New releases from Laurent Ferrier, Urban Jürgensen, J.N. Shapiro and more

Pietro Pilla

If you’re a fan of independent watchmaking, this is one of those weeks you should be particularly interested in. Urban Jürgensen, first launched in 1773, is now coming back, revived under the experienced watch of Kari Voutilainen and Alex Rosenfield. This should be enough to declare it a great week for releases already, but then we also have J.N. Shapiro announcing its most compact watch yet, and Laurent Ferrier adding a red gold Sport Auto to celebrate its 15^th anniversary. These are certainly the highlights of the past seven days, but discover the rest of our selection below. Enjoy the reading!

Urban Jürgensen UJ-1 UJ-2, and UJ-3

• Extremely respected brand Urban Jürgensen announces its comeback in Los Angeles with three new models in several metals.
• The UJ-1 honours the legendary pocket watch developed with Derek Pratt, the Oval tourbillon, and it comes in rose gold and platinum with two dial options.
• Both the UJ-2 and UJ-3 feature a double-wheel natural escapement with the UJ-3 adding a perpetual calendar model on top, a clear sign of the technical goals that this brand is going to achieve.
• Price: from CHF 105,000.

Learn more about the Urban Jurgensen UJ-1, UJ-2, and UJ-3 here.

J.N. Shapiro Infinity Series Pure

• The new Infinity Pure combines Shapiro’s signature Infinity Weave with the smallest case for the brand yet, sized at 37mm.
• Available only in steel, the Infinity Pure will serve as the entry-level counterpart to the Resurgence, with AHA-sourced cases and a manually wound La Joux-Perret movement.
• It’s limited to 18 pieces for each of the two configurations.
• Price: US$26,000.

Learn more about the J.N. Shapiro Infinity Series Pure here.

Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto 79

• Celebrating both Laurent Ferrier’s 15^th anniversary and the founder’s podium at the 1979 Le Mans 24 Hours, the Sport Auto 79 comes to life.
• Sharing the same dimensions of the original model with the titanium case, this version features an 18k red gold 5N case and bracelet for a completely new look.
• The cream dial matches the tone of the case with a silver-rose galvanic treatment and opaline finish, and both hands and indices are crafted from the same 18k red gold 5N of the case.
• Price: CHF 79,000.

Learn more about the Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto 79 here.

Breguet Type XX Chronographs

• Breguet continues the celebrations for its 250^th anniversary by introducing two new Type XX in the 38mm golden size.
• Other than the size, gold is also the case material, specifically 18k Breguet gold: a very warm tone of yellow gold.
• The silver dial model will be limited to 250 pieces, while the black dial version will enter regular production.
• Price: from US$43,500.

Learn more about the Breguet Type XX Chronographs here.

Louis Vuitton Escale au Pont-Neuf

• Louis Vuitton unveils the second piece unique pocket watch of the Escales Autour du Monde collection, this time celebrating the city of Paris.
• It honours Louis Vuitton headquarters in the city of lights, on the right bank of Pont-Neuf, the city’s oldest bridge.
• It features an automata with stunning Métiers d’Art on one side and a sapphire caseback to admire the minute repeater movement on the other.
• Price: On Request.

Learn more about the Louis Vuitton Escale au Pont-Neuf here.

Ulysse Nardin Freak [X Gold Enamel]

• Ulysse Nardin combines the technical aspects of the Freak with métiers d’art in the latest edition of the Freak X.
• Both the lugs of the case and the hands and wheels of the suspended movement share the same rose gold tone.
• The sides of the case are made of blue PVD titanium, and the same colour stars on the dial with a flinqué enamel on top of a guilloché base.
• Price: £42,700.

Learn more about the Ulysse Nardin Freak [X Gold Enamel] here.

Gagà Laboratorio Labormatic Champagne & Azzurro

• Gagà Laboratorio expands its Labormatic collection with two new summer-ready colourways.
• Champagne contrasts with the previous Bauhaus model in every possible way, with its different approach to elegance.
• Azzurro is inspired by the Italian cultural vibrancy during the 50s and 60s, echoing the pastel tones of that era of design.
• Price: CHF 3,900.

Learn more about the Gagà Laboratorio Labormatic Champagne & Azzurro here.

Hublot Big Bang Unico Summer 2025

• Hublot officially brings in the summer with a colourful ceramic Big Bang Unico, pairing orange, white, sky blue and dark blue in a fresh, seasonal palette.
• With a customisable look, the watch arrives with three interchangeable straps: sky blue, dark blue or orange.
• Now a tradition, the new Big Bang Unico Summer 2025 marks the eighth summer in a row where a new summer watch has been released.
• Price: US$31,300.

Learn more about the Hublot Big Bang Unico Summer 2025 here.

Breva Geneve Segreto di Lario Titanium

• Breva Geneve expands its offering, keeping the Lake Como inspiration, this time by two particular moments: Sunset and Moonlight.
• Both housed in a grade 5 titanium case compared to the previous 18 rose gold edition, it shares the same triple retrograde movement.
• The Sunset model features a salmon dial while the Moonlight has a slate grey dial; both display the same brushed finish of the debut model.
• Price: CHF 46,000.

Learn more about the Breva Geneve Segreto di Lario Titanium here.

Citizen Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition

• Launched in 1985, Citizen’s Aqualand was the world’s first diver’s watch with an electronic depth meter.
• The new 40th Anniversary Limited Edition is a faithful tribute that introduces celebratory gold accents.
• Other than telling time, its functionalities include a calendar, alarm, chronograph, depth measurement, dive time tracking, and an ascent rate alarm.
• Price: US$595.

Learn more about the Citizen Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition here.

IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 TOP GUN Mojave Desert

• IWC gives us a new model with the very successful Mojave Desert colourway, this time keeping it simple.
• As it was for the chronograph, this colour is inspired by the landscape around the China Lake area in the Western Mojave Desert.
• While the 41mm case is ceramic, both the caseback and the pin buckle on the rubber strap with a textile inlay are crafted from titanium.
• Price: £7,300.

Learn more about the IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 TOP GUN Mojave Desert here.

Timex x Noah Lighthouse Watch

• Noah and Timex partner for the second time after the success of the rectangular watch launched in 2023.
• The resemblance of the Patek Philippe Ellipse is pretty evident, and it measures 31mm x 35mm.
• With just hours and minutes, you wouldn’t know it’s a quartz model, and it displays a lighthouse illustration on the white dial as it gives ‘guidance’ to Noah’s founder.
• Price: US$250.

Learn more about the Timex x Noah Lighthouse Watch here.

Swatch x Blancpain Scuba Fifty Fathoms Green Abyss

• With a new nudibranch on the caseback, the Green Abyss Scuba Fifty Fathoms brings a green tinge to the collection.
• Its layout is identical to the initial Antarctic colourway, the highlight being a nod to the moisture level indicator at 6 o’clock.
• The Green Abyss is still cased in Bioceramic, with a 42.3mm diameter, and is releasing on the 7th of June 2025.
• Price: A$655.

Learn more about the Swatch x Blancpain Scuba Fifty Fathoms Green Abyss here.

Accutron Tuning Fork

• Accutron brings back its Tuning Fork technology from 1960 after a decade of development.
• Originally, it was the first system of an electronic wristwatch, a big leap from traditional manual-wind and automatic watches.
• While the movement is completely redeveloped, it maintains the signature F-sharp hum and smooth sweeping second hand.

Learn more about the Accutron Tuning Fork here.

S.U.F Helsinki Vetehinen

• Stepan Sarpaneva introduces stone dials inspired by his experience at Piaget 30 years ago.
• Aventurine, malachite and lapis lazuli find a new home in the Vetehinen diver collection.
• The three stones come from Germany, India and the Congo respectively.
• Price: €4,700.

Learn more about the S.U.F Helsinki Vetehinen here.

Seiko Presage Classic Series “Craftsmanship” Unglazed Arita Porcelain

• Seiko, for the first time in the Presage line, introduces an unglazed Arita porcelain dial in an eggshell tone.
• Usually glazed, this technique leaves a matte texture that allows for intricate and three-dimensional patterns.
• This is a limited edition of 1,200 pieces, and it features a 40.6mm stainless steel case with super-hard coating.
• Price: US$1,850.

Learn more about the Seiko Presage Classic Series “Craftsmanship” Unglazed Arita Porcelain here.

Vario 1945 A-11S WW2 Field Watch

• Singaporean brand Vario’s latest timepiece is a solar quartz-powered, military-inspired field watch with specs that pack a punch in an affordable package.
• Available in two sizes, the 1945 A-11S WW2 Field Watch comes in a 35mm diameter for smaller wrists as well as a more contemporary 40mm diameter variation.
• There are three monochrome dial options for this new release, offering white, grey or black with a textured finish.
• Price: US$198.

Learn more about the Vario 1945 A-11S WW2 Field Watch here.