The best dark and sleek watches to ease you into a lo-fi mood

The First Omega In Space

The iconic Reference CK 2998, released in 1959 and renowned as the first Omega that went into orbit as NASA astronaut Walter Schirra’s watch, has now returned to production. It boasts the exact heritage-inspired details from the Speedmaster collection’s second-generation style, including a symmetrical 39.7mm stainless steel case, a hesalite-like form sapphire crystal, the “Dot Over Ninety” feature on the tachymeter scale, two vintage logos, and special caseback engravings.

A modern engine upgrade is afforded by the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 3861, the latest evolution of the Calibre 321 that powered the original.

Kollokium Projekt 01 Variant “D”

Eagerly anticipated from this new watchmaking project platform is this 40mm neubrutalist creation, essentially a 3D reconstruction of an intentionally pixelated image rendered by Adobe Illustrator. The textured black-base dial is decorated with 468 cylinder markers that come in six different diameters and heights and are individually hand-applied.

Enhancing its optical illusion effect is the bright green glow of the white X1 grade Super-LumiNova, hand-filled onto the cylinders and outlines of the hour and minute hands. Other elements, such as the die-cast stainless steel case and valve-shaped crown, impart an unconventional industrial sensibility to the watch.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date

This 43mm watch redefines futuristic aesthetics with the brand-patented Chroma Forged Technology, making it possible to colour the carbon fibres directly. The result of five years of R&D, this black forged carbon now presents blue glow-in-the-dark touches. Used for the case middle, the ultra-light and strong material resists heat, humidity, and shocks.

Complementing it are electric blue accents on the open-worked dial and the black ceramic bezel, crown, and pushers. Powered by the Calibre 4407 with a flyback chronograph, split-seconds, GMT, and large date functions, it combines mechanical complexity with ergonomic design to offer precise timekeeping.

Ulysse Nardin Freak One Navy Blue

This new core piece is presented in an alluring deep indigo that celebrates the brand’s marine chronometer legacy and disruptive force as a contemporary watchmaking pioneer. It boasts all of Freak ONE’s attributes, such as the 44mm titanium case finished with satin-polished black DLC and a bezel made with strong, low-carbon-impact Carbonium.

Defying convention with its no-dial, no-hands design, the minutes and hours are indicated by the tip of the flying carousel Calibre UN-240 Manufacture movement and a blue rotating disc with an engraved sunray pattern, respectively. Its rubber straps are made of 30 per cent recycled production waste. 

Tudor Pelagos FXD GMT “Zulu Time”

A precision tool for aviators and flight support teams initially developed in partnership with French Naval Aviation, this watch features a 42mm titanium case with fixed strap bars designed for extreme durability. Certified by METAS as a Master Chronometer, it guarantees exceptional accuracy even in adverse conditions.

The bright orange “Zulu Time” hand marks UTC easily, complemented by the luminous, bi-directional bezel and distinctive “Snowflake” hour hand for local and third-time zone tracking. The matte black dial is finished with Super-LumiNova-filled markers, ensuring legibility, while the military-green fabric strap and engraved titanium case back honour its aviation roots.

Oris Holstein 2024

Celebrating Oris’ 120 years of watchmaking is this 250-piece limited-edition version of the Divers Sixty-Five. Honouring its roots as an independent manufacture in Holstein, a Swiss village surrounded by the hills of the Waldenburg Valley, this 40mm stainless steel creation is one-of-a-kind.

It features a sleek black DLC-coated case, bezel, and crown paired with a high-performance in-house Calibre 400 movement with a five-day power reserve. This edition marks the brand’s first full black-on-black release and the debut of a bezel with a minutes scale rather than a 12-hour scale. On the caseback is a playful engraving of the Oris Bear in summer attire.

Urwerk EMC SR-71

To commemorate its 10th anniversary, the brand’s legendary EMC – awarded for innovation and horological excellence – is reborn, fusing the precision of its Electro-Mechanical Control with the legacy of the SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft.

Crafted from the aircraft’s titanium fuselage, this 47.55mm limited edition of 10 captures aviation and watchmaking mastery with a cockpit-inspired dial layout and a 4-Hz balance powered by the in-house manual-winding UR-EMC movement. The watch delivers real-time chronometric precision at the push of a button, enabling fine adjustments in true Urwerk style — where cutting-edge engineering meets a tribute to iconic aviation.  

Ressence Type 3 BB2

The mid-19th century process of wet colloidal photography is used on this 44mm oil-filled dial, offering striking aesthetics and unparalleled readability from any angle. Encased in matte black DLC-coated titanium and edge-to-edge sapphire crystal, this sleek “dark pebble” design is bold and minimalistic, with white and light grey dial inscriptions accented by primary colour tones and oil temperature indications.

Inside, the patented Bellows System compensates for thermal changes, ensuring stability and performance. This Red Dot Design Award 2024 “Best of the Best” winner blends art and technology, transforming timekeeping into a fluid, immersive experience.

Behrens Batman Tourbillon — The Dark Knight

Celebrating the 85th anniversary of Batman, Behrens has collaborated with Warner Brothers for this all-new 38mm Inventor Collection watch. Limited to 200 pieces, it showcases the skeletonised, in-house manual-winding tourbillon movement Cal.BM05 was built for this project.

Apart from a luminous Batman logo, the mechanism flaunts a power reserve indicator at 1.30 position, a Day/Night globe indicator at 9.30 with Bruce Wayne’s initials, and a date window at 6 o’clock. Each watch, whose round case has been black-coated to match the DC Comics superhero theme, comes with two sets of quick-change rubber straps in yellow and black.