Most watches are designed to appeal broadly and to be worn daily, or nearly so.
But as watch cognoscenti know, there are micro-brands (and some not-so micro-brands) that produce timepieces that embody a unique vision and innovative aesthetics. These watches are often technological marvels, redefining the assumptions of watchmaking and pushing both design and engineering to new heights.
They’re not designed for everyone, and they most certainly don’t follow horological trends, lean into homage styles, or regurgitate design cues.
So without further ado, let’s dive into some very special timepieces.
MB&F HM7 Aquapod
Maximilian Büsser & Friends got off to a strong start in 2005 when Büsser, formerly CEO of Harry Winston Rare Timepieces and a senior executive at Jaeger-LeCoultre, founded his own brand. Enamored by the horological avante-gard, Büsser wanted to push the limits of timepiece design – and clearly he succeeded.
The HM7 Aquapod draws its design cues from a jellyfish, and MB&F chose to highlight the aquatic elements of this timepiece in keeping with that origin.
The unidirectional bezel floats above a large, 53.8mm platinum case, framing the central dome and the floating, flying tourbillon at the top. Two rotating discs display the time: the outer ring marks the hour, while the inner tracks the minute. And you read the time by referencing those numbers against a red marker on the domed crystal.
Inside, you’ll find a vertically-engineered in-house automatic movement offering 72 hours of reserve when fully wound.
Big, bold, and content to defy convention, the HM7 Aquapod is perfect for collectors and enthusiasts looking for a timepiece that can match their own iconoclasm. If you march to the beat of your own drum, this watch can be yours for $165,000.
Ressence Type 5 Diver
Ressence reimages the diver from the dial down, crafting a watch driven by out-of-the-box thinking. The result is both stunning and practical.
The Type 5 Diver starts with a 46mm Grade 5 titanium case that’s as light as it is durable. And Ressence chose the ETA 2824/2 automatic movement to power this watch, a conventional choice – and the last of them for the Type 5.
That movement drives a series of rotating discs which are submerged in non-compressable oil. The effect is that the discs, marking the time, appear to be on the surface of the dial, legible in a manner that needs to be seen to be believed. Ressence calls this proprietary tech its Ressence Orbital Convex System (ROCS), and it’s as attractive as it is novel.
Underwater, there’s no reflection on the dial concealing the time, nor is there a crown to allow high-pressure water to enter. Instead, the time is set via the caseback, leaving the case uncluttered.
And the constantly changing visuals catch and hold your eyes as the hand-less dial marks perfect time.
Definitely not a watch for every wrist, the 100m-capable Ressence Type 5 Diver retails for $37,900.
Urwerk UR-210
Known for its mechanical complexity, attention to detail, and boundary-pushing aesthetics, Urwerk has been manufacturing the cutting edge of horology since 1997. Their UR-210 showcases Urwerk’s design philosophy, and for enthusiasts or collectors who are drawn to high-mech design, this is as close to a grail watch as you’ll find.
Urwerk starts with a titanium and stainless case that’s been carefully machined to reveal angular, almost mechanical lines. The dial is skeletonized, revealing the movement beneath and the wandering, satellite hour hand and minute pointer. As the minutes tick away, the red minute indicator at the bottom of the hour complication indicates the minute, snapping back to zero at the start of each new one.
This unusual method for displaying time is mesmerizingly machine-line, offering aesthetic as well as horological innovation – such as the winding-efficiency indicator that displays how effectively your wrist movement is keeping the UR-210 wound.
And speaking of winding, Urwerk relies on the in-house automatic Caliber UR-7.10 movement, a self-winding, Swiss-lever escapement design that allows its owner to set its winding efficiency, with full, reduced, and stop positions available.
While clearly not a watch for every wrist, Urwerk’s UR-210 is an amazing example of horolology, available – when it can be found – for more than $85,000.
Devon Tread 1F
American watchmakers aren’t leaving all the fun for Europe, and Devon’s Tread 1F, inspired by racing aesthetics, really sets the bar for what counts as “new” and “unique.”
The Tread F1 is big: the DLC-coated stainless case measures a full 53.3mm wide, rising 19mm from your wrist. That space is absolutely necessary, as the Tread F1 uses a belt system to tell the time.
At its core, you’ll find an electro-mechanical hybrid movement, powered by a lithium-polymer rechargeable battery. That engine drives a series of belts through markers, allowing the hours, minutes, and seconds to be read by indexing them with bracketing details on the dial.
That’s definitely not something you see every day, and the utilitarian yellow on gray/black color scheme really leans into the automotive visual cues.
Devon claims that the Tread F1 is accurate to within a half-second per day, though the power draw required to measure the seconds continuously can shorten battery life substantially. Recharging is accomplished by leaving the watch on a charging pad, and a battery-saving power mode is available that stops the second belt.
At $19,950, Devon’s Tread F1 offers a fascinating evolution of racing-inspired horological design.
Watch regrets are the worst. Regardless of whether you’re a man or a woman, experienced or a beginner, anyone can make a mistake. Maybe you chose the wrong dial colour, or a complication watch that you never wear or use. Perhaps you bought a watch as an investment piece, and it ended up costing you money or losing value. What makes a mistake even more painful is when you misjudge the size of a watch.
Maybe it looked and felt great when you tried it on in the store. Perhaps you were caught up in the moment and made an impulse purchase. Your heart ruled your head, and you caved. But a couple of days later, it just isn’t settling on the wrist. It’s too clunky. Too overbearing. A couple of millimetres out, maybe…
A luxury watch should sit on your wrist like a second skin. However, finding the perfect fit depends on several factors, not just the size of the case. It depends on the lug-to-lug length of the case, the material, the design of the bezel and dial, and the shape of the lugs. The same applies to you if you’re a man looking for a small watch as well.
But there’s a heap of guides out there to help small-wristed males find small watches. So, what exactly do you do if you’re a lady with a particularly small wrist? Where do you start?
It’s a problem that doesn’t get discussed enough, so we thought we’d tackle the topic here at Exquisite Timepieces and provide a list of women’s watches for small wrists that sit outside the average sweet spot dimensions of around 34mm to 36mm.
All the options in this guide measure below those dimensions, varying from 24mm to 30mm in diameter. The list encompasses a range of prices, including timepieces manufactured by non-Swiss brands, as well as a variety of styles.
Before we get started, you should measure your wrist and work out what case size to focus on. As a starting point, you can use the following recommendations as a rough guide.
· Small wrists up to 5.5 inches – 26-30mm
· Medium wrists up to 6 inches – 30-34mm
· Large wrists up to 6.5 inches – 34-38mm
Now that you know which case size is best for your wrist, let’s take a look at the 26-30mm options for those with small wrists. Shall we begin?
Big on luxury but in a petite package, the OMEGA De Ville Mini Tresor Quartz watch boasts small proportions, measuring just 26mm in diameter, yet compromises on nothing in terms of functionality and superior craftsmanship.
Designed to be slim and lightweight, the case is crafted from the brand’s own 18K Moonshine Gold, which is less susceptible to colour and lustre fade than traditional yellow gold. It also features beautiful diamond decoration running up the sides of the sweeping lugs and case, along with a white Grand Feu enamel dial. This age-old technique has been used here to complement a set of fuchsia pink-coloured Roman numeral hour markers and gold-coloured feuille hands.
The OMEGA De Ville Mini Tresor Quartz is fitted with a no-fuss, Swiss-made quartz movement, known for its reliability and durability. But here’s the fun bit. Flip the watch over to reveal the steel and gold caseback, and there you’ll see a special “Her Time” engraving in a spiral-come-floral design, adding a nice artistic touch to this elegant lady’s OMEGA watch.
Don’t let the size of the Hamilton Jazzmaster Lady Quartz fool you. This is a petite watch with a stack of wrist presence, thanks to carrying the Jazzmaster design language. The quality design of the Jazzmaster is well above what you’d find in any fashion watch, yet it remains one of the most affordable watches in the brand’s portfolio.
The Jazzmaster series combines classic American style with traditional Swiss craftsmanship. As a whole, the collection comprises models like the pure and straightforward Viewmatic, the Open Heart (which features a cutout on the dial to expose the watch’s mechanically beating heart), and the Performer (a sportier and altogether more contemporary design that blends elegance with utility). There are also the Chronograph models for those seeking something a little more technically sophisticated, and the Thinline sub-series, which offers models with a sleek and comfortable fit for those who prefer minimalist, lightweight timepieces.
Jazzmaster watches are equipped with reliable ETA movements and provide a gateway to affordable luxury watch collecting, as many are priced lower than those of other luxury watch brands competing in the same space.
In this Jazzmaster watch for women, Hamilton keeps things simple with a rose gold-coated stainless steel case measuring 26mm in diameter, a quartz-powered movement, and a smooth, matte black dial with gold-coloured appliques. A delicate diamond decoration has been applied to the dial between 3 and 6 o’clock, adding a touch of opulence to what is an otherwise very classic-looking dress watch.
The Frederique Constant Classic Art Deco watch is a masterpiece in miniature form. Thoughtful dimensions and a clean, classic aesthetic evoke Art Deco-inspired sensibilities, resulting in a visually pleasing and timeless design.
Frederique Constant crafts the 30mm model from steel, equips it with a polished bracelet and adds a sprinkle of delicate round brilliant-cut diamonds around the dial for an extra touch of panache. This is another quartz-powered watch, allowing for the case to sit at a mere height of just 5.65mm. The “clous de Paris” guilloché dial and black Roman numeral hour markers also infuse this watch with a vintage-inspired essence.
Don’t let a tiny wrist hold you back. Petite watches are just as impactful, if not more, especially when you think about the level of complexity involved in creating a luxury timepiece with all the grandeur and sophistication of a man’s watch, but in miniature form. The iconic Snowflake dial is, without doubt, its most fetching feature, boasting a pattern inspired by the windswept snow on the Hotaka mountains surrounding Grand Seiko’s Shinshu Watch Studio.
For six months of the year, the Hotaka mountains are coated with a crisp white layer of fresh snow, providing the perfect backdrop from which Grand Seiko experts take their inspiration when creating some of the brand’s most beautiful wristwatches. Shinshu Watch Studio, after all, is the home of the Grand Seiko Spring Drive movement and its many exquisite mechanical instruments.
The challenge behind recreating the landscape lay in the hands of the skilled artisans at the brand’s famous ateliers, who were tasked with creating a heavily textured surface using a stamping die with a force of 200 metric tons. To finish the dial, a silver plating process has been applied to its surface.
The Grand Seiko ref STGF385 is powered by a superior thermocompensated quartz movement that promises an astonishing accuracy of just ±10 seconds per year. And measuring in at just 28.9mm thickness, the beautiful Zaratsu-polished case certainly won’t overbear a slender wrist.
Finally, a watch that understands a woman’s appreciation for cutting-edge innovatio
n and top-tier craftsmanship. The fact that a watch can look this beautiful and house some of the industry’s most impressive technical language is extraordinary. Women like complex timekeeping instruments too, and Blancpain incorporates its ultra-thin technology into this Ladybird Ultraplate watch to give rise to this very notion.
The Blancpain Laybird Ultraplate is a serious and technically impressive watch. Its best features are the ultra-thin Calibre 615 – a descendant of the original Ladybird movement from the 1950s – and its artistic mother-of-pearl dial. This watch sits at a mere depth of 8.23mm, making its slight 21.5mm proportions even more wearable.
The watch also features a high-end decorative diamond finish on its 18ct white gold case and an exhibition caseback, allowing for admiring the super-slim movement as it performs.
Small in size but big on style, this Prestige watch by OMEGA is another member of the De Ville collection. New buyers and seasoned collectors can appreciate its understated and pure aesthetic, making it a perfect watch for everyday professional wear and formal occasions.
The OMEGA De Ville Prestige watch measures a small and compact 24.4mm diameter, which is its most important feature. Its size is both rare and desirable on the market today, especially given the recent trends for smaller-wearing watches. Made from polished stainless steel, its mother-of-pearl dial shimmers with an iridescent quality, adding an extra layer of dimension and depth to this two-zone dial.
The Omega De Ville Prestige watch is designed for daily, regular life, featuring a 30-meter water-resistant case and a scratch-resistant, anti-reflective sapphire crystal front. Being a quartz-powered movement, it also needs little upkeep or maintenance, a significant advantage for those seeking a no-fuss companion.
Michele Meggie may not be the first brand that springs to mind when you think about luxury timepieces, but this underdog crafts exceptional timepieces for women who want to break the rules of conventional design. This watch excels at what it is intended to be – an attention-demanding, high-quality jewellery watch. Its indulgent golden tones create that all-important radiant look, achieved by applying 18k yellow gold plating on top of its stainless steel bodywork.
The Michele Meggie Gold Diamond watch celebrates a very feminine silhouette, with rounded corners that soften the square shape of the case. This modern and graceful alternative to the rectangular watch is adorned with a total of 124 hand-set diamonds, which frame the dial and also feature on the mother-of-pearl display.
The signature feature of this Michele Meggie watch, and its key selling point, is its quick-release system built into the bracelet, which allows for it to be swapped with another Michele Meggie strap when needed.
Of course, being powered by a Swiss-made quartz movement means that you don’t have to worry about regularly winding the watch or wearing it all the time to keep it running, especially since this is the type of watch you’d only wear to certain formal occasions and special, dressy events.
The Nomos Glashutte Tetra Die Fuchsteufelswilde watch proves that the most beautiful things come in perfectly proportioned packages. It rejects conventional feminine watch design, favouring a bolder, artistic design that is more intellectually satisfying for those ladies who appreciate substance over traditional glamour.
The Tetra watch boasts an unconventional colour palette, sporting an aubergine dial – a rich and moody colour that complements the rose gold-coloured small seconds sub-dial perfectly. A pop of humour is also afforded in the bright turquoise hand of this complication.
What really departs the Tetra from other classically crafted watches today, however, is its square-shaped case, which frames a minimalist dial that adheres to Bauhaus principles. Inside the case is an in-house developed manual-winding movement, which is put on display through an exhibition window on the reverse. It allows you to admire the blued screws, perlage, and ribbing of the meticulously crafted movement, all within petite 29mm proportions.
This guide to the best small women’s watches wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Longines – a name that epitomises elegance in every possible way. It’s a truly great ladies’ watch, especially for those who have smaller wrists, thanks to its ideal 30mm size.
The Longines Elegant Collection Moonphase watch, as its name suggests, features a moonphase complication decorated in blue and silver at 6 o’clock. It sits against an uncluttered, shimmering mother-of-pearl dial and uses diamond indices instead of traditional hour markers for the hour track. Without being flashy, these finer details add a touch of finesse to this elegant lady’s dress watch, making it ideal for work, formal occasions and everything in between.
Of course, a high-quality finish is a given in any Longines watch. This steel model features a blend of polished and brushed finishes across its 30-meter water-resistant case, offering a unique combination of refined elegance and functionality.
A quartz movement powers this lady’s Longines watch, so you’ll only need to change the battery every few years. It’s a “set it and forget it” watch that delivers luxury and opulence but within a highly practical and versatile design.
Oval watches can appear and feel smaller on the wrist due to their elongated silhouette. Unlike a traditional round watch, which is as wide as it is tall, an oval watch occupies less horizontal space on the wrist. More often than not, the lugs of an oval watch are integrated into the case itself, keeping them shorter than they would naturally be in a circular watch. A shorter lug-to-lug length reduces the risk of the case overhanging the edges of the wrist.
The focus on sleekness in this Frederique Constant Art Deco Oval watch is profound. The watch is distinctive and flattering, embodying the brand’s Art Deco heritage. It features a stainless steel case measuring 25mm in width. The case measures 30mm in length, making it an ideal size for females with small wrists.
The dial of this Frederique Constant Art Deco Ladies watch is rendered in a beautiful mother-of-pearl, decorated with a guilloche technique that creates a stunning visual effect alongside traditional Roman numerals and crisp black classic Breguet hands. If it were not for the rose gold coating across the surface of this stainless steel watch, its delicate rope-effect case trim and cabochon-adorned crown would be lost.
Instead, the graceful shape of this oval watch and its meticulous details are all brought together in a beautiful compact design that embodies the brand’s philosophy of traditional Swiss watchmaking and affordable luxury.
The Power of the Petite Watch
The search for the perfect watch is a personal journey, but it greatly relies on getting the size, style, features and design of a watch right. For too long, there has been a narrative centred around the idea that “bigger is better”. But a recent shift in trends over the last three or four years has shown us that it’s not the case. True elegance lies in the proportions of a perfectly fitting watch, whether you have a larger-than-average wrist or a particularly small one.
Focus on the right case size by using our recommendations at the beginning of this guide and consider factors such as dial design, case shape, and lug-to-lug width. Most important of all – try lots of watches on to get a feel for how different designs fit. When you’re confident you know what to look for in a small watch, take some inspiration from the many designs we’ve featured in this guide, and discover the ideal place to complete your collection by perusing our many designs here at Exquisite Timepieces.
Haute Horlogerie is not just about the big players. There are many watch manufacturers out there focusing on mastering accessible luxury. This seismic shift has become apparent over the last decade and is the result of several factors, including consumer behaviours and major market forces. The truth is, the Gen-Z buyer desires value and authenticity over a name. Many modern-day collectors and young enthusiasts are seeking watches with a story behind their design. Whilst they may be price-conscious, they are interested in a brand’s legacy.
For enthusiasts like you and me, the desire to own a tangible piece of craftsmanship is more important than spending years on a waiting list for a watch you may never even acquire. And let’s not forget, the luxury watch market is somewhat bottlenecked. The demand for exclusive designs from the likes of Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet has not only created a whole lot of frustration, but it has also caused the secondary market to boom, with many models selling for double or triple their initial retail price.
The good news is that many established brands are putting an extra special focus on their core strengths, selling their entry-level watches with a side order of “legacy”. This is where this guide is going to help you. If you’re searching for the first rung of the horological ladder to place your foot on, but have no idea where to start, we have some awesome watches awaiting your approval. From German minimalist designs to Japanese daily beaters to Swiss starter watches, all the brands on this list have managed to create wallet-friendly designs (under $3000) with that all-important luxury look. Let’s go!
Seiko watches from the Presage collection, particularly those from the Cocktail Time family, punch above their weight in terms of perceived value. They may not be able to compete with the upper echelons of Swiss horology, but they certainly possess a level of craftsmanship that gives you that sense of value for money. Seiko is a Japanese watch brand that rose to fame with its quartz technology and its revolutionary Spring Drive movement. This Cocktail Time reference SRPK48, however, features neither of these two. Instead, it is powered by a 23-jewel automatic movement that performs at a rate of 21,600 vibrations per hour, providing a power reserve of 42 hours.
The dial of the Seiko Presage Cocktail Time watch is the centrepiece and the primary reason for its luxurious appearance. Its golden-brown dial with radial gradations mimics the look of a freshly poured, bubbling, effervescent Half-and-Half cocktail. The two-tone display begins as a rich golden hue at the centre. It gradually melds into a darkened burnt chocolate brown colour around the periphery of the dial, its pressed pattern creating a sunburst texture. Look closer, and it even looks as though the drink is held behind a frosted drinking glass.
Though its price tag sits below the $1k umbrella, its gold PVD-coated stainless steel case and bracelet could have you fooled. The applied hands and hour markers are also executed in a matching gold finish and are razor sharp in profile. Finally, Seiko puts its 4R35 movement on show through an exhibition caseback, celebrating its hand-finished decoration through the base of the watch.
Like so many of Hamilton’s watches, the Khaki Aviation series has a reputation for looking more expensive than it is. These pilot watches are very reasonably priced and have a distinctive look that can be picked out from across a crowded room. This Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer Mechanical Chrono watch is dressed in rich blue hues and is a faithful recreation of a much earlier military chronograph from the 1970s. The British Royal Air Force used these tool watches, so it’s great to see that some important features have been carried over into the modern iterations.
The Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer Mechanical Chrono watch boasts an impressive level of detail. The bicompax layout of its chronograph sub-counters keeps the dial looking legible and straightforward. Meanwhile, all the essential information is delivered via a coating of white luminous material for enhanced readability at night. But what’s most important here is that Hamilton does not skimp on the fundamentals. The case is a robust and sturdy stainless steel construction with a sapphire front and a diameter of 40mm.
Now that the basics are covered, let’s take a look at the manual winding Calibre H-51-Si movement sitting inside. One of the most important aspects of a mechanical watch to some connoisseurs is the beauty of an authentically engineered hand-wound movement – a chance to indulge in a ritualistic sequence each night or morning that connects the wearer to the watch as it winds up. Aside from its 60-hour power reserve and precise chronograph functions, the movement comprises a silicone balance spring that is resistant to magnetic damage – a component that you’ll often see in some of the industry’s finest mechanical timepieces.
Squale produces some incredibly stylish but affordable dive watches. In fact, dive tools are the brand’s forte, and so is its mission to keep costs as low as possible for the consumer. First and foremost, there are some features I have to point out about the Matic S watch’s build quality. This is not your standard budget diver by any stretch of the imagination. This aqua-blue model has a professional-grade water-resistant capability of 600M. That’s the kind of water resistance you’d expect to find on a serious, high-end dive watch.
The Squale Matic S watch is crafted from 316L stainless steel, a standard for all quality watches. However, it boasts a unique symmetrical brushed effect across its surface that even continues into the inside of the lugs. If you’ve ever taken a close look at a luxury steel sports watch, you may recall the interplay between light and shadow when a case is executed to such a high standard. Squale definitely scores a home run on that front. This level of attention to detail is enhanced all the more by a beautiful domed sapphire crystal glass, a bright blue sunray dial, an attractive two-tone enamel finish on the bezel, and a reliable Sellita SW200-1 Elaboré Grade movement for good measure.
We’ve already talked about how Seiko’s Presage Cocktail Time watch series is full of budget-friendly dress watches despite the promise of uncompromised materials and technology. The Seiko 5 Sports SNXS is no different. This range of rugged sports tools offers the consumer so much bang for buck, including tried and true movements, visually attractive designs, and a vertically integrated approach to watchmaking.
This Seiko 5 Sports SNXS has a sunray brushed deep blue dial that begs for attention. The light bounces off the surface of the dial, creating the illusion of depth and dimension in a way that dials made by the likes of Rolex and Omega do. What’s more, the brushed and polished surfaces of the model’s steel case and bracelet indicate a high level of manufacturing. With the Seiko 5 Sports watches, you get a sense of retro proportions, similar to the steel sports watches of yesteryear. A 37.5mm diameter is plenty enough for those with slender wrists, while a curved Hardlex crystal front draws the proportions of the watch in even further.
Similar to the Seiko Presage Cocktail Time watch we featured earlier in this guide, Seiko puts the movement on show through an exhibition caseback. Although the movement isn’t exactly decorated elaborately, the opportunity to observe the inner workings of the watch is still a great feature to own in a watch costing less than $500.
The perception of luxury in a watch like the Tissot PRX comes from its clever design and its use of high-quality materials. To start with, the PRX is Tissot’s more affordable version of a high-end sports watch. It can compete in this category because there aren’t many other brands offering anything similar for the same price point. Tissot takes the shaped case, the textured dial, and the integrated bracelet and slams a very affordable price tag on it. Most models from the series cost less than $1k.
The key feature of this Tissot PRX watch is its yellow gold PVD-coated stainless steel case, which evokes the splendour and indulgence of the gold Royal Oaks of yesteryear, innovated by no other than the legendary Gerald Genta himself. Tissot does a remarkable job applying a satin-brushed finish to the surface of this case, yet the polished bevels and facets of the integrated bracelet dynamically catch the light. This watch screams affordable luxury. Tissot’s waffle-effect dial is one of the PRX’s signature features (AKA the “Clous de Paris” dial pattern). In this design, blue is the chosen colour to perpetuate its three-dimensional aesthetic.
Of course, Tissot selects some excellent materials for this sports watch, including a sapphire glass front and a Swiss-crafted movement with an impressive 80-hour power reserve. So, if you want all the allure and sporty elegance of the Nautilus and Royal Oak, but haven’t got the budget for either, the Tissot PRX deserves to be the next watch you check out after reading this guide.
The Spirit series is Longines’ collection of watches dedicated to pioneers of the air, land, and sea, and it perfectly bridges the gap between a mid-range watch and a genuine luxury timepiece. A glance at this watch would suggest it would retail for far more than it does. Take, for example, its COSC-certified movement sitting inside a robust yet compact 37mm stainless steel case. The movement has been independently certified by Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres and must pass a series of rigorous processes before it can become a designated chronometer. This means it also guarantees an accuracy of -4 to +6 seconds per day.
Many high-end watch collectors consider the COSC certification a non-negotiable mark of high quality in a timepiece. Meanwhile, this Callibre L888.4 also features a silicone balance spring and is resistant to temperature fluctuations.
The top of the Longines Spirit watch case features a satin-brushed finish, whilst the brushed and polished techniques applied to the links of the bracelet create a sumptuous two-tone effect, further enhancing a feel of luxury. Underneath a domed sapphire crystal glass front is a beautiful blue sunray dial with applied numerals that have been treated with lashings of Super-LumiNova.
Above all, however, it is Longine’s brand heritage and autonomy that serve this watch with such a charming and luxurious presence. The brand’s resources and expertise deliver products that meet strict Swiss quality standards, making this Spirit watch a legitimate value-for-money watch that you should seriously consider adding to your collection.
Junghans watches have an incredible design philosophy, so much so that it shines most in designs like the Max Bill series. The timepieces strip everything back to basics, displaying only the essential elements of a dial and perfectly capturing the beauty of the brand’s Bauhaus design heritage and its seminal art movement.
The watches from this collection were designed by a legendary Swiss artist, Max Bill, whom Junghans began commissioning during the 1960s. Unsurprisingly, the designs were an instant hit, making an impact with their clean lines, minimalism, and clarity. Today, Max Bill watches look just as fresh and relevant, with several elegant designs to choose from, including this clean white number, featuring discreet five-minute increments around a minute scale and slender straight hands inside a bezel-less case.
Junghans completes this watch on a quality latte-brown leather band and fits a quartz movement into the case to keep its price so affordable. Another distinctive design feature that serves to reduce manufacturing costs is its domed crystal glass, forged from plexiglass. Though not as scratch-resistant as sapphire crystal, plexiglass has become a signature design feature of a Junghans watch and creates a beautiful, magnifying curve across the dial.
It is down to the art of artificial ageing that gives this Laco Friedrichshafen Erbstüeck pilot watch such charm and character. It’s the single most important factor to its success and one of the reasons why it looks like a covetable collector’s piece. Artisans at Laco have had to apply a combination of techniques to create the realistic scratches, discoloration, and patina you see across the dial’s surface. By doing so, the brand achieves this unique lived-in aesthetic that is both raw and rugged all at the same time.
The luminous material on the hands and 5-minute increments around the dial are made to look like they have discoloured over time. In other places, the treated lume surfaces look cracked. Of course, none of this would mean a thing if it weren’t for the brand’s history in developing “B-Uhr” watches for the German Luftwaffe in the 1940s. The watch features the oversized onion crown, reminiscent of the brand’s vintage models, a reliable Swiss-made movement, and a domed sapphire crystal glass front that creates a beautiful distortion effect around the edges of the display.
Oris is the Swiss king of affordability. It also pledges to create mechanical watches exclusively – each one characterised by a customised red rotor. This specific model features diamonds for the hour markers, creating a luxurious edge to the brand’s flagship dive watch. The Oris Aquis watch displays the time against a rich black surface, with hands having been given a generous dose of luminous material.
Although engineered for life underwater, the Oris Aquis Date watch is seldom worn solely as a dive watch, just as the Rolex Sub is worn predominantly as a status symbol. The Aquis Date looks almost too good to take underwater, with its scintillating baguette-cut diamonds for hour markers and glossy black ceramic unidirectional bezel. Still, don’t let this more luxurious take on the dive watch fool you. Oris equips this with everything you need in a dive tool and prices it most affordably.
The 24mm steel model is perfect for the slender wrist and boasts a high-quality finish, with brushed and polished elements that enhance the shape of its case. Oris describes the Aquis watch as a “real watch for real people,” and that message is definitely felt in this design. The brand equips the watch with a mechanically-driven heart that is put on show through an exhibition caseback – a key value proposition for a watch at this price point.
Raymond Weil is another brand that uses finishing techniques and materials typically found on watches of a much higher price. The manufacturer has won several prestigious awards for this very reason, including the “Challenge Prize” at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG).
This Raymond Weil Millesime watch boasts a stunning sector dial in blue, with a vertically brushed centre, a smooth hour track, a snailed outer minute ring, and a recessed sub-seconds counter at 6 o’clock. Suffice it to say, the attention to detail in this design is second to none, evoking the look and feel of a much more expensive watch than its $2k price ticket suggests.
In addition to the intricate layers of its dial, the Millesime watch features a high-quality finish on the case and bezel. The juxtaposition between the satin brushed surfaces and smooth polished elements is dynamic and is enhanced by a scratch-resistant and glare-proof glassbox sapphire crystal. Lastly, exquisite details like the brand’s customised W-shaped oscillating weight and other intricate workings of the movement are put on show through an exhibition caseback.
Take multiple high-end, premium features and combine them with a sleek black silhouette. What do you get? You get a stealthy ceramic number with a meteoric dial, closely inspired by the Royal Oak by AP. The Nivada Grenchen Meteorite watch in scratch-resistant black ceramic will defy the laws of physics, retaining its youthful look for years and years to come, and the best bit? It costs no more than $2k.
The most impactful element of this watch has to be that meteor dial, which picks up flecks of colour and tone like a magnet attracting tiny metallic debris. The modern matte black finish of the case sets this meteor dial apart from anything else like it on the market. Its unique crystalline patterns are a wonder to admire. You can trace the many lines and inclusions across the surface of the dial as if you were observing the nuances of the cosmos.
This is the F77 design, which pays homage to the iconic “sport chic” watch of the 1970s and features the much-loved integrated bracelet design. For its deceptively low price, you even get a Swiss-made movement from Soprod, all wrapped up in a blacked-out build that immediately evokes the exclusivity of some of its most famous predecessors.
Conclusion
Now you’ve seen the magic, you know the secrets behind some of the world’s most successful mid-priced watch brands. The next logical step is to buy one. Owning an affordable watch is not about buying cheap imitations. You can acquire a masterpiece in design and horological value without it costing a bomb or compromising on your own values.
All the suggestions in this list prove that the top one percent does not entirely govern the future of watchmaking. New generations of watch collectors are influencing the direction that horology is taking, and with more affordable yet luxurious watches to opt for than ever before, it seems only natural that today’s enthusiasts want to spend less money and own more watches.
Left-handed folk, I hear you. Your daily life is a constant stream of comedy errors. You’re navigating a world designed for the right-handed overlords; it’s not easy. You left-handers have to fend for yourselves. You are masters of the ink smear. Strugglers of the can openers that operate the wrong way! And that’s not even counting the hours of awkward scissor-wielding. But now you get to take back some control, with a market that at least caters to left-handed wristwatch wearers – the LHD (left-hand drive) watch.
For years, you have been forced to navigate crowns and chronograph pushers that look awkward and uncomfortable, often causing you to contort your wrist whilst making a simple time adjustment, and making timekeeping a rather cumbersome and clumsy affair. But now, the time has come to reclaim wrist style with several super beautiful left-handed watches available from some of the most revered brands in the industry. Luxury watch manufacturers are finally appreciating the struggle that a lefty experiences when shopping for a comfortable daily beater. And this shift is driven by a combination of factors…
Why are Manufacturers Making More watches for Left-Handed Wearers?
Right-handed watch wearers make up around 90% of the market; there’s no getting away from that fact. But while left-handed watch collectors are the minority, it doesn’t make them any less inclined to seek out something stylish and ultra-sophisticated for their wrist. Everyone deserves a watch that perfectly balances functionality and style with comfort. As the watch market becomes more competitive, so does the desire to create timepieces for the less common consumer-driven corners of the watch world – the lefties. Brands are recognising an opportunity to serve this underserved demographic, thus a surge in destro watches has become inevitable.
First, let’s begin with a basic introduction to left-hand drives (LHD). Then, we’ll look at reasons why they have grown in popularity. The destro watch is a timepiece with the crown and any other additional buttons located on the left-hand side of the case, rather than the right. The idea is that if you’re a left-handed person, you are more likely to wear your watch on your right wrist, just as a right-handed person would wear their desired timepiece on their less dominant hand.
A left-handed watch is essential for lefties because the traditional crown location on the 3 o’clock side becomes impossible to adjust. Accessing the chronograph pushers is just as difficult. Technically, you’d have to twist your dominant hand across the opposite side of the case on your right wrist to access the pushers and crown. By placing the crown and any additional buttons or pushers on the left side of the case (9 o’clock), a lefty can wear their watch on the right wrist and have easy access to the crown with their dominant hand.
Apart from improving ergonomics, left-handed watches prove useful for professional use, too. Panerai is a perfect example of a luxury watch brand that began creating watches with right-handed crowns during the 1960s for functional purposes, supplying these watches to the Italian Royal Navy. Panerai acknowledged the need for frogmen to wear additional equipment on their left arm, thus making watches with right-sided crowns easier to operate and hassle-free to use in critical environments.
Beyond practicality, left-handed watches have become a niche collectible. Not every collector needs one, yet dedicated models crafted by industry greats such as Rolex, Panerai, and Tudor have further propelled the popularity of the LHD further, proving to be quirky additions to any enthusiast’s collection. So, without further ado, let’s look at the left-handed watches we’ve lined up for you in this guide.
The Meistersinger Bell Hora Petrol Left Hand is an incredibly unique and intriguing timepiece. Meistersinger watches in general are an excellent example of a philosophy close to the brand’s heart – the slowing down of time. Meistersinger watches, with their single-hand design, encourage the wearer to focus less on the smaller details of timekeeping and more on appreciating the present. But the “Sonnerie au Passage” Complication that Meistersinger tastefully blends into this timepiece brings an audible element to timekeeping, chiming a single pleasant note on the hour, every hour. Don’t worry, though, you can put the watch on silent mode should you wish, by activating the 8 o’clock pusher.
Secondly, the Meistersinger Bell Hora Petrol is a beautifully crafted left-hand piece, with the crown positioned at 9 o’clock on the model’s broad 43mm stainless steel case. Thirdly, the shade of the dial is extraordinary. Petrol blue tones boast a distinctive spiral pattern, contrasting against the white Arabic numerals of the hour track and, of course, the singular hand. The watch also features a 24-hour scale on one of the inner concentric circles, while a light brown leather strap gives this uniquely engineered left-hand watch a classic yet relaxed sensibility.
High-quality left-handed watches are not exactly in abundance on the market, and if you want a chronograph, your search only gets harder. The Hamilton Khaki Aviation X-Wind Auto Chrono, however, is a complication watch with a fierce aesthetic and a quality build. It’s also one of the more affordable options out there, with a price tag just shy of $2k.
As its name would suggest, its design is geared towards pilots with several X-Wind features to appreciate, including the first-ever drift angle calculator to help a pilot successfully calculate how crosswinds may affect their journey. In addition to that, this Khaki Aviation watch boasts a technical look, suiting urban aviators down to the ground. Its large 44mm stainless steel case is sure to command attention on the wrist, and with its bold black and white Arabic numeral dial and syringe-style hands, there’s no mistaking its aviation tool aesthetic. Hamilton pairs this watch with a brown cow leather strap and steel H-Buckle fastening, and equips it with a movement that delivers a 60-hour power reserve, allowing you to easily switch it out for another watch for a couple of days.
Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Pro-Diver GMT Automatic Rubber Strap Watch
Naturally, when we think of Zodiac watches, our minds instantly transport us to the vintage-inspired divers that the brand has experienced so much success with. But that doesn’t mean Zodiac can’t be recognised for creating more slick, dark, contemporary creations, too. The Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Pro-Diver GMT is a black-coated diver with a left-hand crown at 9 o’clock, suggesting its use and versatility on the wrist of a left-handed diver. Blacked out from top to bottom, this Zodiac LHD watch is crafted from black DLC-coated stainless steel, which gives it a muscular, stealthy build, along with super bright lume accents that enhance optical performance. To assist the hefty 42mm model’s 300M water-resistant rating, Zodiac equips this dive watch with a helium escape valve at 2 o’clock.
This ISO-rated dive watch from Zodiac’s Super Sea Wolf range combines superior water resistance with a GMT function. It means you can get a last cheeky swim in at the beach before heading to the departure lounge for a swift cocktail and still look cool. The left-handed crown is screw-locked to ensure the case stays watertight, while the 2 o’clock HEV gives the watch an asymmetrical funkiness. Meanwhile, the orange-coated GMT hand and 12 o’clock luminous pip on the bezel are undeniably sporty, as is the automatic dive watch’s black rubber strap.
Sinn EZM 3 Left Hand
Sinn describes the EZM 3 as “the mission timer with magnetic field protection”. Indeed, diving with this mechanical watch certainly reassures you of Sinn’s top-tier technology, including its Ar-Dehumidifying Technology that absorbs humidity, which can otherwise diffuse into the watch. Also, it has double O-rings on the screwable crown at 9 o’clock, perfectly placed for the left-handed watch wearer, and permitting dives of up to 500 meters in depth. Sinn has always been respected for its robust case constructions, and this model is no exception to the rule. It features a bead-blasted stainless steel build with a magnetic resistance of 80,000 A/m.
Meeting the requirements of DIN 8310, the Sinn EZM 3 has a diver’s bezel with minute ratcheting, temperature resistance technology that keeps the watch functional between temperatures of -45°C up to +80°C, and a mission timer design on the matte black dial. In addition to all this, it features white luminous markers and hands for optimal readability in low-light conditions.
All left-hand watch collectors should make way for a watch like the DOXA SUB300T Aristera in their collection. This watch keeps all the cool features of the DOXA dive watch, including the iconic orange dial, and changes nothing apart from the crown, which now sits on the left side of the case. This is important to note about this design because the vast majority of lefties don’t want any extra special treatment; they want a taste of what the right-handed crowd gets to enjoy on a daily basis – a comfortable, functional timekeeping tool.
This DOXA 300T Aristera is a wearable 42,5mm cushion-shaped model made from stainless steel, with an aluminium insert on the bezel that bears permitted dive time according to depth, indicated by feet or metres, and taken directly from the same scale used by the US Navy. All of the dive-related features on the orange dial of this left-handed DOXA watch are coated with Super-LumiNova, ensuring excellent legibility. This 1200M water-resistant watch is completed on one of the brand’s distinctive beads-of-rice bracelets, while the back of the watch is engraved with a cool image of a sailing vessel.
The birth of this special pilot’s watch by Muhle Glashutte stems back to a time when the German Navy needed a chronograph that could calculate flight speeds. In came Muhle Glashutte with its S.A.R. Flieger-Chronograph that could withstand some of the most challenging operational conditions. Today, that pilot’s watch has evolved substantially to accommodate a community of left-handed watch wearers.
The Muhle Glashutte S.A.R Fliger-Chronograph features the screw-down crown at 9 o’clock on a 45mm stainless steel case, flanked by two chronograph push-pieces trimmed in a sporty orange colour. These control the 30-minute, 12-hour, and central chrono seconds features, all decorated with matching orange accents. What’s interesting about Muhle Glashutte watches is that although the brand uses Sellita-based movements, it modifies them, equipping them with components like the Woodpecker neck regulation, which ensures precise and reliable timekeeping, and its own three-quarter plate. The watch also features a date window in the unusual location of 8 o’clock, constituting what is an overall intriguing pilot’s watch from the revered German brand.
This left-hand drive from TUDOR made waves when it first launched back in 2016 and has been a mainstay ever since. Catering to the world of lefties, it features a crown situated at 9 o’clock, which nods to an important chapter of the brand’s history. During the 1970s, the French Navy commissioned left-handed diver watches with a core focus on bringing superior functionality to the wrists of those with a dominant left hand. Now, much more performance-focused and with improved materials and technology, the modern Pelagos LHD is powered by the Calibre MT5612-LHD, which offers a 70-hour power reserve.
The Pelagos LHD is somewhat of a cult classic. It features a matte-black case and bezel with Super-LumiNova-coated hour markers and Snowflake hands that look aged. The patina of the luminous paint is what gives this Pelagos its undeniable neo-vintage aesthetics – a signature look for the brand’s iconic Black Bay series, too.
The Monaco watch by TAG Heuer has always been a lefty’s watch, though annoyingly, some of the more modern references have had their crowns moved over to the right-hand side. That said, there are still plenty of options within the Monaco range for the left-handed wearer, including this stunning reference dressed in the iconic Monaco blue hue. The watch retains the left-handed crown at 9 o’clock and features the bicompax arrangement of two chronograph counters on the left and right axes of the dial, both of which echo the familiar “squircle” shape.
This 39mm steel model boasts the horizontal hour markers and dashes of sporty red throughout the design. Cementing the collection’s sporty style, the watch features a black calfskin leather strap adorned with a special asphalt racetrack textured surface. The strap secures to the wrist with a polished and brushed steel buckle engraved with the TAG Heuer shield logo. This Monaco watch is powered by the Calibre 11, which provides a 40-hour power reserve.
For left-handed watch collectors, it doesn’t get better than the Monaco – a watch that became an icon for its left-handed design and one that was stylized on the wrist of a true legendary leftie himself, Steve McQueen.
Panerai Luminor Destro Otto Giorni
Last but not least, an LHD watch from Italian manufacturer, Panerai. Yes, the innovator of some of the most distinctive dive watches of all time even offers a Luminor with a left-sided crown, which makes it one of the most diverse dive watch innovators on the market. The Luminor Destro Otto Giorni is a 44mm behemoth, with plenty of wrist presence and a robust stainless steel construction promising a water-resistant rating of 300 meters. The brand’s history in creating left-handed watches stretches right back to the 1960s, when Italian Navy frogmen needed to wear watches on their right wrists.
This pure, left-handed conversion of the popular Luminor watch features a sapphire crystal glass front, an in-house movement with an impressive 8-day power reserve, and a small seconds sub-counter placed in the unusual location of 3 o’clock. It makes this watch stand out as an instantly identifiable left-hand watch amongst Paneristi. What’s more, the watch keeps perfect balance in its usual way, featuring a stylish beige suede strap to complete its vintage-inspired aesthetic. Meanwhile, the tones of the luminous sandwich dial have been kept the same, also. These tan tones match the strap perfectly, further enhancing the key features of the famous cushion-shaped dive watch.
Conclusion
As you’ll know, by reaching the end of this guide, left-hand watches are not a gimmick but a testament to the industry’s ability to cater to the needs of left-handed wearers. They are no longer an oddity, nor a niche. They sit in a category of their own, often demonstrating some of the best examples of technical horological innovation.
There are tangible ergonomic benefits to wearing an LHD if you’re a left-handed person. With a design that eradicates the crown digging into the wrist, adjusting the time is simple with a left-crown watch design. Legendary brands like Rolex, Panerai, and TUDOR have recognised the demand for these southpaw timepieces, leading by example and inspiring others to do the same. Whether you’re left-handed or enjoy the distinctive design of a destro watch, you’ll have no problem finding a watch that brings both practicality and style to your wrist with any of these best left-hand watch options.
Of all the bold and daring dial colours of the watch world, turquoise is the easiest to fall in love with. Far from just a passing fad, this dial colour has proven its worth as a lasting symbol of beauty and allure. In the past, watch dials were largely a study of restraint. Black, white, and silver have always been the safer bet. They don’t attract too much attention, they complement an array of attire with an air of sophistication, and they can switch from a black tux to your favourite gym kit without hassle or posing a risk of colour clashing. Classic dial colours have truly stood the test of time; that much is true. But the arrival of the turquoise dial (and other colours) taught people to embrace their braver side and opt for something altogether unconventional and a touch more audacious. Enter shades of crystal clear lagoons and tranquil landscapes.
Turquoise is not only synonymous with a certain globally recognised luxury brand (we’ll get to that shortly), but it just so happens to possess uplifting psychological effects that evoke calmness and mental clarity. Turquoise dials are a fascinating blend of cultural significance and modern-day elegance, but if you want to learn more about what this colour means in the world of horology, read on.
If you’ve been toying with the idea of adding a turquoise watch to your collection, this guide is probably going to give you the push you needed to bite the bullet finally. I’m going to dive into the history of this colour and the factors that led to its meteoric rise in horology. We’ll cover everything from the turquoise-coloured dial to the history of the actual stone itself (yes, stone dials are a thing!). Whether you’re a seasoned collector or new to watch collecting, it matters not. Simply take a browse through some of these solid options, from the affordable to the exceptional, and I can guarantee you’ll find a turquoise watch that resonates with you.
The History of the Turquoise Watch Dial
Given that turquoise is an ancient gemstone, it should come as no surprise to learn that the colour has long been a popular choice in jewellery design throughout the centuries. One of its earlier and most distinctive uses is rooted in Native American jewellery. Various tribes, such as the Zuni and Navajo, have been celebrating the beauty of the turquoise gemstone since the 20th Century. Later, this tradition extended to sterling silver watch cuff bracelets that were inlaid with turquoise and other gemstones.
During the 1960s and 1970s, gemstones found their way into watch dials. Pioneering this revolutionary art form was Piaget, releasing dials in a range of ornamental stones, one of them being turquoise. There is no denying that these dials challenged the traditional aesthetics of a wristwatch, catching the eye of industry giant, Rolex. At the time, Rolex was already experimenting with lacquered dials within its Day-Date range, AKA the “Stella” dials.
Red, green, and orange dials were the result of a painstaking process that involved applying a multi-layer lacquering process to the base of a brass Rolex dial, and then baking these dials at high temperatures to cure and harden them. One colour that proved instantly popular was a bright blue shade that closely resembled the signature colour of American luxury brand Tiffany & Co. Though the dial wasn’t officially named “Tiffany Blue”, its association was clear.
The recent surge in the popularity of the turquoise dial, however, has to be traced back to a couple of monumental watches created by Patek Philippe and Rolex. In 2021, Patek Philippe celebrated the 170th anniversary of its partnership with Tiffany & Co., one of the longest-standing horological collaborations in the entire world. The partnership stems back to the 1950s when Tiffany & Co. became the first official retailer for Patek Philippe in the US.
Further cementing this unique partnership was the release of Patek Philippe’s double-signed dials, which now sell for a premium on the secondary market, becoming some of the rarest and most sought-after timepieces of all time. But back to 2021 and the limited-edition Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A-018, a collaboration that bore a striking “Tiffany Blue” dial in a limited production run of just 170 pieces. One of these pieces sold for $6.5 million at auction, underpinning the significance of this longstanding alliance between the two revered brands.
The second iconic release was a watch crafted by no other than Rolex itself. Reminiscent of the “Stella” dials of the 1970s, the 2020 release of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch, unofficially named “the Rolex Tiffany”, sent shockwaves through the industry. Though there is no direct or official link to Tiffany & Co., the colour of the dial is a deliberate nod to its iconic blue hue. It featured all the upgrades that Rolex had made to its Oyster Perpetual watch in 2020, sporting a new movement and new case size. If the turquoise Rolex wasn’t already popular enough, its quiet discontinuation in 2022 certainly crowned it an instant collector’s item from then on.
Things became so intense with the Patek Philippe Nautilus Tiffany and “Rolex Tiffany”, that they had a turbo boost effect on the popularity of all turquoise watches in general throughout and after lockdown. The good news is that turquoise is still the “it colour”, with so many options on the market to choose from. This brings us to our list. Let’s explore the best turquoise watches to own right now from Exquisite Timepieces.
We’re kicking the turquoise hues off with German watch brand Nomos Glashütte. The Club Campus is your entry point into watch collecting if you haven’t already found a gateway. First and foremost, it’s affordable, but what’s also great is that Nomos produces each of these vibrant dial colours in two varieties: a solid steel caseback option for adding an engraved personalised message (ideal for graduations), or a sapphire exhibition option. The latter affords you a view of the movement at work – the Alpha manual calibre, capable of storing a total of 43 hours of power reserve inside its barrel. But onto the less technical side of the watch…
The Nomos Glashütte Club Campus Endless Blue watch measures a 38.5mm diameter and is crafted from polished steel, affording a vast canvas of turquoise within its perfectly round bezel. A shot of contrasting orange colour is showcased in the small seconds hand at 6 o’clock. At the same time, the rest of the hour track is presented in the California style, with Arabic numerals denoting the Northern hemisphere of the dial, and traditional Roman numerals in the southern.
Like the turquoise dial itself, the Agonium Nethuns II watch defies traditional watchmaking norms. It helps that the watch’s creator, Daniel Strom, has a background as a product manager, having filled the role for Omega in previous years. He headed up the company’s Seamaster and Speedmaster lines, so he certainly knows a thing or two about watch design. This sculptural watch has an undeniably cool industrial feel about it, with a two-case construction forged from 925 sterling silver, comprising an inner and outer structure.
This unique example, where two unusual materials meet, gives the watch an individualistic character and a huge presence thanks to its 48mm size, its screw-type decoration, and its internal bezel. This watch promises 200M water resistance and features luminous syringe-style hands – a unique feature for a dive watch. Of course, the details within the Agonium Nethuns II watch are further enhanced by the vivid turquoise dial – a shade that is matched perfectly by the brand’s embossed rubber band.
Inspired by the charm of the South Seas, the Panova Turquoise Blue model from Mühle Glashütte’s catalogue is defined by two standout features. One is the undeniably striking turquoise dial, which Mühle Glashütte experts adorn with rectangular hands for a geometric finish, and the luminous pips at the tip of each needle-fine hour marker. The second is its eye-catching black and grey NATO strap, equipped with a traditional steel pin buckle.
As far as turquoise dials go, this has to be one of the most legible. The simplicity and pared-back layout of the dial conceals a Swiss Sellita movement underneath, capable of a 41-hour power reserve. The movement has been modified, however, boasting a woodpecker neck regulation and the brand’s own rotor, not to mention the characteristic surface finishes found at the heart of Mühle Glashütte’s watchmaking facilities.
The Aikon is Maurice Lacroix’s flagship design, boasting a DNA inspired by its earlier Calypso watch from the 1990s. Its sporty design is the perfect canvas for a turquoise dial, which the brand’s experts cleverly finish with the Clous de Paris (or hobnail) technique for added detail and texture.
The Maurice Lacroix Aikon Turquoise watch is a limited edition model of just 888 pieces worldwide. Its refreshing turquoise dial is close in shade to the Tiffany Dial and sits inside a 42mm steel case integrated with 200 meters of water resistance. If you love the look of the steel luxe sports watch, you’re in for a treat with the Aikon. It boasts an integrated bracelet with an “Easy Change” system, so you can easily transform the look of the watch by fixing it to a rubber or leather strap.
This has to be one of the most versatile sports watches on the market. Its price tag is very reasonable, and the use of the Tiffany Blue colour in this model is bound to hit the spot for those looking for a more affordable and accessible alternative to the Patek Philippe Nautilus Tiffany.
Omega Aqua Terra 150M Turquoise Dial 38mm 220.10.38.20.03.005
The Omega Aqua Terra 150M Turquoise fume watch is the new kid on the block. It manages to capture the allure and beauty of the turquoise dial in a whole new way with a gradient effect display that begins with a vibrant blue-green colour in the middle, gradually melting into anthracite shades and then black tones around the periphery.
The Aqua Terra watch is Omega’s equivalent of the GADA watch. It’s robust, legible, and suitable for a wide range of applications. It holds the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8800 at its centre – a METAS-certified movement capable of producing 55 hours of power reserve. This technologically advanced movement propels a set of rhodium-plated hands across the dial’s tropical lagoon shades, offering an undeniably cool alternative to the brand’s other teak-effect dials from the same series.
British watchmaker Bremont lies at the helm of the field watch sector. What’s more, these specialist designs have recently been redesigned, re-named, and recategorized. The Terra Nova series is home to several field watches, this model of which boasts a captivating turquoise dial, together with lashings of white Super-LumiNova treatment on the hour markers and black detailing in the railroad minutes for enhanced readability.
Following the introduction of the pink Terra Nova watch last year, this turquoise model features a cushion-shaped steel case, a sapphire glass front, and a rugged stainless steel integrated bracelet to complete its tool watch look. This watch measures 38mm in diameter, which aligns with the growing trend across the entire market for smaller-sized watches. It’s also powered by the Caliber BE-36AL – Bremont’s modified version of the Sellita SW200-1. It provides a 38-hour power reserve for those occasions where you may want to alternate it with another favourite from your collection.
This Tiffany-esque turquoise hue looks entirely at home on the dial of this Terra Nova field watch and, thanks to its sunray effect surface, appears to radiate light from the centre, creating subtle gradients that give the watch a different hue depending on the angle of light it picks up.
This Ball Engineer III Marvelight watch is a fairly simple, yet rugged tiffany-coloured sports watch, but catch this beast in the dead of night and it takes on a whole new personality. It benefits from Ball’s extraordinary and revolutionary luminous technology, featuring gas tubes on the hands and hour markers of the dial that emit a constant and continual glow. Unlike conventional Super-LumiNova material that needs to be under the light to recharge, Ball’s tritium gas tubes do not.
The watch features a stunning level of surface polish across its robust stainless steel case – a feature that appears to enhance the rich and vivid turquoise tones of the dial even more. It features a super cool cyclops lens above the 3 o’clock date aperture, a strong anti-glare sapphire crystal glass front, and 100 meters of water resistance to enjoy this 40mm model anywhere and everywhere. Now, for one last additional benefit of owning a Ball watch. This company ensures its movements are protected from the effects of magnetism, offering anti-magnetism ratings of 1,000 Gauss, not to mention a shock resistance rating of 5,000Gs.
DOXA watches have had a cult-like following ever since the 1970s, when the brand launched its iconic orange dial, sported on the wrist of conservationist Jacques Cousteau himself. But its other vivid dial colours have proven just as popular over recent years. And you can’t deny that the brand’s distinctive beads-of-rice bracelets don’t finish these incredibly popular dive watches off perfectly.
The SUB 250T GMT is the travel-friendly version of DOXA’s dive watch. This 40mm steel model offers all the necessary features of a reliable dive tool, including a screw-down crown, 250M water resistance, and a unidirectional rotating bezel (with DOXA’s handy no-decompression dive times scale). It also features the travel-focused GMT complication in the additional hand. Keeping the DOXA 250T GMT watch in “sport mode”, you can even get this watch paired with a colour-matched turquoise FKM rubber band. But for tradition’s sake, you can’t beat DOXA’s grains of rice bracelet.
Seiko is the master of affordable dive watches, and the Prospex line is home to the best that this Japanese brand offers in terms of robustness, reliability, and performance. Proving that it can do it all under a canvas of turquoise, the Seiko Prospex U.S. Special Edition adheres to the key codes of the Prospex design language, but with some little added extras.
The watch is inspired by the mystery encountered by intrepid explorers of undersea caves and presents the time on a vivid lagoon-like turquoise dial executed with a grain-like textured blue-green dial. Its shade evokes the surface of the cave walls. Even better, Seiko equips this watch with a two-tone unidirectional rotating bezel for measuring elapsed time underwater, and crafts this watch from lightweight titanium for hours and hours of wear.
A date calendar and luminous-filled hands and hour markers make timekeeping incredibly easy, both on land and underwater. The watch also features 200M water resistance, and a 24-jewel movement crafted by the hands of Seiko specialists, not to mention a tri-fold push-button release mechanism on its matching lightweight titanium bracelet.
TUDOR Black Bay Chrono Flamingo Blue M79360N-0024
An iconic neo-vintage dive watch with a South Beach, Miami vibe, what’s not to love? The TUDOR Black Bay Chrono breaks convention with a distinctive tropical water-inspired turquoise dial. The watch is sported on the wrist of brand ambassador, David Beckham, who also promoted the pink-dialled version that closely mimicked the colour of the ex-England football captain’s Inter Miami club kit. This version, however, echoes the waters that flamingos love to bask in, hence its name, and features black-filled chronograph counters at 3 and 9 o’clock and a red-tipped central chrono seconds hand.
The turquoise Black Bay Chrono watch is fitted with a workhorse movement, the Calibre MT5813. The engine provides a 70-hour power reserve and is COSC certified. It sits inside a robust 41mm steel case, equipped with 200M water resistance, and is topped with a strong anti-glare sapphire crystal glass front. TUDOR chooses to fit this watch on its 5-link stainless steel bracelet, which gives the chronograph a somewhat dressier look. It secures to the wrist with the innovative T-Fit clasp, too. This mechanism allows for rapid adjustments on the fly, making it a particularly useful feature if you tend to work or spend your time in humid environments, where the wrist can swell.
Conclusion
What began as a decorative practice in ancient Native America soon became an artistic choice for prestigious manufacturers throughout the luxury watch industry and, in time, a contemporary horological desire. To this day, the cultural cache of the turquoise watch still reigns supreme as an amalgamation of brand legacy, savvy marketing, and historical artistry.
Undeniably, Patek Philippe’s 170th anniversary Nautilus watch had a nuclear bomb effect on the entire watch world. It not only cemented the popularity of the colour, causing a surge in the demand for all turquoise watches in general on the market, but it also coaxed brands like Breitling, Oris, DOXA, Tissot, Seiko, and even Timex into unleashing their inner creative spirit and experimenting with the colour in ways they’d never done before. Furthermore, once sold out, these 170 limited edition Patek Philippe Nautilus watches became even more desirable amongst connoisseurs, as did the 2020 Rolex Oyster Perpetual, which was discontinued in 2022. As a result, teal, aqua, and turquoise are amongst some of the most coveted watch dial colours to own, period. They don’t even need to cost a bomb to look good, either.
The turquoise dial is a tiny slice of happiness on the wrist, whether you opt for a budget-friendly timepiece, a fume dial, or a rare and coveted collector’s model. They’re a little reminder that you don’t always have to stick to the rules of convention. So go on, be brave and harness the beauty of the turquoise dial. Your wrist will thank you for it!
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