speed, perseverance, and freedom. And to celebrate this, Longines has unveiled a limited-edition timepiece in its Master Collection, which also serves as the perfect homage to the brand’s longstanding bond with the equestrian world. Created in collaboration with the Peon Art Museum in Chongqing, China, the 42mm stainless-steel watch showcases the iconic Galloping Horse motif, borrowed from artist Peon Xu’s celebrated painting, depicted on a finely engraved gilt rotor, visible through the sapphire caseback. Limited to 2,026 pieces, it features a red sunray-brushed dial with a subtle gradient, enhanced by gilt hands and indexes, and a moon phase indication positioned at six o’clock, framed by the date indicator—all making for a striking appearance on the watch face. Presented on a black leather strap, it is powered by the Longines exclusive L899.5 self-winding movement, which keeps the watch running for at least 72 hours.

Zenith G.F.J.

Known for creating the iconic El Primero movement, Zenith has revived its legendary Calibre 135 to mark its 160th anniversary, introduced in a new collection—the G.F.J.—a tribute to the founder Georges Favre-Jacot’s initials, who established the manufacture in 1865. True to its vintage aesthetic, the watch captures the essence of a bygone era, shaped by classical timepieces. However, it is adorned with contemporary accents that are representative of the 21st century.  It comes in a 39mm, round platinum case, topped by a stepped bezel and curved lugs. It features a radiant blue lapis lazuli dial, with an outer ring that showcases a ‘brick’ guilloche pattern, faceted white-gold hour markers, and a discreet minute track of 40 white-gold beads applied by hand. The oversized sub-dial positioned at six o’clock occupies premium real estate on the watch face and is carved in mother-of-pearl. Powered by the new COSC-certified version of the Calibre  135, this elegant timekeeper can function for up to 72 hours, offering a precision of +/-2 seconds per day. The watch comes in three different strap options: a dark blue alligator leather strap, a black calfskin leather strap, and a blue ‘Saffiano’ calfskin leather strap.