Watchmakers have always found ways to make their watches interesting and more appealing. It is through movements, complications, and design. Of all the watch components, one major part that plays a huge role in making it desirable, is the dial. Watchmakers take inspirations from nature, architecture, cosmos, or patterns that catch their eye and imagination. Here we have put together 7 watches so far from 2024 with gorgeous textured dials.
Czapek & Cie. Promenade
At Watches and Wonders 2024, Czapek & Cie. introduced the Promenade collection with two models, both embracing elegance in terms of the dials. The first is the 100-piece limited edition Promenade Goutte d'Eau, meaning ‘drops of water’, featuring a Grand-feu enamel dial in sapphire blue, made in collaboration with Donzé Cadrans, the Ulysse Nardin owned enamel workshop. The dial represents an illusion of water ripples coming out from the small seconds located at 4:30.
Featuring a handmade guilloché dial, the other is the Promenade Guilloché Soleil in Ivoire (ivory) or Bleu Nuit (midnight blue) dials. The dial, with ‘Soleil’ guilloché pattern, is made in collaboration with the brand’s long-term partner Matalem, where the seconds sub-dial at 4:30 depicts the sun and the finely cut guilloché sun rays radiate from it.
Both the dials are complemented by semi-skeletonised hands. The 38mm watches are crafted in stainless steel, paying tribute to the original Quai des Bergues model, and flanked with grey or beige strap and a Milanese bracelet. The watches are powered by in-house automatic calibre SXH5, visible through the caseback, with a 60-hour power reserve.
Price: Promenade Goutte d'Eau - ₹16,58,000 (approx.)
Promenade Guilloché Ivoire - Upon request
Grand Seiko SLGH021
Grand Seiko is renowned for its unique textured dials inspired by the elements of nature. One of these is the Grand Seiko SLGH021, from the Evolution 9 collection, whose dial pattern brings alive the light-green colours of Iwai River that originates from Mt. Kurikoma and forms a gorge in the Genbi Valley, which lies in Iwate Prefecture where the Grand Seiko manufacture is located.
This 40mm timepiece is limited to 1000 pieces and crafted in Ever-Brilliant Steel, the maison’s highly corrosion-resistant steel and featured for the first time in the Evolution 9 collection. The dial is topped by box-shaped sapphire crystal. Calibre 9SA5 drives the watch with a mean daily rate of +8 to -1 seconds per day per day, a high-beat rate of 36,000 vph, and a power reserve of 80 hours.
Price: ₹890,000
Louis Vuitton Escale collection
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the iconic Escale collection, Louis Vuitton added new timepieces to the line in June this year. The 39mm time-only watches feature a trunk-inspired build and textured dials, with two in rose gold with grained blue (Ref. W3PG21) or silvery (Ref. W3PG11) dial tone; one in platinum with a meteorite dial (Ref. W3PT11); and a high jewellery model in platinum with baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel and an onyx dial (Ref. W3PT31). There are also two special editions, a 50-piece rose gold model (a tribute to Gaston-Louis Vuitton), and a 100-piece platinum model with guilloché and grand feu enamel dial.
All dials feature hand-applied indexes at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, and the hands are faceted and polished. The seconds hand is made in PVD-coated titanium and follows the downward curve of the dial. The Caliber LFT023 micro-rotor chronometer certified movement powers the watches with about 50-hour power reserve. The micro-rotor is made in 22K gold and the movement is hand engraved.
Price: ₹22,98,000 (approx.) for rose gold
₹30,90,000 (approx.) for platinum
DeBethune - DB28xs Purple Rain
Continuing the legacy of its beautiful textured dial watches is the DB28xs Purple Rain by DeBethune (Ref. DB28XSPR). The dial has the purple titanium plate with a ‘Random’ guilloche, a world first, and over it are the white gold stars, bringing alive the starry sky theme.
The time-only watch features polished titanium hour and minute hands, all encased inside purple polished grade 5 titanium measuring 38.7mm in diameter. The manual-wound Calibre DB2005 powers the timepiece with an ensured 6 days of power reserve, thanks to the maison’s patent self-regulating twin barrel. The watch comes flanked with an alligator rubber or canvas strap. It is limited to 25 pieces.
Price: ₹88,87,000 (approx.)
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor No Date
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor No Date (Ref. PFC914-1020021-100182-EN), as the name suggests, is devoid of a date window, unlike its predecessors, thereby providing space to admire the rose engine-engraved Grain d’Orge Golden Siena dial, with a subtle salmon hue. On the dial are the rhodium-plated indexes and skeletonised, delta-shaped hands, and the brand’s logo.
The 40mm stainless steel and platinum watch features a polished and satin-finished case with knurled bezel, and complemented by the matching bracelet completed with a folding clasp. Powering the watch is the ultra-thin PF703 automatic movement with a power reserve of about 48 hours. Côtes de Genève and perlage adorn the movement and the micro-rotor is decorated with grain d’orge guilloché.
Price: ₹23,26,000 (approx.)
H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Concept Minute Repeater Tourbillon Blue Enamel
Streamliner Concept Minute Repeater Tourbillon Blue Enamel (Ref. 6905-1200) by H. Moser & Cie. is a purist’s delight, with a textured aqua blue fumé “Grand Feu” enamel dial. Following the signature brand aesthetic, indexes are absent here, but the dial features a tourbillon at 6 o’clock and a minute repeater complication at 10 o’clock showcasing the hammer and gongs; the watch chimes the hours, quarter hours, and minutes. There are the three-dimensional hour and minute hands with Globolight® inserts, a ceramic-based material coated with Super-LumiNova®.
The cushion-shaped case is 42.3mm and is made with stainless steel and houses the anthracite grey-finished and skeletonised HMC 905 caliber that gives 90 hours of power reserve. The watch is flanked with the brand’s signature streamliner bracelet. It is limited to 50 pieces.
Price: ₹2,66,25,000 (approx.)
Zenith Defy Skyline Tourbillon
Zenith has kept the beauty of textures alive in its Defy Skyline Tourbillon models. The two timepieces - Ref. 03.9300.3630/51.I001 in stainless steel and Ref. 49.9300.3630/21.I001 in black ceramic - feature an engraved starry sky sunray-patterned blue and black-toned dial respectively, with a tourbillon at 6 o’clock.
The faceted hour markers and hands are rhodium-plated for the blue dial and gold-plated for the black dial, and coated with Super-LumiNova SLN C1. The timepieces are flanked with stainless steel or black ceramic bracelets and are also offered with interchangeable straps in blue or black rubber with folding clasp. El Primero 3630 automatic movement powers the watches with a 60-hour power reserve.
Price: Ref. 03.9300.3630/51.I001 - ₹51,82,000 (approx.)
Ref. 49.9300.3630/21.I001 - ₹61,25,000 (approx.)
Images: Courtesy Brands
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