Watch trend: The best dune dial watches of 2024
Colour trends are always big at Watches and Wonders, the largest luxury watch trade show held annually in Geneva, Switzerland. This year, sand-hued dials are on the up and up, capturing the essence of serene desert landscapes and the golden glow of sunsets. From the intricate craftsmanship of Arnold & Son to the minimalist elegance of Parmigiani Fleurier, 2024’s best dune dial watches are redefining sophistication. Discover the standout pieces that embrace this sandy trend, each offering a unique blend of tradition, innovation, and luxury.
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Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium in Kingsand gold
Arnold& Son Longitude Titanium in Kingsand gold (Photo: Arnold & Son)
The new Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium watches pay tribute to late English watchmaker John Arnold and his work in marine chronometers, which are specialised timekeepers for calculating longitude at sea. The curves and profile of the 42.5mm titanium case are inspired by the design of contemporary sailing boats and this version with a dial crafted in Kingsand gold is limited to 88 pieces. The sandy golden shade references the eponymous beach in Cornwall, which was Arnold’s birthplace.
Baume & Mercier Classima 10782
Baume & Mercier Classima 10782 (Photo: Baume & Mercier)
Known for its classic and elegant aesthetic, Baume & Mercier’s Classima collection welcomed three new references in cool and contemporary colours. One of them is the Classima 10782, an automatic chronograph featuring a sand-coloured sunburst dial with anthracite accents in a 42mm polished stainless steel case. To complement the dial, the watch comes with an interchangeable sand-coloured suede calf leather strap.
IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Chronograph in Dune
IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Chronograph in Dune (Photo: IWC Schaffhausen)
IWC Schaffhausen introduced four new dial colours to its updated Portugieser collection this year, including Dune, a hue inspired by the golden glow of the setting sun in the early evening. This dial shade, housed in a 41mm stainless steel case, is available on the new Portugieser Chronograph, which is equipped with the in-house self-winding calibre 69355 and paired with a black alligator strap.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor No Date
ParmigianiFleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor No Date (Photo: Parmigiani Fleurier)
On its quest to craft understated and timeless watches, Parmigiani Fleurier has released yet another winner in the Tonda PF Micro-Rotor No Date. It is a stripped back version of the original Tonda PF Micro-Rotor from 2021; maintaining the same clean and minimal aesthetic but without a date window to cater to the design purists. The brand’s signature Grain d’Orge hand-guillochéd dial in Golden Siena is meant to evoke the subtle nuances and naturalness of the earth, and is housed in a 40mm stainless steel case.
Piaget Polo Date in 36mm and 42mm
Piaget Polo Date in 36 mm and 42 mm (Photo: Piaget)
In celebration of its 150th anniversary, Piaget unveiled a duo of Polo Date watches, limited to 300 pieces each. Great as his and hers watches, one is a 42mm with a brown rubber strap, while the other is a 36mm with a beige rubber strap and set with 91 brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel. Both are made in stainless steel and have silky beige dials decorated with the signature gadroons of the Polo.
Trilobe Les Matinaux L’Heure Exquise in Dune
Trilobe Les Matinaux L’Heure Exquise in Dune (Photo: Trilobe)
Witness the mesmerising orbit of Trilobe’s patented display concept composed of three rings representing the hours, minutes and seconds as they rotate on the same plane as the dial to tell the time on the Les Matinaux L’Heure Exquise. The sand-blasted dial in Dune also features a poetic moonphase indicator, and the watch comes in a 40.5mm titanium or rose gold case, paired with a brown leather strap.
Ulysse Nardin Freak S Nomad
Ulysse Nardin Freak S Nomad (Photo: Ulysse Nardine)
Reminiscent of a spaceship taking off from the desert, the 99-piece limited-edition Ulysse Nardin Freak S Nomad stands out for its unique Calibre UN- 251 Manufacture movement, a flying carousel that rotates on its own axis. While the watch is without a conventional dial, a rotating hour disc lies behind the flying carousel, hand-finished with a diamond guilloché pattern and sand-coloured CVD (chemical vapour deposition) to evoke the look of rippling sand dunes.
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