Watches and Wonders 2025: Who’s afraid of purple?

Blue is safe and soothing, red is a glamorous crowd-pleaser, and green in all its hues is pleasing to the eyes. But purple? It refuses to be pigeon-holed. Sometimes it’s soft, sometimes it stops traffic, and sometimes, it sneaks itself into another shade.

What’s appealing about purple, to watchmakers, is that its unconventionality can offer an completely new personality to a timeless design, or impart edginess to a creation. If you shy away from it in your wardrobe, there’s no reason to withhold purple from enlivening your wrist. With these 10 gorgeous timekeepers, we bet even the sartorially conservative would.

1. Rolex Oyster Perpetual 28

Rarely seen on dials, lavender is beautifully paired with the classic aesthetics of the Oyster Perpetual 28. Finished in a soft matt lacquer, it exudes a feminine sophistication, with its pastel hue neither too cool nor overly warm — a delicate balance achieved through meticulous layering. Six coats of lacquer are applied to the brass base, each cured to perfection, ensuring an even surface. The result is a dial that catches the light with a subtle depth, with its tone shifting ever so slightly under different angles.

Against this backdrop, the 18ct white gold hour markers stand out with crisp clarity. The Chromalight-filled hands and indices emit a long-lasting blue glow in low light. Even the seconds hand, slender and precise, moves with the quiet assurance of the Calibre 2232 beneath — a movement equipped with a Syloxi silicon hairspring for utmost accuracy.

The compact 28mm Oyster case, crafted from satin-finished Oystersteel, frames the dial with a polished domed bezel. . The Oyster bracelet, with its flat three-piece links, tapers elegantly with its satin and polished surfaces.

2. NORQAIN Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm

A new addition to NORQAIN’S vibrant palette, this bluish purple is truly genderless. The fresh colour is the perfect match for the high-performance Wild ONE Skeleton, which was launched in 42mm but now comes in a nifty 39mm size. While purple saturates the NORTEQ cage, which is set within a sand-blasted titanium container and caseback, the watch also features an Ice Blue shock rubber absorber, creating this distinctive Purple Ice Blue edition.

NORTEQ, the brand’s proprietary carbon composite, is composed of aerospace-grade carbon fibres embedded in a bio-sourced polymer matrix, with 60 per cent derived from castor oil. Six times lighter than steel and 3.5 times lighter than titanium, it is also ultra-robust and exceptionally shock-resistant. These qualities ensure that this creation weighs just 64g and yet is rated to withstand 5,000g of shocks

On the skeletonised dial, the chronometer-certified Calibre N08S automatic movement with 41 hours of power reserve forms an eye-catching tapestry with the colour-matched, X1 Super-LumiNova-filled hands. The purple integrated rubber strap is not only animal-cruelty-free, but also features a Milanese weave pattern that endows supreme flexibility.

It is little wonder that this watch, developed for high-impact sports in collaboration with Jean-Claude Biver, is currently worn by some of the world’s most decorated athletes: tennis champ Stanislas Wawarinka, and legendary footballers Gianluigi Buffon and Gary Neville.

3. Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Manual-Winding

Another 270th anniversary edition from Vacheron Constantin’s strong line-up this year, this creation is an exercise in elegance that comes complemented with a rich purplish-pink hand-stitched alligator leather strap, which features large square scales and secured by a solid gold half-Maltese cross buckle.

Aside from the Traditionelle collection’s signatures such as stepped lugs, a fluted caseback, and a slender bezel, what sets this model (and the 270th anniversary Patrimony collection) apart is a debut geometric Maltese cross motif subtly integrated into the whisper-pink mother-of-pearl dial. Other style elements that reflect the brand’s 18th century watchmaking pedigree include a railroad minutes track, faceted Dauphine-style hands, and applied gold baton-type hour-markers.

Lying within the 33mm diamond-set pink gold case is the manufacture Calibre 1440/270 at only 2.6mm thick. Offering a power reserve of 42 hours, it is decorated with the new Cote Unique finish and anniversary emblem. For such a special release, only 270 pieces are available.

4. Cyrus Klepcys GMT Royal Purple

This model commands immediate attention with its vivid ALD-treated purple palm bridge, which floats above the intricate mechanics of the in-house CYR708 calibre. An openworked masterpiece, the movement reveals its inner workings through layered sapphire discs, with luminescent Arabic numerals hovering above 4N gold-plated gears that contrast against the luscious regal hue. The dial’s 3D architecture creates depth, while the anthracite grey minute flange features Super-LumiNova indices that emit a cool blue glow.

Housed in a 42mm titanium case, the watch boasts a cushion-shaped silhouette defined by polished and satin-finished surfaces. The dual-crown system — engraved with Cyrus’ helix motif — offers intuitive control: One adjusts the retrograde 24-hour GMT display, while the other advances local time in one-hour increments. At 6 o’clock, a helix-shaped seconds hand in matching purple sweeps over a guilloche triangle pattern, which is a subtle nod to the brand’s identity.

Through the exhibition caseback, the skeletonised rotor, also coated in royal purple, reveals the motto “The Conquest of Innovation” — a fitting statement for the meeting of bold aesthetics with Cyrus’ master watchmaker Jean-Francois Mojon’s technical mastery. Buyers have a choice of a grey Cordura strap or a gorgeous alligator leather strap in a dial-matching colour.

5. Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso One “Precious Colours”

Redefining feminine elegance with a breathtaking fusion of grand feu enamel and high jewellery, the white gold case of this Reverso One “Precious Colours” is a canvas of geometric brilliance.

The miniature-painted enamel on the caseback and sides showcases a dynamic Art Deco pattern in six meticulously blended hues — soft mauve, grey, and pink juxtaposed with bold purple, white, and daring yellow accents. Each enamel segment is separated by 1.59 carats of grain-set diamonds, with their total of 277 facets shimmering against the vivid, glass-like enamel, achieved through 15 firings at 800°C and over 60 hours of hand-painting.

Flipping the case reveals a mother-of-pearl dial, its iridescence framed by the same enamel motifs that wrap around the 40mm by 20mm case. Dauphine hands glide above transferred numerals, while a reverse-set diamond crowns the winding mechanism, echoing the sparkle of the gadrooned lugs. Beneath this artistry ticks the hand-wound Calibre 846 that offers a 50-hour power reserve.Limited to 10 pieces, this creation from Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Metiers Rares atelier is deservingly a wearable Art Deco jewel.

6. Hublot Big Bang 20th Anniversary “Master of Sapphire” Big Bang MECA-10 Purple Sapphire

As if the Big Bang MECA-10’s translucent case isn’t hypnotic enough, it is also entirely carved from a single block of lab-grown purple sapphire crystal. The violet hue, achieved through Hublot’s proprietary alchemy of rare earth oxides and extreme pressure synthesis, bathes the watch in a jewel-like glow, revealing the groundbreaking MECA-10 movement within. The sandwich construction — a Big Bang signature — amplifies the depth of the case, with its polished surfaces refracting light like a cut gemstone.

Beneath the anti-reflective sapphire crystal dial, the movement’s industrial architecture takes centre stage: Gears and bridges form a mechanical lattice, while the 10-day power reserve indicator — displayed via a rare linear cremaillere rack — adds kinetic drama. Purple-tipped hands and indexes float above the spectacle, their luminescence contrasting against the case’s radiance. The transparent purple-lined silicone strap, seamlessly integrated, completes this technical marvel.

This piece is one of just five unique sapphire and SAXEM-cased watches in the five-units-only anniversary set. Presented in a display case featuring a backlit panel with vertical lights, this limited-edition production also marks the first time that the MECA-10 calibre is encased in sapphire.

7. Speake-Marin Openworked Tourbillon Ultra-Violet

This avant-garde piece transforms high horology into a luminous spectacle, with its multi-layered dial evoking the neon-lit intersections of a futuristic metropolis.

The rhodium-plated grid, punctuated by 45° micro-beaded pockets in a head-turning ultra-violet hue, frames the drama within: a flying tourbillon at 1.30 ensconced within its mirror-polished cage rotates weightlessly, defying gravity as it completes its minute-long pirouette. Opposite, an off-centre tungsten micro-rotor and barrel drum — engraved with concentric circles — balance the composition. A luminescent power reserve arrow also glides along a semi-circular scale, featuring a red dot as a silent warning.

TheSMA05 calibre movement is housed in Speake-Marin’s signature Piccadilly case, which is titanium-crafted with a domed bezel and brushed caseband. Visible through the sapphire caseback, it flaunts bevelled bridges adorned with Cotes de Geneve finishing, with their black rhodium plating contrasting against the kinetic ballet of gears. And this creation is limited to just nine pieces across two sizes, 42mm and 38mm.

8. Grand Seiko SBGW323

Reinterpreting Grand Seiko’s iconic 44GS design, this creation boasts a dial that captures the delicate beauty of the purple kiri flower, which is Iwate Prefecture’s springtime emblem.

The textured Mount Iwate pattern, usually seen in silver or white, takes on an alluring lavender hue here — with a subtle gradient that shifts between lilac and misty grey depending on the light. Each ridge of the dial’s signature striations catches the light with precision, evoking the petals of the kiri in bloom.

Housed in a 36.5mm stainless steel case, the watch adheres to Grand Seiko’s Grammar of Design principles with razor-sharp Zaratsu-polished surfaces and a box-shaped sapphire crystal that enhances the dial’s depth. The manual-winding Calibre 9S64 inside, meanwhile, delivers 72 hours of power reserve. A three-fold clasp with push-button release secures the 18mm bracelet, completing a timepiece where botanical inspiration meets Grand Seiko’s exacting craftsmanship.

9. Tudor Black Bay 58 

Lending a lush quality to one of the world’s most popular dive watches is burgundy. This deep wine colour adorns the unidirectional bezel with subtly curved numerals and aluminium insert, as well as a satin radial-brushed dial that morphs from muted to mesmerising under changing light. Silver accents punctuate the matte surface, where the iconic snowflake hands — filled with Grade A Super-LumiNova — pose a striking contrast against the monochromatic backdrop.

These contemporary refinements aside, the proportions of this Black Bay 58, in 39mm stainless steel, stays true to the brand’s 1958 “Big Crown” original. Beneath the domed sapphire crystal, the manufacture Calibre MT5400-U delivers Master Chronometer-certified precision, with its silicon hairspring ensuring resistance to magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss. The movement’s 65-hour power reserve is visible through the screw-down caseback.

New for this model is a five-link bracelet, joining the rivet-style three-link and rubber strap options — all equipped with the T-fit clasp for 8mm of tool-free adjustment. Redesigned for ergonomics, the crown also sits flush against the case so that the watch, which is water-resistant to 200m, takes the wearer comfortably and capably into the depths.

10. Kross Studio KS 06

This sculptural creation’s central floating carriage, suspended beneath a domed sapphire crystal, is encircled by a sand-blasted opal flange with a rhodium-plated railway track, and a grained central disc available in five hues, including this attractive regal purple.

This openworked design ensures an unobstructed view of the KS 7’006 movement, where the patented peripheral hour display orbits the tourbillon via a planetary gear system. In addition, its rhodium-plated hands are tipped with Super-LumiNova for nocturnal legibility.

Housed in a 42mm titanium case, the watch eschews traditional conventions with a crown-less silhouette, opting instead for a rear-mounted winding system that preserves the purity of its lines. The barrel bridge, visible through the oversized caseback, showcases hand-bevelled angles and Cotes de Geneve decoration. And this purple version is limited to just 10 pieces.