Rounding up this year’s list, Peter makes his list for all to read. And as usual we begin with the philosophy behind the series.
Dear Santa 2025: Peter makes his wishlist for the year
The raison d’etre for these Dear Santa posts was first shared on my post from 2023 and 2024. As it still is the spirit behind the season as well as the series, here it is:
“We do this Dear Santa Wishlist assignment every year, and it has become a tradition for Deployant. But this is not an exercise in frivolity or revisiting lost childhood, but one that is very serious. We ask our writers, and the Chief Editor, to pick what they would like to see as Christmas presents. This will allow you, our dear readers to have a peek and gain an understanding on what drives and excites of us. With this insight, we hope that you may be able to have a feel of our biases. Let’s face it, everybody is biased. And we no more than the next reviewer. But let it be known that at Deployant, our biases are not commercially driven. We do not sell any watches or accessories, new or pre-owned. We do not make collaborations with brands.
We are also not journalists. Not per se. Our role is to share the passion, spread the love, deliver the message and if we may, allow ourselves to add some of the insights we have garnered as long term collectors and media. And with these Dear Santa essays, we hope to arm you with the markers to allow you to more accurately decipher our enthusiasms and criticisms. As we once again reinforce our mantra of “For collectors, by collectors”.
And with this out of the way, let the series conclude with this selection:
Urban Jurgensen UJ-2
One of the most significant releases for this year. The re-appearance of Urban Jurgensen which was led by none other than Kari Voutilainen. We covered the launch events in Santa Monica. Three watches were released. The UJ-1 which is loosely based on Derek Pratt’s Urban Jurgensen Ovale watch and carries a tourbillon. The UJ-2, which is my pick, is the entry level piece. And the UJ-3 which is a perpetual calendar.
The UJ-2 comes in at CHF 105k. The pricing is very similar to the retail price of a Voutilainen Vingt-8, which the UJ-2 kind of resembles…but not quite. And this is a good thing, as Voutilainen signed watches now have a 8-9 year waitlist. This pricing level is certainly below what the secondary market is seeing for the Vingt-8, so one can argue that the UJ2 is a bargain.
I love the watch for the exquisite details. Everything is superbly well thought out. The case, dial, hands, and of course the movement is superb. Finishing is top level, with every single haute horlogerie element executed beautifully.
Candaux DC-12 MaveriK
I have always been impressed with David Candaux. The watches under his own brand name has always fascinated me, but the entry price has always been high. Deservedly so, as the watches do feature unique characteristics unique to the maison. Until the DC-12. A new entry level piece by David, coming in at CHF 98k.
But this is not just a time only watch with some of the interesting Cadaux signatures – like the magic crown, the inclined dial, the magnificently finished movement. The DC-12 carries a complicated heart in the form of a Duality like dual escapement which is joined at the fourth wheel where the power is split by a differential. Here, the single power train splits at the differential with the energy escaping from two escape wheels which balance each other out. The principle is exactly the same as what Dufour has done for his Duality. And David tells me that he has taken almost 10 years to develop his version, solving most of the initial problems that Philippe had with the Duality. Review forthcoming.
Still on the list: Greubel Forsey Nano Foudroyante
I swooned at the watch last year. And it is still at the top of my list this year. Because? Well, I have not acquired it yet. And at CHF 465k, I doubt I will ever acquire it…besotted that I am.
I handled the watch several times this year, and each time, Michel Nydegger (Greubel Forsey CEO) had a hand in passing me the watch. It is still as magnificent. Still as drool worthy. And still my grail watch.
Alpa 12 SWA Pignions Edition with Hasselblad CFV 100C back + Alpa 6×9 film back
As usual, I trade one of my watch slots for camera setup. But this year, the photo gear gets its own column. As a bonus wish. My wish list for 2023 was for a capable video system. And we achieved that in 2025, with the Leica SL3-S with the lenses – Leica Sumicron-SL f/2 35mm and the Summicron-SL f/2 50mm. The 35mm is the backbone of our video system, and is used in almost all the interview shoots. Sound is provided by the Hollyland Lark M2 and Lark M2S systems as well as a DJI Mini Mic setup. With a total of 6 microphones at our disposal, this setup is rather complete. For macro work, the Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO is used. See my discussion of this setup here. Late 2025, I added the Godox RS60 Bi 2 Light kit.
But for this year, the camera gear I am wishing for is torn between either the new Alpa 12 SWC Pignions Edition, or the Phase One XT system. The Alpa feels more precise, more deliberate, while the Phase One is a fully integrated system and feels to be so.
For any of the systems, viz Phase One, Alpa or Cambo, the digital back and lenses remain the same. The digital back will be the still top of the line IQ4 150, which is still far ahead of the competition in terms of image quality. Though if the budget becomes a concern, the Hasselblad 907/CFV 100C will be an excellent choice. With the Hasselblad back, the advantage of a X-Shuttered lens, with its attendant price premium becomes equalised. The superb Rodenstock Digaron HR32 and HR23 will be sufficient for my use case. Though the HR90 will come in handy for portraits. So perhaps we go for the practical choice. A balance of pricing and quality.
So my final choice will be the Alpa 12 SWA Pignions Edition with Hasselblad CFV 100C back and the Alpa 6×9 film back.
With the cost savings by selecting the Hasselblad back versus the superior Phase One back, we can use the money for lenses. And without the Phase One back, the lenses can also be the less expensive aperture and mechanical shutter units instead of the X-Shutter systems. And for this, I will choose the HR 23 + HR32 + HR90. The other advantage is the 907/CFV 100C is a full camera with a XCD 2,5/38V is compact enough for an everyday carry. With an adapter the system can also use the H lenses which I already owned. Total investment: USD 65k. Compared to similar setup without the HR90 and without ability to use the 907 as a walkabout camera if we went with the Phase One XT/IQ4 150/X-shutter HR 32 + HR23 would come up to USD 80k.
