THE BRIGHT SIDE

2nd June 2021

This summer, it’s time to bask in the glow of colourful hues, vibrant dials and stand out styles.

For a long time classics and metal watches reigned supreme but now it’s officially cool to embrace colour in the world of haute horlogerie.

Vibrant coloured watches are stealing the spotlight and are being spotted on the ladies and gents who want to stand out from the crowd.

The watch industry is shaking things up with a new approach to aesthetics and the good news is fun and frivolity are very much being combined with traditional watchmaking skills as watch brands and fashion houses evolve their offerings.

Brands such as Hublot are adopting a sunny outlook with the introduction of new novelties including the Big Band Unico Yellow Magic and the Big Bang Tourbilluon Automatic Orange Sapphire, both launched earlier this year to much delight of watch fans looking for a sporty and bold timepiece that would guarantee immediate joy.

Tag Heuer is also in on the action with a new Aqua Racer, The new Aquaracer Professional 300 in the colour of the moment is here. Only better suited than most in a chic olive green that compliments the matte sheen of titanium of the expertly engineered case and bracelet. The matching dial colour in coloured ceramic for the bezel is no mean feat either.

And sticking with the green trend Tudor is also getting in on the action with the new Black Bay Fifty Eight 18K. As if silver wasn’t enough of a curveball, here is not only a yellow-gold Black Bay, but a Black Bay that’s finally fitted with an open caseback allowing us to admire the MT5400 mechanics whirring away inside, to ‘chronometer’ levels of precision. Thanks to a satin-brush finish, plus the green colourway, this doesn’t feel blingy for the sake of it – it’s as rough hewn and rugged as bronze, only without the tarnish.

Heralding Zenith’s official role keeping time on Formula E’s new off-road spin-off, ‘Extreme E’ is a suitably rugged, not to mention super-speedy take on the brand’s contemporary chronograph, plus a veritable traffic light of bejewelled beauties – all consolidating the future-forward trajectory of LVMH’s most venerable cleverclogs watchmaker.

Still in titanium, but now with blue accents and integrated bracelet in titanium too, the butch factor will have most men (and some women too, no doubt) daunted not by the price but by the chutzpah required to carry off such a statement piece. In this day and age? With this jacket? Really? To which we say: YES. But maybe exchange the jacket for a cape, and maybe a utility belt.

Hublot undoubtedly owns the space between street art and haute horology. The brand takes abstract concepts created by important modern artists and translates them into something magnificent. The latest watch following this pattern comes from the vivid imagination of Richard Orlinski, a French sculptor who also dabbles in producing pop music.

The 40mm the Classic Fusion is reimagined in an Orlinski-esque fashion, with a dial that reflects the faceted style found throughout his work. The specific tones of black and blue nod to colors he’s been known to work with. The entire watch, aside from the movement, the crown, and the strap, is ceramic – it almost looks like it could have been sculpted as opposed to manufactured.

Hublot also proved that variety really is the spice of life with the new ladies Big Bang One Click 33mm which comes in stainless steel and King Gold with interchangeable straps to modernise and allow the wearer to change up their look with just ‘one click’. Durable contemporary rubber or calfskin straps in mood boosting raspberry pinks, vibrant white and terracotta range have a truly transformative effect.

CONTINUE READING

TUDOR has launched the new TUDOR Black Bay Ceramic, an extraordinary watch and symbol of the brand’s technical expertise. Featuring a case in matt black ceramic, a new Manufacture Calibre and a Master Chronometer certification from METAS.

Set your sights on Chopard’s killer Alpine Eagle, hitting the slopes for the first time in four decades, now equipped with 2020 vision.

Introducing the latest arrivals from the world’s most exciting luxury watch brands. Here’s our pick of what you should be wearing right now. Pre-order your new season watch now before anyone else.