Celebrity Life

We take a closer look at colourful luxury watches of every shade and hue.

Back in the day, watch dials were black or white, silver or gold. Now they come in just about every hue imaginable. We sift through the spectrum of shades you can strap on to your wrist, from vibrant red to regal violet – and even a veritable kaleidoscope of colour. Here are the best colourful luxury watches.

The Best Colourful Luxury Watches

Breitling

This colourful luxury watches capsule collection of Top Time chronographs from Breitling, which pays tribute to three American performance cars of the 1960s – the Shelby American Cobra (left, with blue-and-white dial), the Chevrolet Corvette (centre, with red-and-black dial) and the Ford Mustang (right, with green and black dial) – nails the vintage vibe perfectly. In 42mm (Corvette and Mustang) and 40mm (Cobra) stainless-steel cases and with racing-style leather straps, all three watches feature ETA-based automatic movements – on the 42mm models it’s the 1/8th-of-a-second Calibre 25, while the 40mm version gets the 1/4th-of-a-second Calibre 41; all beat at 4Hz for a 42-hour reserve of power. Pops of contrasting colour on each dial’s outer tachymeter scale ramp up the appeal still further.

H. Moser & Cie.

Although with a similar design to that of the Heritage Bronze “Since 1828”, Moser’s Heritage Dual Time not only gets a lustrous sunburst fumé burgundy dial but, to burnish its already convincing vintage pilot’s credentials, it also features a second 24- hour hand that, when the user isn’t travelling, can cleverly be hidden beneath the main hour hand. If that weren’t sufficiently indicative of the ingenuity of this small, Schaffhausen-based manufacture, the brand logo is rendered in transparent lacquer and, in certain lights, becomes almost invisible. In a 42mm steel case, the watch is powered by the automatic HMC calibre, which runs at 3Hz for a 72-hour reserve.

Grand Seiko

If the sword-shaped hands and multi-faceted hour markers (which glint beguilingly from whichever angle you look at them) weren’t sufficient to tell you it’s a Grand Seiko, then just look at the dial of this Snow on the Blue Lake limited edition. Inspired by the winter landscape of Hachimandai in Iwate prefecture, the delicate light-blue hue recalls sunshine on snow. With just 140 pieces available across five key Asian markets, this delightful and rare timepiece is presented in a 40mm steel case housing the high-beat 9S85 calibre, a super-accurate automatic movement offering a power reserve of 55 hours.

Omega

Although the current design codes of Omega’s dressy Constellation collection were set back in the early 1980s, such is the way of trends that it seems they’ve swung right back into vogue. It thus comes as no surprise that the brand has decided to further enliven the Constellation’s appeal with this recent drop of three 36mm ladies’ versions with diamond-set bezels, sun-brushed coloured PVD dials and matching alligator straps. While all have steel cases and are powered by Omega’s Metas-certified 8800 co-axial automatic calibre, the burgundy model features a steel bezel, the blue reference comes with a bezel in yellow gold and the brown version has a bezel in Sedna gold.

Audemars Piguet

One of the main criticisms voiced when Audemars Piguet unveiled its Code 11.59 three years ago was that, while technically and in terms of craftsmanship the watches were exceptional, the dials were somewhat uninspiring – and especially on the simpler time-and-date models. The subsequent release, in September 2020, of five new chronograph and three-hand models with sunburst lacquered dials in blue, grey, burgundy and purple, went a long way towards addressing those issues – and especially as those opulent hues are offset with white and pink gold for the case and dial furniture, and matched with luxurious alligator straps. In fact, we’d even go as far as saying they’re actually rather fabulous.

Bvlgari x MB&F

In an unparalleled collaboration, Bvlgari and MB&F revealed two extravagantly over-the-top, gem-set versions of the independent Swiss watchmaker’s Flying T at the recent Dubai Watch Week. One, shown here, is in rose gold with a pink alligator strap and the other comes in white gold with a green strap – and both are covered in clear and coloured stones. In 39 x 20mm cases with delicately high-domed crystals, these 20-piece limited editions aren’t watches that can be worn every day, but they do demonstrate the spectacular results that can be achieved when avant-garde watchmaking and high-jewellery creativity collide.

Rolex

To Rolex-watchers accustomed to minuscule yet Earth-shaking changes in case diameters or bezel thicknesses, the company’s drop of new watches in the late summer of 2020 must have been a particular shock because among them was a quintet of Oyster Perpetuals in 36mm steel cases and brightly coloured lacquer dials. Four of them – in yellow, turquoise, coral red and candy pink – are shown here; there was also a not-quite-so-shattering green, and this year they were joined by 36mm Datejusts with palm- motif dials in olive green, gold and grey. All these may be unusually light-hearted on the outside, but they’re resolutely Rolex within, boasting Superlative Chronometer movements with Chronergy escapements and a 70-hour reserve of power.

Richard Mille

Yet another tribute to the long-time Richard Mille friend, ambassador and tennis great, the new RM 35-03 Rafael Nadal brings a new patented innovation – in the form of a butterfly rotor, three years in the development – to the brand’s high-tech box of tricks. This new feature, says the brand, “allows the wearer to directly interact with the rotor’s geometry, controlling the movement’s winding speed based on lifestyle and activity levels …” Philistines that we are, however, we’re more interested in the watch’s colour palette, which on this version includes blue Quartz TPT, red, yellow and white (there’s another model in mostly white Quartz TPT and light blue).

Hublot

Never one of the shrinking violets of the Swiss watch industry, Hublot has become renowned for pushing the boat out – though, in this, its latest collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, the vessel in question is more superyacht than skiff. In fact, the limited-edition Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Sapphire Rainbow, whose name pretty much says it all, is described by Hublot as “a whirlwind of transparency and colour”, which indeed it would be if you were to combine a 45mm case fashioned from solid sapphire with a rotating dial comprising 384 brightly coloured gemstones. And yes, if you were wondering, it even tells the time.

The post Time in Technicolour: Colourful Luxury Watches in Every Shade appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

From sea-inspired colourways to quartz-powered timepieces and more, here are ten of our favourite new watches to wear this September.

Richard Mille

For a purported “racing machine on the wrist”, Richard Mille’s latest novelty, the RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics, is unusually playful. Although the ladies’ capsule boasts the hi-tech materials and construction methods you’d expect from the Maison — you’ll have fun telling friends the skeletonised movement is in micro-blasted grade 5 titanium, while the front and back bezels are made from Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystal — the Pastel Blue, Pastel Pink and Pastel Lavendar colour schemes, and the “part-botanical, part-sunburst and part-Art Deco” dials are delightfully whimsical. This late summer stunner comes in a limited run of 50 pieces each.

Breguet

Breguet’s feminine Reine de Naples 8938 comes in two new versions. Especially flamboyant is this model in rose gold, with 3 carats of diamonds on the snow-set dial, bezel, lug and crown, an offset hours chapter in mother-of-pearl and self-winding rotor in — what else? — platinum.

Baume & Mercier

Inspired by the Côte d’Azur and first created in the early 1970s, Baume & Mercier’s Riviera has been re-interpreted for 2021 in radiant greens, a darker hue for men (in a 42mm case and automatic movement) and a lighter shade for women (in a more petite 36mm size with quartz calibre). Both feature a satin-finished wave pattern dial, as well as easily interchangeable rubber straps that match just about any summery mood.

Harry Winston

Harry Winston’s Emerald ladies’ watch collection has been enlivened by four new models, each in a vibrant colour: turquoise, orange, champagne or, shown here, violet. Each quartz-powered timepiece comes in a white-gold case set with 53 diamonds and all feature a coloured dial and matching cabochons in mother-of-pearl, set with a further 20 diamonds. A matching satin double-tour strap completes the ensemble.

Hublot

Although a 42mm case is on the large side, we can still see the ladies queueing up to get their hands on Hublot’s Big Bang Unico Summer. No, it’s not in ceramic as you might have suspected but anodised aluminium, which is not only lightweight but also gives a gorgeously metallic glint to a shade that’s said to be inspired by the colours of a Pacific lagoon. As just 200 are being made — and are available only at eboutique@hublot.com — if you want this seasonal stunner on your wrist you’d better move fast.

Bell & Ross x Patrouille de France

Earlier this year we brought you news of the tie-up between Bell & Ross and the Patrouille de France display team of the French air and space force. Well, here’s the first fruit of the collaboration, in the form of the new BR 03-94 chronograph, which bears the squadron insignia on its handsome blue dial. Available in just 500 pieces, the watch is powered by an ETA-based automatic calibre, though interestingly the team’s pilots will receive an otherwise identical quartz edition.

Tag Heuer

Tag Heuer’s Aquaracer has been a default dive watch choice for some four decades. The latest 43mm professional 300 iteration brings the watch bang up to date with new materials — including grade 2 titanium and ceramic rotating bezels — dial colours and ergonomic features.

Bovet 1822 x Rolls-Royce

Until now, the ultra-exclusive British car-maker Rolls-Royce has resisted collaborations with watch brands, but its recently announced tie-up with Bovet 1822 could hardly be more logical. The first result is a pair of astounding his-and-hers tourbillon timepieces, which are designed either to be worn on the wrist or slotted into a dashboard housing on the one-off Rolls-Royce Boat Tail — one for the owner and the other for his wife.

Bremont

Cool and relatively understated for what is, after all, a 43mm watch, the new MB Savanna is the latest offspring of Bremont’s long-term association with aircraft-ejection-seat manufacturer Martin-Baker. Designed to withstand the extreme G-forces generated when ejecting, the Savanna is a classic pilot’s watch featuring twin crowns, an internally rotating bezel, a black and yellow loop device on the central second's hand and a desert-inspired sand colour for both dial and case.

Breitling x Triumph

With Breitling wrapping up its partnership with Bentley after almost 20 years, the Swiss watch brand is striking up a relationship with another British automotive brand — and this time it’s moving from four wheels to two. In a tie-up that’s described by both parties as “long-term” Breitling will now be working closely with motorcycle manufacturer Triumph, whose products will feature prominently in the watch brand’s showrooms — and doubtless vice versa. Although the two sides have nothing concrete to show quite yet, both say they’re working hard on cross-branded watches and bikes, with first reveals scheduled for early next year.

The post 10 New Watches to Wear This September 2021 appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Brighten your collection with summery offerings from Breitling, Hublot and Oris.

The post Three pastel mechanical timepiece ranges for watch fans who love colour appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

Brighten your collection with summery offerings from Breitling, Hublot and Oris.

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