History isn’t just written in books, sometimes it ticks on the wrist. For the watch world, the heritage reissue remains a perennial flex: a way for the great maisons to mine their archives and remind us why their classics became, well, classics.
Done badly, it’s nostalgia cosplay. Done well, it’s a masterclass in how timeless design still speaks volumes today – only with the benefit of modern engineering under the hood.
These are watches that fuse legacy with longevity, tradition with innovation. They’re talismans of craft that don’t just honour history but actively make it.
We’ve rounded up the finest heritage pieces worth your attention, proving that the past still has plenty to say about the future of watchmaking.
Patek Philippe
Ref 5370R Split-Seconds Chronograph
Part of Patek Philippe’s Grand Complications range, the 5370R is a split-seconds chronograph that pays homage to the brand’s golden era of mid-20th-century watchmaking while seamlessly integrating modern technical mastery.
Its dial is rendered in a warm brown-and-beige grand feu enamel, and features applied Breguet numerals and leaf-shaped hands on a 41mm rose gold case. Those leaf hands are also lumed, something of a rarity for classically styled Patek chronos, while the brown alligator leather strap utilises a (patented) triple-blade deployant clasp and quick-release spring bars.
Protected by no fewer than seven patents, the highly complex hand-wound rattrapante movement is composed of more than 300 meticulously finished components.
Kindly, Patek has provided a sapphire crystal caseback to show off its traditional haute horlogerie finishing – such as hand-polished bevels, Geneva stripes, and intricate wheelwork. This knockout timepiece is the embodiment of class.
Vacheron Constantin
Historiques 222
Following Vacheron Constantin’s yellow-gold resurrection of the 222 model in 2022 (see what they did there), this year sees the welcome return of a stainless steel version.
First produced in 1977, ‘222 Jumbo’ was a first-generation member of horology’s ‘luxury sports watch’ club, making the reissue’s return to the alloy only natural.
Measuring 37mm in diameter, the watch is guaranteed water-tight to a leisurely depth of 50 metres and employs a proprietary automatic calibre with 22ct-gold winding rotor.
Note also the date wheel – marginally relocated, when compared to 222 Jumbo, so as to no longer interrupt the minute track.
Rolex
Perpetual 1908
The name 1908, referring to the year Hans Wilsdorf devised the name ‘Rolex’, tells you all you need to know about this watch’s heritage credentials, while the excellent Calibre 7140 beating at its heart was the jumping-off point for the groundbreaking Calibre 7135 found inside the new Land-Dweller.
But the star of the show is the brand-new Settimo bracelet. Composed of seven small contoured links, polished on every surface, it looks and wears like a dream.
It features a patented curved attachment system that ensures the bracelet doesn’t interfere with the 39mm case. Better still, Rolex has confirmed it’s interchangeable with older Perpetual 1908 models and can be purchased separately.
A Lange & Söhne
Richard Lange Jumping Seconds
Drawing inspiration from 18th- and 19th-century professional-use pocket watches, the Richard Lange collection aims to reinterpret the spirit of these ultra-precise, ultra-legible pieces in a manner relevant to today’s Lange customer.
Limited to 100 pieces, the latest Richard Lange Jumping Seconds features a 39.9mm white gold case set against a pink gold dial with separate regulator-style hour, minute, jumping-second, and power-reserve displays.
A zero-reset mechanism ‘jumps’ the seconds hand to 12 o’clock when engaging the crown’s time-setting position, facilitating to-the-second accuracy when setting.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds
One of this year’s most popular releases, as evidenced by press and Instagram buzz alike, the Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds traces its lineage back to 1931.
Originally conceived for polo-playing British Army officers, the Reverso features a swivelling case ingeniously designed to shield the delicate dial from the rigours of sport.
The standout of this new iteration is the striking pink gold Milanese bracelet, meticulously case-matched and crafted using around 16 metres of solid gold thread woven into a dense, flexible mesh of interlocking links.
Beyond its technical mastery, the bracelet’s luminous sheen and tactile suppleness elevate the watch’s elegance, creating a seamless and comfortable evolution of the Reverso’s revered design.
With its slender proportions, refined dial detailing, and subtle play of textures, this model exemplifies the balance of heritage and modern luxury as the iconic collection approaches its centenary.
Blancpain
Fifty Fathoms Automatique 38mm
Debuting in 1953 and considered the first true modern diver, the Fifty Fathoms holds a special place in watch history.
Over the years, Blancpain has released all manner of iterations – including chronographs, GMTs, depth gauges, calendars, and tourbillons – but for 2025, Blancpain returns to basics with the Fifty Fathoms Automatique.
Housed in a nostalgically proportioned 38mm case, it’s available in either steel, titanium, or red gold and with a host of dial variations to boot – not least the whimsical mother-of-pearl version.
Continuing the nostalgic design theme, alongside the traditional sailcloth and NATO options, the watch is also available on a vintage-inspired ‘Tropic’ rubber strap.
Tudor
Black Bay 68
Tudor’s Black Bay line has established itself as a leading force in the world of ‘heritage reissues’, mixing elements such as the distinctive ‘Snowflake’ hands and the riveted steel bracelets inspired by vintage Tudor models, with new dial colours, updated case sizes, and additional complications.
Aimed at bigger wrists or those preferring chunkier watches, the new Black Bay 68 is named for the 1968 debut of the Snowflake hour hand and features a 43mm case.
This model now complements the wider Black Bay family, which includes the compact 37mm Black Bay 54, the versatile 39mm Black Bay 58, and the original 41mm Black Bay, collectively offering enthusiasts a range of sizes for all tastes.
Longines
Legend Diver 39mm
Longines, too, refines an archival design by adding a new and playful dial colour to its 39mm Legend Diver.
The latest version features a bold matte-white face while retaining the signature mid-century Super-Compressor characteristics, which include an internal rotating timing bezel and twin crowns – one for the bezel and the other for winding and setting.
The classic diver’s look pairs well with contemporary reverse-contrast white markers and etched hands.
Beneath the monochrome good looks, the movement is a COSC chronometer-certified automatic. It is magnetically resistant to ten times the industry standard, thanks to a silicon balance spring, and features a healthy
72-hour power reserve.
Hamilton
Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer Mechanical Chronograph
For the Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer Mechanical Chronograph, Hamilton revisits an RAF-issued pilot’s watch from the 1970s, subtly refining the cockpit-ready original for civilian tastes with a blue sunray finish dial.
Core elements true to the RAF heritage remain: a manually wound movement, broad lume-filled hands, the distinctive vintage “Hamilton” dial signature, Arabic hour numerals, and a protective bulge at the 3 o’clock case edge to shield the pushers and crown.
Notably, King Charles III owns and still occasionally wears one of the original vintage pieces, having reportedly been issued it during his time as an RAF – and subsequently Royal Navy – pilot in the 1970s.
Nivada Grenchen
F77 Stainless Steel Meteorite
The F77 Stainless Steel Meteorite seamlessly blends Nivada Grenchen’s rich heritage with contemporary design.
Featuring a 37mm brushed stainless steel case and an integrated bracelet, its standout feature is the genuine meteorite dial. Showcasing unique metallic grey geometric patterns, the dial ensures each watch is one-of-a-kind.
Powered by the Swiss-manufactured Soprod P024 automatic movement, it offers a 38-hour power reserve and 100 metres of water resistance.
Celebrating a century of watchmaking in 2026, the refined F77 Meteorite is a testament to Nivada Grenchen’s century-long commitment to precision and style.
Tissot
PR516 41mm
For those in the market seeking a good value proposition, I direct your attention to Tissot’s PR516 41mm chronograph.
Dating back to the 1960s, the PR516 is Tissot’s take on the well-established ‘pro’ motorsport chronograph. It’s a classically styled piece, featuring a 3/6/9 o’clock ‘tricompax’ sub-dial layout, and is powered by an automatic movement visible through an exhibition sapphire-crystal caseback.
Used for determining one’s speed/distance or heart rate, respectively, a dual tachymeter/pulsometer scale bezel rings the dial. Surely it will appeal to drivers competing on heart-rate peaking race days and, perhaps, the imaginations of Drive to Survive fanboys alike.
Girard-Perregaux
Deep Diver
Teaming up with Bamford Watch Department, the Deep Diver recreates a dive watch that Girard-Perregaux first launched in 1969.
Limited to 350 pieces, it features a modern GP03300 self-winding movement and is equipped with up-to-date titanium case construction.
Throwback features, by contrast, include the ‘snake head’ handset, faceted high-polish bezel, brushed/polished cushion case, ‘super compressor’ bezel configuration, and a colour block dial design.
In trademark Bamford Watch Department style, the watch’s presentation box has been modelled after a swimming pool, playfully acknowledging its holiday-ready credentials.
