Not all that long ago, the palette of fine watches was a restrained one. The silver-grey of stainless steel, polished to mirrored perfection or brushed to a matte finish. Else, gleaming shades of yellow, white or rose gold, or the cool sheen of platinum.
But have a look at the collections of watches out this summer, and you’ll notice that it’s a vibrant field. A colourful watch can be found nearly everywhere these days. It’s only in the last four years that colour has become a serious point of design to watchmakers.
The trend kicked off with colourful dials—recall the Patek Philippe Nautilus with a Tiffany & Co.-blue; or the Rolex Oyster Perpetual with a bubbly, turquoise-blue celebration design. That’s since expanded, and brands are experimenting more and more with applying bright, vivid palettes on other parts of a watch.
Leather and rubber straps, for example, have become a highly customisable field—most new watches these days come with easy-release mechanisms so you can swap these out on your own. Colour, then, has moved fine luxury watches beyond just subdued, sombre status symbols. Now, you can wear an investment-worthy piece on the wrist that’s cheerful and which puts a pep in your step.
The summer season naturally brings out the best of these designs. When wardrobes get lighter in texture and spirit, and colour becomes a mode of expression, the watch you put on your wrist should match the mood. Here, Vogue Singapore’s edit of joyful, colourful summer w.