The Revolutionary List : The Icons of 21st Century Watchmaking

Editorial

The Revolutionary List : The Icons of 21st Century Watchmaking

Revolution looks back at over 100 people and timepieces that helped define the last 20 years.

by Revolution . Dec 10, 2025

by Revolution
Dec 10, 2025

10 mins Read

Summary

Introduction
26 Inspirational Leaders
30 Pioneering Watches
24 Technically Brilliant Watches
25 Watchmakers & Constructors

This year, Revolution turns 20. Two decades of chronicling people, watches and ideas that have defined and reinvented the age-old craft of timekeeping. To celebrate, we’ve chosen over 100 milestones that define the 21st century, a time of incredible change and evolution, and also a period of recovery from the Quartz Crisis where watches emerged as emotionally expressive artworks, as much as they are precision timekeepers.

This is not a “greatest of all time” hall of fame. It can’t be — there are too many deserving people and pieces to fit. Instead, it’s a snapshot: a reflection of the leaders, watches, innovations and watchmakers who have left an indelible mark on modern horology.

So here, as Revolution celebrates its 20th anniversary, is our look at over 100 leaders, watches, innovations and watchmakers that, each in their own way, helped shape the horological landscape of the 21st century. It’s not the last word — but it is, we hope, a worthy one.

François-Paul Journe featured in Revolution’s Asia Edition Issue #1

We begin with leaders. They are the strategists, entrepreneurs and visionaries who guided watchmaking through turbulent waters and golden runs alike. Some revived heritage names, some reshaped the global marketplace, some simply kept faith in mechanical watches when others doubted their relevance. A few have since passed away, yet their imprint is unmistakable in the brands, businesses and even entire categories they helped build.

Angelo Bonati at Panerai’s boutique, the visionary behind the brand’s transformation into a global icon of Italian luxury

Then there are the watches themselves. These are the icons of our time: pieces that sparked new conversations, changed collecting tastes, or became cultural touchpoints beyond the watch world. Some dazzled with technical brilliance, others with sheer beauty, and some by distilling both into a single object. Each shows how, at its best, a watch can be far more than a tool — it can be a statement of artistry, ingenuity and imagination.

Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication (Revolution©)

Behind those pieces often stand breakthroughs. The last two decades have seen silicon components, lightweight alloys and inventive escapements become part of the vocabulary of watchmaking. Materials have been rethought, energy flow reconsidered, finishing and decoration pushed to new heights. Tradition and innovation are not opposites here; they are partners, each drawing strength from the other to create something new.

Denis Flageollet, Founder of De Bethune, working at the forge

And, of course, there are the watchmakers themselves. Whether independent artisans building watches almost entirely by hand or masters within great maisons, they are the soul of this craft. Some are no longer with us, yet their legacy endures in every movement they designed or every complication they revived. Others continue to create today, driven by the same patience and devotion that has sustained horology for centuries.

One more point deserves mention. Women are underrepresented in this list. That is not a reflection of talent — quite the opposite. It speaks to the traditional structure of an industry that, for much of its history, offered women fewer visible paths to the spotlight. Yet wherever we’ve looked — in design studios, communications, archives, project management, brand stewardship — women have been and remain vital to the progress of watchmaking. Their presence in leadership, at the bench and in collecting circles grows stronger every year, and the future of the industry will be richer for it.

So here, as Revolution celebrates its 20th anniversary, is our look at over 100 leaders, watches, innovations and watchmakers that, each in their own way, helped shape the horological landscape of the 21st century. We start with Inspirational Leaders and Pioneering Watches, with more on Technically Brilliant Watches and Watchmakers to come.

It’s not the last word — but it is, we hope, a worthy one.

26 Inspirational Leaders

The modern watch industry has been shaped by visionary leaders whose influence extends far beyond the maisons they guided. These strategists, entrepreneurs and cultural catalysts steered watchmaking through periods of uncertainty and renewal, revived historic brands, reshaped global markets and championed mechanical craft when others questioned its relevance. Their decisions, convictions and imagination helped define the trajectory of 21st-century horology — leaving an imprint that continues to guide the industry today.

30 Pioneering Watches

The last two decades have produced timepieces that not only captivated collectors but shifted the very language of modern watch design. These pioneering watches sparked new conversations, challenged conventions, and often became cultural touchpoints far beyond the enthusiast community. Whether through daring aesthetics, breakthrough mechanics or pure artistic expression, each of these creations reflects the transformative moments that have shaped contemporary watch culture.

24 Technically Brilliant Watches

Behind many of the era’s most remarkable innovations are watches that redefined what mechanical horology could achieve. These technically brilliant creations showcase the ingenuity of modern engineering — from novel escapements and advanced materials to radical energy management and unprecedented complications. They demonstrate how tradition and innovation, far from being opposites, can merge to propel watchmaking into bold new territory.

25 Watchmakers & Constructors

At the heart of every meaningful horological advancement stand the watchmakers and constructors whose hands, minds and dedication make it possible. These artisans, creators and technical pioneers — whether independent visionaries or masters within storied maisons — have kept the soul of watchmaking alive. Their commitment to craft, innovation and the pursuit of excellence ensures that the legacy of mechanical watchmaking continues to evolve while remaining deeply rooted in centuries-old tradition.

The Revolutionary List : The Icons of 21st Century Watchmaking

The Revolutionary List : The Icons of 21st Century Watchmaking

Summary

26 Inspirational Leaders

30 Pioneering Watches

24 Technically Brilliant Watches

25 Watchmakers & Constructors

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