Desert Hues Are Heating Up in Status Watches

What’s the hot color trend in high-end timepieces this summer? For a hint, stream either of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films, or put the top down on the convertible and head out on the I-15 to the Mojave to check out the desert hues currently inspiring status watchmakers.

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That California desert vibe is prominent across a wide spectrum of brands, from accessible price points to stratospheric pieces from brands beloved by Hollywood stars. Texture also plays a role in conveying the trend, from the suede bands on watches by Baume & Mercier and Laurent Ferrier to the hand-grained, sand-like finish on the latest Parmigiani Fleurer Toric Chronograph Rattrapante (Keanu Reeves is a fan of the brand). Speake-Marin’s latest dial, meanwhile, is meant to evoke the ripples of a sand dune, while the dial color of the recently released Portugieser Automatic 42 by IWC — a brand favored by A-listers including Chris Pratt, Sterling K. Brown and Lewis Hamilton — indeed has been dubbed Dune.

Unisex styles also are diving into the desert trend, including the new Alpina Alpiner and an Oris Aquis Date in a beautiful and highly wearable pale beige. Here’s a look at a dozen watches that offer plenty of summer sizzle in this must-have color trend.

Alpina Alpiner Extreme Quartz

On the latest Alpina Alpiner Extreme, a triangle-patterned beige dial is set in a brushed and polished 34mm stainless-steel case on a matching steel bracelet. Both the hour markers and hour, minute and second hands are embellished with a luminescent treatment, while this quartz watch also includes a date window at 6 o’clock. $1,295, at Watch Connection, Costa Mesa, huckberry.com and alpinawatches.com

Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium

Limited to 88 pieces, the new Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium pays tribute to the historic chronometers crafted by the house’s founder, 18th-century English watchmaker John Arnold. This certified chronometer is presented in a 42.5mm polished and satin-finished titanium case on a titanium bracelet crafted in gentle curves to lay flat and smooth against the wrist. The dial is offered in a vertical satin-finished sandy hue that’s been dubbed “Kingsand,” taking its name from the Cornwall beach where Arnold grew up. Features include a small seconds subdial and a power-reserve indicator. $23,900, at Feldmar Watch Company, Los Angeles, and feldmarwatch.com

Baume & Mercier Classima 10782

A sand-toned sunburst dial is offset with anthracite accents on the new Baume & Mercier Classima 10782 automatic chronograph. In a 42mm stainless-steel case, functions include day and date windows, chronograph and small seconds subdials and a 48-hour power reserve. The calf nubuck suede strap is designed to match the dial. $3,200, at nordstrom.com and baume-et-mercier.com

Czapek Promenade Guilloché Soleil Ivoire

Housed in a 38mm slim steel case on a beige nubuck strap, the seconds subdial on Czapek’s Promenade Guilloché Soleil Ivoire, as its name implies, is designed to represent the sun, with engraved sunrays radiating out in an asymmetrical style. The automatic movement also features a 60-hour power reserve. Price upon request and available for pre-order at Cellini Jewelers, New York, and at czapek.com

IWC Portugieser Automatic 42

In a 42.4mm steel case, among the dial colors available on the new IWC Portugieser Automatic 42 is this sunray beige, dubbed Dune. This automatic winding piece includes a small seconds subdial and seven-day power reserve display, with a date window at 6 o’clock. $13,500, at IWC, Beverly Hills, and at iwc.com

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph

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A grey dial achieves a gradated effect via tonal and clear lacquer over 40 layers of varnish on the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph. Functions include the chronograph’s seconds counter, tachymeter and a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, as well as a 65-hour power reserve. Two straps are included: black and the canvas beige seen here. $14,300, at Jaeger-LeCoultre, Beverly Hills, and jaeger-lecoultre.com

Laurent Ferrier Classic Moon Silver

A 40mm case in 18-karat red gold highlights the elegant roman numerals on Laurent Ferrier’s Classic Moon, which combines calendar functions with a moon-phase indicator. Day and month are presented in windows at 12 o’clock, while vintage-inspired dates are positioned on the outer ring of the satin-finished dial, all on a hand-sewn strap of brown calfskin. Price upon request, at Cellini Jewelers, New York, and at laurentferrier.ch

Oris Aquis Date

The crème mother-of-pearl dial on this new Oris Aquis Date evokes thoughts of sand moving in the wind across a dune and is tonally matched with a rubber strap in deep ivory. The 36.5mm stainless-steel case is topped with a ceramic minutes ring, while hour markers and hands on the dial are accented with a luminescent treatment. The automatic movement includes a 41-hour power reserve, while a date window at 6 o’clock finishes the piece. $2,500, at Tourneau, Costa Mesa, and at oris.ch

Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Chronograph

Limited to just 30 pieces (available in September), the new Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Chronograph Rattrapante is highly special for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is its movement, which is crafted from 18-karat rose gold, viewed via a sapphire case back and matching this Toric’s 42.5mm case. Rose gold also is employed for the hours, minutes and chronograph hands, as well as the hour markers on the outer edge of the gold dial, embellished with a hand-grained finish in a tone dubbed “natural umber.” This slim piece features a manual-winding movement that is just 7.35mm thick. Price upon request, at Greenwich Time, Newport Beach and at parmigiani.com

Speake-Marin Ripples Dune Date

Limited to 60 pieces, the sand-hued dial on the self-winding Speake-Marin Ripples Dune Date indeed is meant to evoke thoughts of sand formations in a desert, creating a highly textural effect in the 40.3mm stainless-steel case, which highlights a rounded square bezel and satin-finished surface on a polished and satin steel bracelet. A small seconds counter in deep green is offset at 2 o’clock, while a date window is positioned at 6 o’clock. $27,000, at Collective, Hollywood or collectivehorology.com

Ulysse Nardin Freak S Nomad

The futuristic styling and stark colors in the new Ulysse Nardin Freak S Nomad put one in mind of a Mad Max vibe. Limited to 99 pieces, the Freak S Nomad features a 45mm case crafted of carbon fiber and titanium, housing the latest iteration of Ulysse Nardin’s forward-thinking Freak dial, showcasing a flying carousel that rotates on the watch’s axis and acts as the minute hand, with the hour disc, embellished with an intricate khaki-toned guilloché, rotating underneath. $148,300, at Feldmar Watch Company, Los Angeles and at feldmarwatch.com

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date

On the latest self-winding Patrimony by Vacheron Constantin, a retrograde date function circles the top half of the satin-finished sunburst dial, while at 6 o’clock, a moon-phase indicator highlights moons crafted of 18-karat rose gold in a starry sky. The convex styling of the dial is edged with 48 minute marks and 12 hour marks, all likewise in 18-karat rose gold in a 42.5mm white-gold case. And while the leather strap is technically listed as olive green, it decidedly exudes a cactus hue. Price upon request, at Vacheron Constantin, Beverly Hills or vacheron-constantin.com

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