Throwback Sundays: Colour Me Beautiful – Six Vibrantly Coloured Watches to Add Into A Collection, from Our Archives

Last week, the watch collecting world waiting in bated breath as Rolex launches its 2020 novelties online. Amongst the new additions lie an intriguing repertoire of vibrantly coloured Oyster Perpetual watches.

The new Oyster Perpetual 41 collection is polarising. Some find it too bold, but others thought that the spirited line-up is bold and sprightly. Regardless, we like the concept behind it. We think that it is nice to have a variety in one’s collection, and vibrantly coloured dials are certainly the way to go (aside from the usual black, white, and now blue dials).

So, what are some of the pieces that had caught our eyes? Let us find out!

Seiko 5 Sports Brian May Edition

This one is for the fans of Queen/Brian May – a limited edition Seiko 5 Sports that is produced in collaboration with Queen’s lead guitarist Brian May.

The design of the watch is a tribute to the design of the guitar which Brian and his father built in the early 1960’s. Known as the Red Special, the guitar had served Brian faithfully in his musical pursuits over the last few decades.

Interesting, the Seiko is also a nod to the watch that Brian had worn since the 1970s. Albeit a new model with a new movement, but the new Seiko 5 Sports follows its predecessors with a solid movement, robust case, and functional features. The 42.5mm watch is surely built to last; long enough to leave a legacy as well.

Priced at €560 (approximately S$908), the Brian May special is a tad pricier than some of the entry-level Seiko watches. However, we are willing to overlook the premium as it is not just a great timepiece, but one with a beautiful story behind it as well.

SEVENFRIDAY P3/07 Kuka III

Next up, we have a watch that is known to be fun and casual. Cue the SEVENFRIDAY P3/07 Kuka III.

The P3/07 Kuka III is one of the most striking pieces in the SEVENFRIDAY line-up. The timepiece is inspired by a particular robotics company named KUKA AG, in which its signature orange corporate colour became the theme behind this watch. The 47mm SEVENFRIDAY is fitted with the iconic rounded square case, and it is finished in black PVD stainless steel.

Powered by the self-winding Miyota 82S7 movement, the P3/07 has a 24-hour time display and a power reserve of around 40 hours. In addition, the watch also has an NFC chip embedded for verification purposes. There are only 750 pieces available, and it is priced at US$1,200 (approximately S$1642). Loud and unapologetic, this is not a timepiece for the faint-hearted.

Breitling Avenger Automatic 45 Seawolf

Breitling is a brand that is known for their big and bold timepieces. And the Avenger Automatic 45 Seawolf is no exception either.

The diver’s watch is an excellent example of a robust tool watch. Featuring a 45mm stainless steel case (with a thickness of 18.39mm, no less), the Seawolf is a solid watch that is capable of performing 3,000m deep under water. Besides it large case profile, the other striking about this watch is its bright yellow dial. This certainly gives the watch some personality – although it might be slightly deviant from the perception of it being a professional and serious tool watch.

Priced at US$5,000 (approximately S$6,840), the Avenger Automatic 45 Seawolf is a great timepiece that can withstand trying conditions. The yellow dial can be a little too loud for some – but it is probably the perfect watch for someone with a sunny personality.

NOMOS Glashütte Tetra Petit Four

One of the brands that have attained some traction in recent years is NOMOS, a small watch manufacturer that is based in Glashütte. The brand focuses on producing simple, Bauhaus-inspired pieces with superb in-house movements. And sometimes, quirky pieces as well.

The Tetra Petit Four for example of an interesting timepiece done right. The manual-winding timepiece is a novelty from Baselworld 2018, in which it features a 29.5mm square case and an in-house movement. It is finished decently, and it boasts a power reserve of around 43 hours. The main highlight lies in the dial colours, in which it offers four different variations: Pearl, Azure, Grenadine, and Matcha. The colours are light, and they are definitely pleasing to the eye.

For those who have not owned a German watch before, the NOMOS Tetra Petit Four is perhaps an interesting watch that you might want to consider. The watch is certainly a conversational piece, with its interesting design and an excellent in-house movement to match. Prices begin at S$2,950, and the watches will be aptly paired with a supple Shell Cordovan strap.

IWC Portugieser Chronograph

The IWC Portugieser Chronograph is an iconic timepiece from the Schaffhausen-based watch manufacturer. But this year, IWC had done something drastically different for this model.

Beside fitting the new in-house Calibre 69355, the manufacturer had also introduced two interesting dial variants for the watch – in burgundy and green. This is a pretty unusual option for the typically dressier Portugieser collection, but it had certainly brought us a different side of the watch. The burgundy dial model is certainly one of our favourites, with its combination giving us a nice balance between vibrancy and elegance.

Priced at US$7,950 (approximately S$10,875), the 41mm timepiece is certainly a breath of fresh air for the evergreen model. It is also competitively priced, which makes it an excellent proposition for any collector who is looking to add a solid timepiece into their collection.

Glashütte Original Sixties Annual Edition

The Glashütte Original Sixties Annual Edition has arguably one of the most fascinating and stunning dial designs that we have seen in recent years. After the successful debut of the green dial variant, Glashütte Original had introduced a bolder version in the form of an orange dial in 2019.

The watches are available in both time-only and a big date complication. The pièce de résistance of the watch naturally lies in its striking orange dégradé dial. This is not the first time the watch manufacturer had released watches with such dials, but the orange variant is perhaps the boldest from the watch manufacturer just yet. The textures on the dial also additionally provides an interesting dimension to the watch.

The new Sixties and Sixties Panorama Date are powered by the in-house Calibre 39-47 and 39-52 respectively. The self-winding movements beat at 28,800 vph, and they have a power reserve of around 40 hours. The 39mm (time-only) and 42mm (big-date) are priced at EUR 6,300 (approximately S$10,210) and EUR 7,800 (approximately S$12,641) each, and we think these two timeless watches will add colours and vibrancy into any watch collections easily.

Concluding Thoughts

It is good to see the bigger brands incorporating bolder colours into their designs. Admittedly, this is not an easy task. There is a challenge in finding the balance – it is easy to make it look tacky and unattractive, but the result is brilliant when the execution is done perfectly. The watches that we have highlight today are great examples of that.

We hope that brands will continue to push boundaries when it comes to designs. Colours are just one aspect – there are certainly more areas where manufacturers can consider exploring. We shall perhaps dive into those aspects in this column soon.

Finally, let us know what are your thoughts on our selection today – including the watches that should have made it onto the list today, as well as some of such colourful watches that you have in your collection, in the comments section below. Ciao!