When Icons Clash: A Retrospective of 2025’s Boldest Watch Collaborations
From Hublot’s MP-17 Meca-10 Arsham Splash to Ressence’s TYPE 3 MN with Marc Newson and more.
In 2025, high horology shifted from a traditional industry into an expansive creative playground. Over the past twelve months, collaborations have evolved far beyond simple co-branding, transforming into deep-dive exchanges between fellow watchmakers and a diverse array of innovators, disruptors, and icons across various disciplines.
From the philosophical minimalism of Lee Ufan and BVLGARI to the high-jewelry “Übermensch” manifesto of G-Dragon and Jacob & Co., these partnerships have challenged the very definition of what a wristwatch represents. Whether through the technical “DNA swap” of Ulysse Nardin and URWERK or the clinical, streetwear-coded cool of fragment for TAG Heuer, 2025’s joint ventures prioritized storytelling and authenticity over mere hype. As we reflect on the year, we’ve curated the eight collaborative timepieces that didn’t just tell the time — but marked a definitive moment in the cultural zeitgeist.
BVLGARI Octo Finissimo x Lee Ufan
Bvlgari
Bvlgari
Bvlgari
Bvlgari
At Geneva Watch Days 2025, BVLGARI elevated the Octo Finissimo from a technical marvel to a piece of high art through its collaboration with world-renowned contemporary artist, Lee Ufan. The minimalist masterpiece features a dial adorned with Ufan’s signature “single brushstroke” motif, a visual representation of time’s infinite nature and the Japanese concept of ‘Ma’ (emptiness). This partnership is particularly significant as it marks a rare moment where BVLGARI’s ultra-thin architecture serves as a canvas for philosophical expression, blending the precision of Italian design with the profound stillness of Asian minimalism.
GD x Jacob & Co. Astronomia Solar
Jacob & Co.
Jacob & Co.
In a meeting of two “kings of flash,” G-Dragon (GD) joined forces with Jacob & Co. to unveil the Astronomia Solar G-Dragon, a bespoke high-jewelry timepiece that captures the K-pop icon’s eccentric spirit. Set against a vibrant backdrop of hand-selected multicolor sapphires and Jacob-cut diamonds, the collaboration features GD’s signature daisy motif – with one petal missing – integrated into a case dripping in baguette-cut diamonds and vibrant gemstones. The watch is as much a personal manifesto as it is a timepiece, reinforced by the engraved caseback bearing the phrases “The World Is Mine” and “Übermensch,” a reference to his latest album and his ethos of artistic dominance.
Hublot MP-17 Meca-10 Arsham Splash
Hublot/Daniel Arsham
Hublot/Daniel Arsham
Hublot/Daniel Arsham
Hublot/Daniel Arsham
Hublot/Daniel Arsham
Hublot/Daniel Arsham
Hublot/Daniel Arsham
Back in October, Hublot continued its “Art of Fusion” mission with artist Daniel Arsham, unveiling the MP-17 Meca-10 Arsham Splash. The wristwatch captures Arsham’s fascination with “future relics” and erosion, featuring a striking splatter-paint aesthetic across a micro-blasted titanium and sapphire case. A standout release, the collaboration transforms the mechanical complexity of the Meca-10 movement into a three-dimensional sculpture, where it feels less like a traditional watch and more like a wearable piece of Arsham’s studio, complete with his signature “Splash” motif that challenges the traditional cleanliness of luxury watchmaking.
Ressence x Marc Newson TYPE 3 MN
Ressence/Marc Newson
Ressence/Marc Newson
Ressence/Marc Newson
Ressence/Marc Newson
Ressence/Marc Newson
As part of Ressence’s 15th anniversary, the Belgian independent watch brand enlisted the help of legendary industrial designer Marc Newson, who actually gave Ressence its name years ago, to create the Type 3 MN. This full-circle moment resulted in a watch that swaps Ressence’s traditional palette for a vibrant, primary-color scheme inspired by Newson’s playful yet functional design language. The collaboration highlights the deep personal history between the designer and the brand, proving that even a hyper-modern, oil-filled timepiece can find new life through a “Newson-esque” lens of color and ergonomics.
Ulysse Nardin x URWERK UR-FREAK
Ulysse Nardin/Urwerk
Ulysse Nardin/Urwerk
Ulysse Nardin/Urwerk
Ulysse Nardin/Urwerk
Possibly one of the most technically ambitious “mashups” of the year, the UR-FREAK brings together two pioneers of avant-garde watchmaking: Ulysse Nardin and URWERK. The watch is a horological mutant, grafting URWERK’s iconic satellite wandering hour complication onto the carrousel-tourbillon architecture of the Ulysse Nardin Freak. This project represents a genuine exchange of patents and DNA, showcasing a level of creative transparency that truly amalgamates and strengthens both independent innovators within the watch world.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x fragment Limited Edition
Tag Heuer/Fragment
Tag Heuer/Fragment
Tag Heuer/Fragment
Tag Heuer/Fragment
Tag Heuer/Fragment
Tag Heuer/Fragment
Tag Heuer/Fragment
Hiroshi Fujiwara’s fragment and TAG Heuer joined forces to reveal a limited-edition Carrera Chronograph, once again applying his signature touch of clinical cool to the technical watch of watchmaking. In an exclusive interview, Fujiwara noted his desire to strip away the noise to focus on legibility and vintage proportions, resulting in a monochromatic dial with subtle “Fragment” lightning bolt branding. This collaboration remains a perennial favorite because it perfectly balances Fujiwara’s obsession with 1960s motorsport aesthetics and his unparalleled ability to make a heritage brand feel essential to the modern streetwear enthusiast.
USM x Zenith DEFY Chronograph
Zenith/Usm
Zenith/Usm
Zenith/Usm
Zenith/Usm
Zenith/Usm
Zenith/Usm
Zenith/Usm
Zenith/Usm
Zenith/Usm
Moving beyond fashion and into the realm of architectural design, Zenith collaborated with Swiss modular furniture icon USM for a special edition of the DEFY Chronograph. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant colors and structural steel tubes of the USM Haller system, the watch features a dial and strap in USM’s iconic “Haller Blue.” This partnership celebrates a shared Swiss heritage of modularity and precision, effectively translating the “buildable” soul of high-end office design into the high-frequency world of Zenith’s El Primero movement — all complete with USM’s signature vivid colors.
ANICORN x Playstation
Anicorn /Playstation
Anicorn /Playstation
Anicorn /Playstation
Anicorn /Playstation
Anicorn /Playstation
Anicorn /Playstation
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the gaming giant, ANICORN partnered with PlayStation for a collection that taps directly into ‘90s nostalgia. The release comprises three distinct watches, utilizing ANICORN’s signature disc-system display and are themed around the hardware aesthetics of the original PS1 console, complete with the iconic four-color logo and “Play” button motifs. This collaboration is cool because it treats gaming culture with the same respect as high design, offering a sophisticated way for the “PlayStation Generation” to wear their digital history on their sleeve.
