As Audrey Hepburn once said, I believe in the power of pink. Hepburn associated the color pink with an inner strength and self-confidence that can and should be shared with the world. Who could disagree with one of the most famous actors and style icons of the 50s and 60s?
In many cultures, pink stands for femininity, romance, love, joy, glitz, and even eccentricity. The color also recently got a boost by Greta Gerwig’s Barbie.
But can and should the meaning of the color pink be applied to the world of watches? Especially considering that for some watch brands and collectors, the world of watches is all about tradition, timeless elegance, and luxury? Barbie, pink, and luxury – how does that all fit together?
It’s time to mix up the color palette. The trend of blue and green dials is a thing of the past! Here are some of the best watches in pink.
Die Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36
Rolex is known for the vibrant green on many of their models, not for a soft, floral pink.
The ultimate provocation? When it comes to availability, unusual colors like turquoise, pink, yellow, and the new “puzzle dial” really stand out – at least as far as your chances of getting one of these watches from a dealer are concerned. And maybe rightly so, because this watch is beautiful. The 36-mm stainless steel case makes it an elegant choice for any wrist.
While the size of this watch is rather unassuming, the “Candy Pink” dial makes a real statement. Paired with the completely matte bracelet, without the usual polished links, it’s the perfect combination of loud and quiet. With this watch, you can show that you don’t take luxury and prestige too seriously, without sacrificing Rolex quality.
Oris Divers Sixty-Five “Cotton Candy”
The Oris Divers Sixty-Five has a similar dial color but an overall more sporty look, and is available in bronze or stainless steel. The watch differs from the Rolex Perpetual Oyster not only in its 38-mm case and genuine diving watch design, but also in its price and availability.
A diving watch in bronze with a bronze bracelet is already a rather esoteric, borderline subversive idea. Add a candy pink dial, and this watch might be hard to digest for the average watch collector. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, as the saying goes.
The Oris Cotton Candy is sure to bring a smile to your face. The watch comes in a unisex size and features water resistance up to 100m (10 bar, 328 ft), a tough anti-reflective sapphire crystal, and luminescent Super-LumiNova hour makers. The timepiece is also powered by the Oris caliber 733 with a date display.
Along with these technical features, the Divers Sixty-Five Bronze appeals to many watch aficionados because of the changing appearance of the watch over time – the patina of the bronze changes with wear, giving each timepiece its own unique character.
The “Barbie” TAG Heuer Carrera Date 36 mm
Yeah, yeah, yeah – Ryan Gosling didn’t wear this watch in the Barbie movie. But the three golden Carrera models from the movie clash with the theme of this article. And isn’t it interesting to see what Ryan Gosling wears in real life, outside the movie? Even though he’s paid to do so as a brand ambassador for TAG Heuer….
But let’s stick with the romantic idea that the TAG Heuer Carrera won Ryan’s heart all on its own. Because how could it not?
The 36-mm TAG Heuer Carrera Date was released just in time for the movie. It has a stainless steel case, is water-resistant up to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft), and features a shiny pink dial with a date display. The timepiece is powered by the Calibre 7, based on the ETA 2892, with a power reserve of 56 hours. You can watch the movement in action through the open sapphire crystal case back. Fit for everyday life? Definitly! But how does this watch differ from, say, the Oris?
Compared with the Oris, the TAG Heuer Carrera is more elegant and more radiant (literally!), thanks to the powerful, dark pink sunburst dial. The polished case and bracelet only add to the more striking appearance of the TAG Heuer.
That said, the watch doesn’t look out of place at all when paired with the right outfit in the right context – just take a look at photos of Ryan Gosling on the red carpet. In fact, the watch is a real conversation starter and is sure to lift the mood of anyone around.
We already touched on the cultural significance of the color pink in the intro of this article. If we combine that knowledge with the insight gleaned from our unique Chrono24 marketplace data, we can see that watches with a pink dial are particularly popular in the US. Germany is a close second, followed by France and then Italy. Does the hype surrounding the Barbie movie have anything to do with this? Or is it a more basic desire for individuality, self-expression and a culture of openness that buyers in these countries are embracing in fashion and elsewhere? It’s impossible to say for sure, but there may be a connection.
Nomos Club Campus 36 Deep Pink
There’s definitely a recognizable pattern here. Watches in pink often have a “36” in their name. 36 mm seems to be the perfect size for any wrist – including the Nomos Club Campus Deep Pink. At this point, I should disclose that I own a Nomos Club Campus and enjoy wearing it (though mine has a salmon-colored dial). Some of the reasons I love this watch is its high quality finish, its affordable in-house caliber, and the simplicity for which the typical Nomos Bauhaus design is known and loved.
Like the TAG Heuer, the pink of the Nomos is on the darker end of the spectrum. But without the sunburst, the dial has a more restrained look. This is a truly elegant watch with a flat stainless steel case and manual movement that fosters a close connection with the timepiece. The Club Campus is the epitome of a smart, casual watch that’s special enough to impress real collectors.
PS: As always with Nomos, the lug width is also worth mentioning. At 47.5 mm, it’s just as large as that of other Nomos watches, meaning that this timepiece looks larger on your wrist than its official measurements let on.
Zenith El Primero Chronomaster Original Pink
When you think of Zenith, you probably don’t think of a watch with a colorful dial but rather of iconic chronographs like the El Primero. But imagine if those two things came together – an iconic chronograph with a pink dial.
The Chronomaster Original Pink combines tradition and extravagance. It’s a special edition in collaboration with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which is dedicated to spreading awareness about breast cancer, making it an exceptional model with deep significance.
The watch with the reference 03.3202.3600/33.M3200 has much in common with typical El Primero models, including a 38-mm stainless steel case and the famous chronograph design. It’s water-resistant up to 50 m (5 bar, 164 ft), has rhodium-plated hands with Super-LumiNova, a chronograph function, date display, and power reserve of 60 hours. The caliber El Primero 3600 ticks inside it and is visible through the display case back.
On the other side of the watch, the bright pink sunburst dial conveys exactly what it’s meant to, bringing us full circle with our introduction: strength and self-confidence.
