Exploring Watch Shades of Red
This article was originally published in the July/August 2022 Issue of the WatchTime print magazine.
A watch with a sunset on the dial? Oh yes, right here. Zenith brought it to market as the Defy Midnight Sunset. Surrounded by a diamond-studded bezel, the dial of this 36mm steel watch shines with gradient color ranging from deep sunset red to shimmering yellow. Cosmic flair is assured not only by the dial's subtle chromatic gradation, but also by its surface texture: wavy guilloché spreads across the face from a center at the Zenith star above the brand name. The new Defy Midnight is powered by automatic Elite Caliber 670, which can be viewed through a sapphire crystal in the back of the case. The steel bracelet can be easily unfastened and replaced by a leather, rubber, or textile wristband, all of which are included with the watch (ref. 16.9200.670/33.M1001, $11,400).
Omega calls its newest Constellation "Show Me Love" and gives it a bold, warm red color with a nuance that ventures into the sunset spectrum. The eye-catcher of this dainty steel watch with a diameter of 29mm and a diamond-studded bezel made from the brand's proprietary Sedna gold is the dial of deep red aventurine. Its natural texture ensures visual liveliness and the uniqueness of each watch, which is equipped with automatic Master Chronometer Caliber 8700 (ref. 131.58.29.20.99.002, $13,300).
Girard-Perregaux also celebrates red as the universal color of love, which here expresses its precious, rare, and complicated side in the Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges. Named "Ruby Heart," this model reveals its movement through cutouts in the dial. These little windows are spanned by a trio of gold bridges, which belong to the repertoire of forms of the manufacture from La Chaux-de-Fonds. This complicated women's watch is crafted in a limited edition of just three pieces, each of which reminds us of the brand's history and of its name, which recalls the love between the company's founder Constant Girard and his wife, watchmaker's daughter Marie Perregaux. Automatic Caliber GP 09600-1620 would no doubt have satisfied the high standards of both. The 38mm diameter watch is decorated with rubies and other precious stones; the red dial is cut from the natural mineral ruby heart (ref. 99242B52CH01-CKHA, $202,000).
Rado elicits an appeal that is as dramatic as it is cool from the color red in the design of the new True Secret, whose bracelet and case are made of high-tech black ceramic. On the dial, the stylish black color transitions seamlessly into a deep berry red. The focus is on the circular window, which reveals the balance wheel of automatic ETA-based Caliber R734. Diamond indexes add an extra shimmer to this stylish 40mm watch (ref. R27107742, $2,300).
Nomos also embraces the dynamism of the red spectrum. The brand has launched its most youthful watch design to date in the color pink. The Club Campus deep pink leaves caution and solemnity behind and welcomes colorful excitement to the wrist. The California-style dial combines straight indexes, Roman numerals, and Arabic numerals. The 36 or 38mm steel case houses Nomos hand-wound Caliber Alpha. All in all, the Club Campus deep pink is one of the most unconventional and casual options in the world of mechanical manufacture watches (ref. 711, $1,500 or ref. 728, $1,650).
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