The Serene Beauty of White Dials, Through Six of Today’s Best

The use of colour has really exploded over the last decade or so, almost pushing classical codes and tones out of the spotlight. However, a good silver, blue or black dial simply never goes out of style. An even more classic dial colour, though, dating back to the early days of pocket watches, is white. And on paper, white might seem like a simple concept, but there’s actually a whole range of tones of white out there. Some will work on a dial; some might not. And with multiple techniques on offer to achieve that striking serenity of a white dial, the spectrum broadens even more. With that in mind, we take a look at six watches that have a slightly different approach to the classical white dial.

Breguet Classique Souscription Platinum

Making quite the impression with last year’s Breguet gold Classique Souscription 2025, the Maison turns to platinum for this year’s follow-up edition. Paying tribute to one of the most important watches ever made, Abraham-Louis Breguet’s 1796 Souscription pocket watch, it features a single flame-blued hand over a white Grand Feu enamel dial. The numerals, logo and minute track are in blue Petite Feu enamel, and it looks absolutely fabulous. The movement is again modelled after said pocket watch, with the barrel mounted in the centre, stepped bridges and hand-applied engravings. Worn on a navy blue alligator leather strap, the price is set at EUR 68,000.

For more information, please visit Breguet.com.

Quick Facts – 40mm x 10.8mm – 950 platinum case, polished & satin-brushed – sapphire crystal front & back – caseback with “Quai de l’Horloge” guilloché – 30m water-resistant – white Grand Feu enamel dial – blue Petit Feu enamel details – flame-blued steel hand – secret logo, serial number & signature engravings – calibre VS00, in-house – hand-wound – 21,600vph – 96h power reserve – modelled after 1796 Souscription pocket watch – navy blue alligator leather strap with platinum pin buckle – EUR 68,000

Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph

The term silvery-white is often used to describe a dial finished with a very light silver tone, to the point that it almost comes across as stark white. While in reality it’s an in-between colour, the recent Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph comes with a finely grained galvanic silvery-white dial. To provide contrast and improve legibility, the solid gold applied markers and steel hands are blued, either coated or heated. And of course, the brand has implemented its signature Panorama Date display, courtesy of the in-house calibre 37-24. Set in a new 41mm by 12.9mm steel case, it retails for EUR 15,900 (strap) or EUR 16,800 (bracelet).

For more information, please visit Glashuette-Original.com.

Quick Facts – 41mm x 12.9mm – stainless steel brushed & polished – crown with GO logo – mushroom-style pushers – sapphire crystal front & back – 50m water-resistant – galvanic silver-white dial – applied Roman markers with blue coating – blued steel hands – recessed subdials – Panorama Date display – calibre 37-24, in-house automatic flyback chronograph – 28,800vph – 70h power reserve – leather or synthetic strap, or stainless steel bracelet – EUR 15,900 (strap) or EUR 16,800 (bracelet)

Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg

One of the most subtle uses of colour, despite appearing stark white at first glance, is Laurent Ferrier’s new Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg. With a reference that needs no explaining, it shows the faintest hint of icy blue shades when light shifts across it, which is quite special to behold! The dial is enhanced with drop-shaped hour markers and Assegai hands with white luminous inserts. Around the back, the gorgeous in-house calibre LF619.01 is on display in all its glory, from the blade-like winding click to the double-spiral tourbillon escapement. The 44mm-wide titanium case, shaped like a pebble, and its bracelet are left untouched. The price is set at CHF 175,000 before taxes.

For more information, please visit LaurentFerrier.ch.

Quick Facts – 44mm x 13.4mm – grade 5 titanium case, brushed & polished – ball-shaped knurled crown – sapphire crystal front & back – opaline white-blue dial – applied gold markers & hands with SLN – small seconds subdial – calibre LF619.01, in-house – manual winding – 21,600vph – 80h power reserve – one-minute tourbillon escapement with double spiral – integrated titanium bracelet with folding clasp – permanent collection – CHF 175,000 (excl. VAT)

Fortis Novonaut N-42 Halo

The strongest contrast in watches comes from black versus white, although there are multiple tricks to go beyond this classic opposition of colours. Fortis explores contrast in a pretty neat way in its Novonaut 42 Halo series. Fitted with a Panda-style dial with contrasting black, blue or green subdials and a matching bezel insert, the white base is fully luminous. So as the lights dim, what is bright white turns luminous blue, including the scale on the bezel. Inside, the highly shock-resistant calibre Werk 17 TR receives a welcome power reserve extension, from 60 to 70 hours. It retails for EUR 5,950 and comes with a hybrid FMK rubber and textile strap.

For more information, please visit Fortis-Swiss.com.

Quick Facts – 42mm x 15mm – stainless steel case, brushed – bidirectional rotating bezel with ceramic insert (black, blue, green) – sapphire crystal front & back – 200m water-resistant – solid Lumicast X1 base dial with contrasting subdials (black, blue, green) – blackened hands with SLN – calibre Werk TR 17, made by La Joux-Perret – automatic integrated chronograph – 28,800vph – 70h power reserve – hybrid FKM rubber & textile strap – EUR 5,950

Hamilton Cushion

Directly inspired by Hamilton’s Cushion Plain and Engraved watches from 1926, the brand’s new Cushion Mechanical is a literal blast from the past. The 30mm by 30mm or 34mm by 34mm wide steel case, which is optionally coated in gold PVD, is quite slim thanks to the manually wound calibre H-42 (based on the ETA 7001 architecture). With a white dial and either Roman or Arabic numerals, it looks like a million bucks. It costs far less, though, as depending on the case finishing, it retails for EUR 995 (steel) or EUR 1,095 (gold PVD), which is very fair. There’s even one with an Art Deco-style engraved case, to really ramp up its retro appeal.

For more information, please visit HamiltonWatch.com.

Quick Facts – 30mm x 30mm or 34mm x 34mm x 8mm height – stainless steel case, optionally engraved or gold PVD-coated – sapphire crystal front & back – white or black dial, Roman or Arabic numerals – cathedral hands – small seconds subdial – calibre H-42 (ETA 7001 architecture) – manual winding – 21,600vph – 57h power reserve – leather strap with pin buckle – permanent collection – EUR 995 (steel models) or EUR 1,095 (gold PVD models)

Hermès H08 Blanc Chantilly

Hermès often extends colour far beyond the dial with its sleek H08, and the latest Blanc Chantilly is no exception. It was already a lesson in design and material use, and the Maison has whipped up a bright white dial, ceramic bezel and strap to pair with the lightweight glass fibre composite case. It retains its softened square profile, with the glass fibre’s interwoven structure being a defining feature. The darkened numerals and hands add plenty of depth and contrast, and a sapphire caseback reveals the calibre Hermès H1837 automatic, made by Vaucher. Worn on a white rubber strap with a folding clasp, it costs EUR 8,150.

For more information, please visit Hermes.com.

Quick Facts – 39mm x 10.6mm – braided glass-fibre composite case with aluminium-coated surface – white ceramic bezel – sapphire crystal front & back – 100m water-resistant – white lacquered dial – applied numerals – black-gold hands with SLN – grey minutes track – calibre Hermes H1837, made by Vaucher Manufacture – automatic winding – 28,800vph – 50h power reserve – white rubber strap with titanium folding clasp – EUR 8,150