Hard Rock Horology with 6 of Today’s Finest Natural Stone Dial Watches

There’s absolutely no stopping the phenomenal rise and popularity of natural stone dials! Surpassing the typical short lifespan of a trend, the natural stone dial that surged in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s is here to stay. From micro-brands to mainstream giants and everything in between, it seems like everyone has been captivated by Earth’s rare minerals and stones again. Whether ultra-clean like black Onyx or riddled with swirly veins like Pietersite, here are six of today’s finest stone dial watches on the market!

Louis Vuitton Escale Tiger’s Eye

Amongst the rather impressive line-up of Louis Vuitton Escale models introduced earlier this year, the Escale Tiger’s Eye certainly stands out in more ways than one. This refined time-only watch not only uses Tiger’s Eye stone for its dial, but also for the case middle. The monolithic Tiger’s Eye stone ring looks amazing against the yellow gold case elements. Time is indicated by yellow gold hands (the seconds hand is gold PVD-coated titanium), and power comes from the chronometer-certified calibre LFT023 micro-rotor automatic. Louis Vuitton will make only 30, worn on a Savannah brown Saffiano leather strap. The price is EUR 55,000.

For more information, please visit LouisVuitton.com.

Quick Facts – 40mm x 10.34mm – 18k yellow gold case with monolithic Tiger’s Eye middle case ring – sapphire crystal front & back – 50m water-resistant – Tiger’s Eye stone dial – yellow gold hour markers & hands (gold-plated titanium second’s hand) – calibre LFT023, automatic winding – 22k rose gold micro-rotor – 28,800vph – 50h power reserve – Certified Chronometer – Saffiano calfskin leather strap with yellow gold pin buckle – limited to 30 pieces – EUR 55,000

Piaget Andy Warhol watch Collage limited edition

Piaget is, in part at least, famous for its stone work, and the brand’s mastery of the craft shows in the Andy Warhol Watch Collage. This limited edition of 50 pieces comes in a yellow gold cushion-shaped case, a bezel with stepped gadroons, and a recessed crown. Yet the true star of the show is its marquetry dial, with a black onyx base and elements of yellow Namibian serpentine, pink opal, and green chrysoprase serving as the backdrop to the hour and minute hands only. Piaget’s calibre 501P1 in-house automatic is shielded from view by a solid gold caseback. It’s worn on a green alligator strap with an ardillon buckle, and costs CHF 67,000.

For more information, please visit Piaget.com.

Quick Facts – 45mm x 43mm x 8.08mm – 18k yellow gold case with gadroons – sapphire crystal, sold gold caseback – recessed crown – 30m water-resistant – stone marquetry dial (black onyx, yellow Namibian serpentine, pink opal, green chrysoprase) – gold hour & minute hands – calibre 501P1, in-house automatic – 28,800vph – 40h power reserve – green alligator leather strap with yellow gold ardillon buckle – limited to 50 pieces only – CHF 67,000

Atelier Wen Perception Pietersite

After making a big impression with its Ancestra, Atelier Wen returns to its Millesime Perception for a captivating stone dial interpretation. Leaving little doubt as to its purpose, the Millesime Perception Pietersite features a delicate stone dial set into a 40mm-wide case. The swirling patterns of blues and greys, mixed with touches of gold and brown in the Pietersite, offer depth and motion. The customised Dandong Peacock SL1588A automatic is visible through the back, and Atelier Wen pairs it with an integrated bracelet featuring a micro-adjustable folding clasp and quick-release pins. Available for a limited time only, it retails for USD 3,600.

For more information, please visit AtelierWen.com.

Quick Facts – 40mm x 9.4mm x 47mm lug-to-lug – 904L stainless steel case, brushed & polished – sapphire crystal – semi-sapphire crystal caseback – 100m water-resistant – natural Pietersite stone dial – Huiwen-pattern chapter ring – markers & hands with SLN – Dandong Peacock SL1558A, automatic – 28,800vph – 41h power reserve – integrated steel bracelet with micro-adjustable folding clasp & quick-release pins – time-limited order window (now closed) – USD 3,600

Czapek Antarctique Mt Erebus

The Antarctique by Czapek has proven to be a versatile platform and is now available in many styles. Among the most striking is this trio of Mt Erebus editions, all featuring natural stone dials. All set in yellow or rose gold cases, you have a choice of Lapis Lazuli, green Gibeon Meteorite or Falcon Eye. Each one offers its own unique appeal through texture, colour and contrast. They’re available on a rubber strap, but why not go ‘Full Monty’ and wear it on a gold bracelet? Production is limited to 8 or 10 pieces per year, depending on the dial material, and prices start at CHF 39,000 for the rubber strap and CHF 62,000 for the full gold version.

For more information, please visit Czapek.com.

Quick Facts – 40.5mm x 10.6mm – 18k rose or yellow gold case, brushed & polished – sapphire crystal front & back – 120m water-resistant – Falcon Eye, Lapis Lazuli or green Gibeon Meteorite dials – applied markers & hands with SLN – calibre SXH5, in-house micro-rotor automatic – 193 components – 28,800vph – 60h power reserve – limited to 8 or 10 pieces per dial per year – rubber strap or full gold integrated bracelet with folding clasp – CHF 39,000 to CHF 66,000

Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar Lapis Lazuli

You’d think that a watch with a multitude of indications might become overpowering when you add a natural stone dial. However, when done right, it can enhance its appeal further, as in the Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar Lapis Lazuli. Cleverly pairing the speckled blue stone with contrasting subdials and a minute/seconds ring keeps things fairly legible. Powered by Zenith’s own El Primero 3610, it not only tells time and elapsed time, but also the day of the week, date, month and moon phase. It comes with a leather strap and a steel bracelet, is not limited in quantity, and retails for EUR 23,700.

For more information, please visit Zenith-Watches.com.

Quick Facts – 38mm diameter x approx. 14mm thickness – stainless steel case, brushed & polished – sapphire crystal front & back – 50m water-resistant – Lapis Lazuli dial with silver subdials – applied indices & hands – 1/10th of a seconds flange – day, date, month, moonphase – calibre El Primero 3610, in-house automatic – 36,000vph – 60h power reserve – 1/10th of a second chronograph function – blue calfskin leather strap & stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp – not limited – EUR 23,700

Frederique Constant Classic Perpetual Calendar manufacture

On the slightly more tempered side of the spectrum sits Frederique Constant’s yellow gold and black onyx Classic Perpetual Calendar Manufacture. Even though this full yellow gold edition significantly raises the price, it’s impressive how FC keeps the perpetual calendar at a price point unmatched by others. This one comes with a natural black onyx dial and a full perpetual calendar display with gold markers and hands. The second-gen in-house calibre FC-776 also offers double the power reserve of the first generation, which is pleasant. It’s limited to 37 numbered pieces, comes on a black alligator leather strap, and has a price of EUR 29,995.

For more information, please visit FrederiqueConstant.com.

Quick Facts – 40mm x 12.1mm – 18k yellow gold case, polished – sapphire crystal front & back – onion-style crown – 30m water-resistant – black onyx dial – subdials with white printed markings – applied gold markers & hands – calibre FC-776, in-house automatic – hours, minutes, day, date, month, leap year, moon phase – 28,800vph – 72h power reserve – black alligator leather strap with yellow gold folding clasp – limited edition of 37 numbered pieces – EUR 29,995