Blue is the new black, green is the new blue… Purple can take the lead.
Trends come and go. What saddens us in fashion is that nothing is set in stone and everything will end, but trends are cycles that come back sooner or later. Some trends come and go quickly, while others last longer. The watch industry is no stranger to these cycles. Vintage style cheap watches are something from the early 2010s, but they are still very successful. Oversized timepieces, on the other hand, are expected to be forgotten. The same can be observed when it comes to color. About 10 to 15 years ago, blue became very popular. “Blue is the new black” is everywhere, with watch brands releasing dozens of blue styles. More recently, say about 3 years ago, green was the hottest trend in the industry, and if it doesn’t look like it’s really slowing down, there may be a new trend growing. Pink and mostly purple dials are on the rise, and it could be the new hot color for watches in the coming months.
Keep in mind that, at the moment, we are not at the stage where we can ensure that purple is actually a real trend. We’ve recently seen a dozen new models with this purple dial, which makes us think there could be growth here. But another possibility is that we could see the same effect with the Tiffany blue watch… This trend basically continued for about 3 months, after Patek Philippe and the New York-based jeweler announced their collaboration watch after. And now, it doesn’t seem to exist anymore. As for purple dials, time will tell if the trend matures enough to be as green as green dials, but for now, we’ve listed 5 cool models that will get you thinking about this bold color.
BATAVI Architects TONY PURPLE
Let’s start with the light and fun of the watch from the young micro-brand Batavi. It’s always interesting to see what these young, smaller brands are doing, as they don’t have the same constraints and can be more creative (though not always successful) than the big mainstream brands. The first watch we’ve seen this year with a purple dial is the brand’s sporty-chic style with an integrated bracelet, the Architect. Released alongside a Tiffany-inspired version, this deep purple, sunray brushed and textured dial really makes a difference. Instead, it does create a cool mix of styles thanks to its rather rigid and streamlined watch. For the rest; a fairly compact one-piece stainless steel case, overall pleasing finish, automatic Miyota movement, bracelet with quick-change system, and a price of only 419 euros for your guilty pleasure moments. There are plenty of reasons to take a closer look at this Batavi architect Tony Purple.
39mm Stainless Steel Case – Sapphire Crystal, 100M Water Resistance – Purple Dial, Sunray Brushed Finish, Geometric Pattern and Application Markings with Polished Bevels – Miyota Caliber 9039, Automatic, 4 Hz, 44 Hours Power Reserve – All in one style steel bracelet.
MORITZ GROSSMANN Central Second Hand Purple
We’re now turning to the other end of the spectrum with a high-end watch with superlative finishes and an overall classic design. But anyone who has followed Moritz Grossmann for a few years knows that the brand can also be creative (sometimes too much…) As one of the most classic styles in the collection, the Moritz Grossmann Central Seconds was originally released in blue or salmon. However, it’s also a watch that’s more modern and focused on everyday vibes than the Hamatic. At first, the idea of a purple dial on this strictly German watch might have seemed odd, if not out of place. But judging by the results, it does add a certain amount of boldness without being ostentatious. The result is casual and cool. When you turn the watch over, it’s still this beautifully decorated, hand-wound in-house calibre 100.11 with German silver plate and high-end finishing.
41mm Stainless Steel Case – Sapphire Crystal, 30M Water Resistance – Purple Dial, Sunray Brushed Treatment, White Luminous Numbers and Hands – Caliber 100.11, Internal Manual Winding, 2.5 Hz, 42 Hours Power Reserve – Black Kudu Leather Strap .
NOMOS CLUB CAMPUS BLUE PURPLE
It’s no surprise to see Nomos being part of a series of colorful dials. While making fairly minimalistic watches, the German brand has long shown a bold side in color, such as the orange dial. The brand builds on its most accessible and casual collection, Club Campus, and recently launched two bold new versions; one with a loud but appealing pink dial, and the other with a softer Blue-violet tones. The matte finish, not overly saturated, is a dial that adds a bit of fun compared to the classic blue without being too raw and difficult to wear. The watch is available in 36mm or 38.5mm sizes (the latter is the one you can see below) and is powered by the brand’s hand-wound Alpha movement. Plus, it comes with a “California” dial, which is overall high quality at a reasonable price.
36mm or 38.5mm Stainless Steel Case – Sapphire Crystal, 100m Water Resistance – California Matte Blue-Purple Dial, Arabic Numerals on Top and Roman Numerals on Bottom, Full Luminous – Nomos Alpha Movement, Manual Winding House, 3Hz, 43 Hours of Power Storage – Anthracite velvet leather.
Seiko Gradient Purple KING SEIKO SPB291
Purple doesn’t necessarily mean dark, but it can also refer to a lighter shade of lilac… which is the color Seiko chose for its latest version of the King Seiko reissue SPB291. Clearly, the brand has gone for a funky touch! Based on the range of silver, black, green or burgundy dials launched earlier this year, it now comes with a gradient lilac dial…not the most traditional style, and from a brand that’s usually quite conservative. However, the results are surprisingly attractive, with their own personality and novel approach. The watch is otherwise identical, with a compact 37mm case, a rather elegant retro design, a cool seven-link bracelet (which also includes a light grey leather strap) and an in-house movement with a 70-hour power reserve. …..but obviously, it’s the dial that makes this version so special.
37mm Stainless Steel Case – Sapphire Crystal, 100M Water Resistance – Light Purple Dial, Sunray Brushed and Gradient Effect, Applied Faceted Markers and Hands – Seiko Calibre 6R31, Internal, Automatic, 3Hz, 70 Hours Power Reserve – Seven Links Included Steel bracelet and light grey leather strap.
TAG Heuer Monaco Purple Limited Edition
Last but not least, the Monaco Purple Limited Edition. I explored the watch extensively in a dedicated article discussing the relevance or not of this dial on this iconic watch. But as a kid of the late 1960s/early 1970s, the Monaco was a watch that could handle color with ease. The green model is already attractive, and this new purple version, if it’s not for everyone, is sure to pack some personality. Finally, at least for me, this purple dial really works for Monaco, and I even think it would be cooler with a purple strap. It’s a bold choice that must be assumed, but not so outrageous. The rest of the watch – proportions, case, movement – is the same as the classic blue version.
39mm x 39mm Stainless Steel Case – Sapphire Crystal, 100M Water Resistance – Purple Dial, Sunray Brushed Black Subdials – Calibre Heuer 02, Internal Automatic Integrated Chronograph, 4Hz, 80 Hours Power Reserve – Black Alligator with Black Stitching and purple lining.