Round-UpIrresistible Red Watches That Are Shaking Up Traditional Colour Trends
Red may not be an instant go-to hue in watches, and is often relegated to sporty timepieces. Yet, red can be so much more. We’ve put together a list of fine timepieces that celebrate the colour red. In case you’re looking for a versatile timepiece that balances form and function, and makes a striking impression, one of these watches would be perfect for you
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This year is about moving beyond the predictable palette of hues that usually dominate haute horlogerie. White, black, and tones of blue have always been no-brainers for those who have wanted to play safe. However, lately, luxury watchmakers have been breaking out of the norm, by rolling out exquisitely crafted timepieces featuring red dials, straps, and other details in the striking hue. It will be safe to say that the colour red speaks to a certain level of confidence and has an arresting impact. And what better way of making a sartorial statement than injecting a fresh streak of red in numerous tones!
Be it in maroon, burgundy, crimson or cherry, here are a few exquisite timepieces that revel in hues from the family of red.
Oris Aquis Date Relief ‘Cherry’ Red
Think of Oris as a brand, and the first image that comes to mind is of reliable dive watches. Their Oris Aquis Date Relief is one such timepiece that seamlessly blends superb engineering with striking design elements. Housed in a 41.5mm stainless steel case is its sunray-finished cherry red dial creating a soothing medley of hues. Super-LumiNova-coated hands and applied hour markers stand pronounced against the captivating cherry tone. The date window is placed neatly at six o’clock. Under the impact of bright sunlight, the dial colour changes from crimson to burgundy, which makes it eye-catching. Its stainless steel unidirectional-rotating bezel—bearing a matt finish—adds an extra edge to this watch. This timepiece is powered by calibre 733, an automatic movement, based on the Sellita SW 200-1, which beats at a frequency of 28,800vph and provides a power reserve of 38 hours. Presented on a three-link steel bracelet, it is water-resistant to 300m.
Breitling Professional Endurance Pro
A highly sophisticated sports watch and an everyday chronograph, Breitling’s Professional Endurance Pro impresses on many levels. It features a 44mm, ultra-light case carved out of, Breitlight, which is an anti-magnetic and ultralight material developed by Breitling. At first glance, oversized Arabic numerals placed at three, six, and nine o’clock command attention. The counter showing 1/10th of a second sits at two o’clock, a 30-minute counter at 10 o’clock, along with a running seconds counter at six o’clock. Its black bidirectional-rotating bezel lends it a beefy appeal. A date window has also been subtly positioned between four and five o’clock. The brand has also integrated a pulsometer scale in red, into the inner bezel. It can be used to measure the heartbeat of the wearer when conducting physical activity. In order to read your heart rate, start the chronograph and count the beats until you get to the number that the scale is calibrated for. Here, for the Endurance Pro, its pulsometer scale is calibrated to 30 beats. You need to start the chronograph timer, which then indicates the rate via the red chronograph seconds hand, once you have counted 30 beats and stopped it. Now you can read the heart rate in beats per minute. The Super-LumiNova-coated hour markers and hands create a striking contrast against the black dial. Powering this timepiece is Breitling’s COSC-certified chronometer calibre 82—a SuperQuartz movement. This watch comes with a red rubber strap and offers water resistance up to 100m.
Ulysse Nardin Classico Jade
Sleek and sophisticated, Ulysse Nardin’s Classico Jade wins, owing to its bling factor. Its mother-of-pearl dial is housed in a 37mm steel case, with a diamond-studded bezel. The lower left segment of the dial features its signature metallic swirl studded with diamonds and demarcating hour markers from six to eight o’clock. The rest of the Arabic numerals are featured in deep wine hue, matching the exquisite leather strap. Powering this intricately crafted timepiece is the self-winding mechanical calibre UN-815, which packs a power reserve of 42 hours. This watch is water-resistant to 30m.
Omega De Ville Trésor
One of the finest models in the Trésor collection, this timepiece has a slim 36mm case crafted in stainless steel and featuring 38 single-cut diamonds, which curve elegantly along each side. The lacquered white dial is surrounded by transferred Roman numerals in red, while the crown includes a single diamond. Presented on a red leather strap, this watch also offers water resistance up to 30m. Driven by the Omega calibre 4061, this stunning timepiece gets a polished mirror caseback embellished by a metallic ‘Her time’ pattern. Crafted with a pure design for the modern edge, this timepiece will tug at your heartstrings from the word go.
Bulgari Serpenti
Based on the symbolism of a seductive serpent, the Bulgari Serpenti, in one of its recent editions, sports a classic coiled calfskin leather strap in red. The red-lacquered dial in 27mm, with guilloche soleil treatment, and the case embellished with brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel, is a treat for sore eyes. The dial features Roman numerals with complementing hour and minute hands, making this watch a classic vision of contemporary elegance. Water-resistant to 50m, it will make you a head-turner in any gathering. This Serpenti runs on an accurate quartz movement.
Oris Big Crown Pointer Date
A blend of vintage style and contemporary versatility, this handsome timepiece dons a smooth 40mm stainless steel case, equipped with a see-through caseback, and water resistance up to 50m. It is powered by the 754 automatic calibre offering a host of useful functions, such as instantaneous date, date corrector, fine timing device and stop seconds for accurate adjustment of time. Delivering a power reserve of approximately 38 hours, this stunner by Oris looks a lot like Christmas as they say, thanks to intense shade of red on the dial. It not only complements the brown leather strap, but also serves as an impeccable backdrop for the Super-LumiNova details on the dial. This analogue date display watch upholds the value of practical simplicity and reliable mechanism. This timepiece is also available on a steel bracelet.
Junghans Meister Driver Chronoscope
With a display presenting a subdued colour palette, highly legible typography, along with commendable engineering, the influence of motorsports becomes quite evident when one looks at the Junghans Meister Driver Chronoscope. In sandy-grey hues, the uncluttered dial is housed in a 40.8mm steel case, and evokes minimalistic charm. The Super-LumiNova-coated dauphine hands appear to be more defined against the grey background of the dial. This vintage-inspired timepiece features a small seconds counter, positioned at three o’clock while a 30-minute counter for the chronograph is at nine—both featuring red hands that complement the shade of the leather strap. At the core of this timepiece sits the self-winding J800.3 calibre—a reliable movement that boasts a power reserve of 42 hours and beats at a frequency of 28,800vph. The watch is water-resistant to 30m.
Louis Moinet Memoris Superlight
It will be safe to say that Louis Moinet is a respected brand when it comes to state-of-the-art chronographs. Celebrated for its striking colours and unconventional designs, the Louis Moinet Memoris collection was first unveiled in 2016. Recent renditions present the Memoris in lightweight titanium and a new scheme of vibrant colours—this maroon edition being a standout. Sheathed in a 46mm grade-5 titanium case, this Memoris Superlight is limited to only 28 pieces. The two-hand timekeeping has been off-centred to the six o’clock position, so as to ensure that the chronograph feature takes centre stage. With a chronograph sweeping seconds hand at the centre, the sub-dials at three and nine o’clock are for the 30-minute counter and the small seconds, respectively. Powering this watch is the self-winding calibre LM79, which is composed of 302 components, beats at a frequency of 28,800vph and packs a power reserve of 48 hours. Just like the chronograph feature is distinguished on the dial, the chronograph mechanism is also on a dedicated plate, separated from the mechanism of the hour-and-minute timekeeping. This exquisitely designed timepiece is presented on an alligator leather strap that matches the dial, and is water-resistant to 50m.
Tissot Seastar 1000 Chronograph
If you are looking for a versatile timepiece that can effortlessly go from day to night, then your answer lies in Tissot’s Seastar 1000 Chronograph. Its 45.5mm case has been crafted from 316L stainless steel, which houses its beautiful red, gradient dial. The indices, hour and minute hands are coated with Super-LumiNova. It also features a unidirectional steel bezel, engraved with a scale to measure immersion time during a dive. Then, there are counters for 30 minutes and 1/10th of a second, positioned at 10 and two o’clock, respectively, along with the small seconds at six o’clock. The date window has been discreetly positioned between four and five o’clock. At the heart of this timepiece sits the ETA G10.212 quartz calibre. Presented on a black rubber strap, this watch is water-resistant to 300m.
Seiko Presage Cocktail Time ‘Negroni’ SRPE41J1
As the name suggests, this timepiece is meant for the good times. Be it a black-tie event or a more casual affair this rendition of Seiko’s Presage makes a solid impression owing to its simplicity. Housed in a 38.5mm stainless steel case, it is this watch’s dial that commands attention. The very specific red is inspired by the Negroni—the popular cocktail. The specific pattern resembles light refracting through a cocktail glass. Under the right amount of sunlight, this pattern conjures up a visual spectacle and transforms into an iridescent red. Its dauphine hands and the date window placed at three o’clock stand out perfectly against the red backdrop. This timepiece is powered by the Seiko calibre 4R35, an automatic movement that packs a power reserve of 41 hours. Presented on a brown leather strap, this watch is water-resistant to 50m.
Shop The Story
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Oris Aquis
01 733 7766 4158-07 8 22 05PEB
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Breitling Professional
X82310D91B1S1
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Ulysse Nardin
8153-201B/60-06
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Omega De Ville
428.18.36.60.04.002
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BVLGARI Serpenti
SPS27C9SDL
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Oris Big Crown
01 754 7741 4068-07 5 20 50
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Oris Big Crown
01 754 7741 4068-07 8 20 22
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Junghans Meister
027368500
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Louis Moinet Mechanical Wonders
LM-79.20.15
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Tissot T-Sport
T120.417.17.421.00
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Seiko Presage
SRPE41J1
