Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Best Watches From Independent Watchmakers in 2025
Freedom, ingenuity, and craft without compromise: these are the six independents that defined the year.
In 2025, the indie watchmaking scene reached new heights, once again demonstrating that innovation and artistry continue to flourish outside the big groups, captivating us with daring mechanics, refined finishes, and pure creative freedom. Whether you’re looking for the best indie watches of 2025 or want to see how far independent brands can push modern haute horlogerie, these six timepieces capture the essence of craftsmanship without compromise.
David Candaux DC12 MaveriK
David Candaux’s DC12 MaveriK represents the spirit of independent Swiss watchmaking, raw invention, technical mastery, and emotional design. At 39.5 mm, compact and made from grade 5 titanium, the DC12 feels alive on the wrist, its asymmetrical case curving organically. But the real magic lies within: two balance wheels dancing under a patented differential that keeps both beating in perfect synchrony. The hand-wound Calibre C30 is architectural and deeply finished, its titanium bridges stepped and hand-polished. A retractable “magic crown” and curved sapphire windows turn the case into a kinetic sculpture. Rooted in Vallée de Joux tradition yet entirely modern, the DC12 MaveriK bridges Philippe Dufour’s precision and Candaux’s audacity. The DC12 MaveriK is a standout among the best independent watches 2025 has to offer.
Explore David Candaux’s DC12 MaveriK and its double-balance innovation here.
Fam Al Hut Mark I Bi-Axis Tourbillon
The most surprising newcomer of 2025 came from Chongqing, China. The Fam Al Hut Mark I Bi-Axis Tourbillon confirms that high-end Chinese independent watchmaking has arrived. Its capsule-shaped steel case houses a dual-axis tourbillon, retrograde minutes and hours, and a jumping-hour complication beneath twin sapphire domes. Co-founders Xinyan Dai and Lukas Young combine avant-garde design with traditional hand-finishing to produce a futuristic object that remains wearable. The hand-wound Calibre M-01T rotates one axis every 150 seconds and the other every 60, creating hypnotic orbital motion. At USD 32,000, this watch challenges both Western preconceptions and pricing logic, also redefining global independent horology.
Discover how Fam Al Hut’s Bi-Axis Tourbillon became the defining breakthrough for Chinese independents here.
Luca Soprana Time Only
After years of building movements for others, including the Derek Pratt Remontoir d’Egalité, Luca Soprana finally signed his own creation. The Soprana Time Only brings decades of experience, expressed with minimalist perfection. Its 38.8mm steel case and two-tone ruthenium sector dial are pure refinement, while the in-house movement reveals the hand of a true artisan. Inside, ARCAP bridges shimmer under Geneva stripes, framing a 12 mm free-sprung balance operating at 18,000 vibrations/hour. Every angle is polished, every inscription engraved by hand in his Vaumarcus atelier. Limited to about ten pieces a year, it’s one of the best independent dress watches of 2025. Restraint can still astonish.
Read our review of Luca Soprana’s quietly spectacular Time Only here.
Petermann Bedat Reference 1825
Peterman Bédat‘s three-hand masterpiece turns simplicity into sculpture. The 38mm rose-gold case, translucent green enamel dial by Olivier Vaucher, and spade-shaped hands radiate confidence. The in-house Calibre 233 delivers textbook haute horlogerie finishing: wide anglage, gold wheels, mirror-polished steel, and deep Geneva stripes on German-silver bridges. The pocket-watch inspiration makes the appearance timeless and appealing, and modern precision keeps it contemporary. The 1825 embodies what independent watchmaking stands for: integrity, beauty, and balance.
Discover how Petermann Bédat’s Reference 1825 turns discretion into perfection here.
Raúl Pagès RP2
Raúl Pagès continues his quiet revolution with the RP2, a time-only watch of rare purity. Beneath its 38.5 mm recycled-steel case and white-agate dial lies a hand-finished movement that ranks among the year’s finest. The new in-house calibre features a 12.5 mm balance, conical winding gear, moustache-style lever, and flawless anglage, all executed using wooden grinding wheels. The result is mechanical serenity, beating at 3Hz with uncompromising grace. The RP2 is discreet, balanced, yet utterly refined.
Explore Raúl Pagès’s RP2 and its quiet mastery of independent horology here.
Urwerk x Ulysse Nardin UR-FREAK
The Urwerk x Ulysse Nardin UR-FREAK is the collaboration nobody expected, and one of the most talked-about independent watches of 2025. Combining the Freak’s rotating carousel with Urwerk’s satellite-hour system creates a symphony of engineering and design. The 44mm sandblasted titanium case blends UN’s curves with Urwerk’s geometry. Inside, the co-developed Calibre UN-241 integrates a carousel, wandering hours, and a large silicon oscillator, all driven by the Grinder automatic system for 90 hours of autonomy. The UR-FREAK captures what independent watchmaking does best: collaboration, risk-taking, and fearless innovation.
Read our in-depth review of the Urwerk x Ulysse Nardin UR-FREAK collaboration here.
2025 was defined by creativity and conviction, and these independents proved that true luxury is about vision and that independent watchmaking remains the driving force of modern horology.
