A guide to all the anniversaries celebrated at Watches and Wonders
There was something in the water in Switzerland this year.
Or should that be a hundred years ago? Not to mention fifty years ago, thirty years ago… you get the picture. For some reason, watchmaking anniversaries are abundant in 2026, and birthdays became one of the main themes at Watches and Wonders this year. Here’s a guide to all the biggest ones anniversaries in 2026. Who’s got the candles ready?
Rolex
Let’s start with the biggest one. This year, Rolex celebrates a century of the Oyster, the brand’s revolutionary waterproof and dustproof case that ushered in a new era of watchmaking and adventure. Since then, there have been countless Oysters, accompanying trailblazers across the world, up Everest and down to the deepest depths of the ocean. To mark the occasion, Rolex launched several new models at Watches and Wonders, including the Oyster Perpetual 41 in yellow gold and oyster steel, a colourful Oyster Perpetual 36, and the Oyster Perpetual 28 and 34, in 18 carat yellow gold with a green stone lacquer dial, and Everose gold with a blue stone lacquer dial.
Patek Philippe
Another big moment. This year is also the 50th anniversary of Patek Philippe’s iconic Nautilus model, one of the world’s most sought-after (and unattainable) models. Designed by Gerald Genta in 1976, it helped usher in the all-new luxury sports watch category. Fifty years later, the watchmaker is bringing out four new, limited edition models of the Nautilus, including two Jumbo sizes in white gold and a 38mm size in platinum, each with the slender profile and pared-back dials that revolutionised watchmaking in the 1970s. Completing the quartet is a one-off Nautilus desk clock with a 50.65 mm white gold case.
Chopard
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of its first in-house movement Chopard unveiled the L.U.C 1860 Chronometer, an homage to its first watch to carry the ultra-thin calibre. Elegant in its lines, it comes in Chopard’s Lucent steel with a beautiful guilloché dial in “Areuse Blue”, named after the river near the manufacture in Switzerland.
Tudor
Hans Wilsdorf was busy in 1926. As well as releasing Rolex’s Oyster, he also launched Tudor, its more accessible sister brand. That means this year the watchmaker celebrates its 100th anniversary, and to mark it it has launched the Monarch. A whole new line for the brand, it’s a true amalgamation of a century of heritage: the case and sub dial are inspired by the 1920s and 1940s, the name is inspired by the Monarch range in the 1990s, and the error-proof dial, with its mix of Roman and Arabic numerals, first appeared on Tudor watches in the 2000s.
Parmigiani Fleurier
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the independent watchmaker launched three new iterations of its Toric watch, the timepiece that Michel Parmigiani launched his venture with in 1996. The new Small Seconds, Perpetual Calendar and Rattrapante Chronograph versions all offer a stripped-back appearance, with minimalist hour markers and indices, leaving the focus on the discreet, hand-hammered gold dials.
Vacheron Constantin
Also marking 30 years is Vacheron Constantin’s Overseas collection, which it launched as its answer to the luxury sports watch. The four new versions are called Overseas Dual Time Cardinal Points and come in four colours to represent North (white), South (brown), East (blue) and West (green). Each one is made entirely from titanium — watchmaking’s current go-to material.
IWC
IWC Schaffhausen entered aviation watchmaking in 1936 with its first “Special Pilot’s Watch”, which was purpose built for flights. Ninety years on, it’s approaching a new frontier: space. Its anniversary model, the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive, is engineered for use in space. It was developed with, and certified by, with space company Vast, which is designing and constructing the world’s first commercial space station, Haven-1. The watch is specifically designed for astronauts, featuring a bezel-controlled “Vertical Drive” system usable with gloves.
Raymond Weil
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Raymond unveiled Millesime “The Fifty,” a limited-edition chronograph early in 2026. It’s powered by a restored Valjoux movement from 1976, the year the independent watchmaker was founded.
