Round-UpEmbracing The Dark Side: Presenting Nine Stunning All-Black Watches

Over the years, the Swiss watchmaking industry has undergone some incredible changes that one had never anticipated. For an industry that’s steeped in tradition, it sometimes takes longer for brands to adapt, but they still do nonetheless. While the mechanics have always been an important guiding factor when it comes to establishing horological supremacy, one cannot overlook the design aspect, which goes a long way in building recall value. And when one talks about design, the immediate elements that come to mind are: colour, decoration, and symmetry. These can be used by watchmakers to play around with different parts in terms of offering a unique display on the dial or introducing a colour palette that makes the watch highly attractive from the get-go. While talking about this, one simply cannot deny the charm that a complete blacked-out timepiece exudes on the wearer. Apart from looking highly stylish and often avant-garde, it has a certain enigma when one considers how black becomes a unifying force for such watches—right from the case and dial, to the strap. It’s definitely true when they say black is not just a colour; it’s an emotion. Here’s a look at nine all-black watches—or those that come really close—that will make a strong statement with their monochromatic magnificence.

Bremont ALT1-P2 JET

From the brand known for their timepieces inspired by the British military, the ALT1-P2 JET is based on the original ALT1-P pilot’s watch—the definitive aviation chronograph. This gorgeous 43mm timepiece stands out for its hardened, DLC-treated case and black dial, combined with Bremont’s iconic ‘51 lume’ that offer total clarity and legibility to the wearer. Passionate about celebrating British engineering and innovation, and as part of the testing cycle, Bremont have teamed up with veritable aviation pioneers Gravity Industries to put the new watch through its paces. This is the first DLC-coated case in this line and turning the watch over reveals a smoked crystal exhibition caseback with a black rotor that add to the mysterious charm of its blacked-out aesthetic. The ALT1-P2 JET is presented on a black leather strap with DLC-coated pin buckle.

Bremont’s ALT1-P2 JET is based on the original ALT1-P pilot’s watch, the definitive aviation chronograph

₹5,83,000

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This 43mm timepiece stands out for its hardened, DLC case and black dial, combined with Bremont’s iconic ’51 lume’ that offer total clarity and legibility to the wearer

₹5,83,000

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This is the first DLC-coated case in this line and turning the watch over reveals a smoked crystal caseback with a black rotor that adds to the mysterious charm of its blacked-out aesthetic

₹5,83,000

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The ALT1-P2 JET is presented on a black leather strap with DLC-coated pin buckle

₹5,83,000

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Doxa SUB 300 Carbon Sharkhunter

Known for creating the first truly purpose-designed diver’s tool watch—SUB 300—which was also accessible to the general public in 1967; Doxa were also among the few brands to popularise the colour orange for dials, back then. However, last year, the brand launched an all-black version of the SUB 300, crafted in a forged carbon case. Lightweight when compared with steel, forged carbon gives off a contemporary vibe as it alternates shades of charcoal grey and black. This intensifies as light hits the surface of the case at different angles, and looks far different from the usual black watch cases. Even the texture of forged carbon is unique as it gives off a matt yet raw appearance that seems at once compact and irregular. The very particular non-homogeneous marbling is achieved with randomly worked fibres. With a diameter of 42.5mm, the SUB 300 Carbon Sharkhunter timepiece featured here comes with a pressure-resistant titanium chamber and screw-down crown for maximum protection for the movement. Its scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective treatment has the distinctive dome shape of the curved Plexiglas used for the original series way back when. The COSC-certified automatic movement provides a power reserve of approximately 38 hours. Water-resistant to 300m, the watch is presented on a deep black rubber strap that matches the colour of the case and the dial.

The Doxa SUB 300 Sharkhunter comes in a forged carbon case, which is extremely lightweight. It also gives a contemporary vibe as it alternates shades of charcoal grey and black

With a diameter of 42.5mm, the SUB 300 Carbon Sharkhunter comes with a pressure-resistant titanium chamber and screw-down crown for maximum protection for the movement

Doxa SUB 300 Carbon

₹4,02,000

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Hublot Classic Fusion Juventus Chronograph

A favourite with the sporting world, Hublot are constantly surprising buyers with their innovative designs that comprise high-tech materials. The Classic Fusion line is Hublot’s most elegant collection and is inspired by avant-garde designs first launched by the company in the early 1980s, shortly after it was founded. Hublot pioneered the use of gold with rubber, daringly fusing precious and industrial materials together in a package that disrupted the watchmaking conventions of that time. Over the years, the brand have also introduced materials such as titanium, ceramic, sapphire and carbon into this collection.  The Hublot Classic Fusion Juventus Chronograph brings together modern materials and the latest timekeeping technology for this watch that’s dedicated to football. It comes in a striking 45mm, black ceramic case with a black PVD-treated titanium bezel along with a black carbon fibre insert. The black sunray dial is protected by a sapphire crystal glass, and showcases the Juventus Football Club logo at three o’clock, a rectangular date display at six o’clock and two silver-tone chronograph sub-dials. This limited-edition watch is driven by the HUB1143 manual-winding movement, and is presented on a black leather strap with white stitching, fitted with a black PVD-coated steel deployant clasp.

Hublot Classic Fusion

₹13,40,000

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IWC Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Top Gun Ceratanium

This Pilot’s chronograph from IWC (Ref. IW371815) is the brand’s first offering made from Ceratanium. Developed in-house, this material combines the advantages of titanium and ceramic in a new composition. The patented material is as lightweight and unbreakable as titanium, but at the same time is as tough and scratch-resistant as ceramic. The manufacturing process for this alloy involves multiple stages and is extremely complex, as the raw material must have an extremely high degree of purity. It is during the furnace process that the oxygen diffuses into the material, and a phase transformation takes place and the surface of the metal becomes ceramic. This is also when it takes on the striking, matt black colour. In contrast to conventional coating procedures such as DLC, which can often chip off, Ceratanium adheres permanently to the material. Here in this Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Top Gun model, all case components, including the push buttons and the pin buckle, are made from Ceratanium, and this is what gives the timepiece a complete blacked-out look. The double chronograph has an integrated split-seconds hand mechanism for simultaneously measuring two short periods of time. It is driven by the self-winding calibre 79420 that boasts a power reserve of 44 hours and is presented on a black textile strap.

This all-black Pilot’s chronograph from IWC is the brand’s first offering made from Ceratanium—an in-house material, which combines the advantages of titanium and ceramic

In contrast to conventional coating procedures such as DLC, which can often flake off, Ceratanium adheres permanently to the material, thereby giving it the rich, matt black finish

IWC Pilot’s Watches

₹12,58,000

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Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Black Black

First launched in 1993, the Seamaster Professional Diver 300M has enjoyed a cult following ever since. Like all other lines, this, too, features a suitable, upgraded model for 2021, where the brand have introduced new materials and a movement for this novelty. The Seamaster Diver 300M Black Black comes in a 43.5mm, black ceramic case topped by a unidirectional rotating bezel, also in the same material. This features a smooth finish with a diving scale in relief. Even the crown and the helium escape valve are developed in black ceramic, so that the timepiece maintains uniformity throughout. The case frames a dial that’s also crafted in black ceramic with a wave-like motif. Although the new Black Black model comes in the darkest hue, this does not hamper the visibility, even in low-light areas, thanks to the anthracite Super-LumiNova that’s been added to the diving scale, the black PVD indexes and skeleton hands. Although these markers glow in the dark, the anthracite turns them dark-grey in daylight. This dive timer is powered by Omega’s co-axial Maser Chronometer calibre 8806, visible through the caseback. Certified by METAS, it is resistant to magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss, and is equipped with a free sprung balance that features a silicon balance spring, and has automatic winding in both directions. The brand have also used special finishing on the rhodium-plated rotor, while the bridges are decorated with Geneva waves. Water-resistant to 300m, the watch is presented on a black rubber strap with a buckle in the same material as the case.

The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Black Black comes in a 43.5mm, black ceramic case topped by a unidirectional rotating bezel, also in the same material. The case frames a dial that’s also crafted in black ceramic with a wave-like motif with black PVD indexes and skeleton hands

Panerai Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech 47mm

For a brand that are known for crafting timekeeping instruments for the Italian Navy since the 1930s, Panerai have been at the helm of constant innovation and engineering to achieve supreme precision for their watches. One such fine example is their introduction of Carbotech—a patented material introduced in 2015, designed to optimise both the aesthetics and the performance of the material. Here, thin sheets of carbon are compressed together with a high-end polymer, PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone), which binds this together, rendering it stronger and more durable. Also, according to the brand, this material is lighter and more corrosion-resistant as compared with materials such as ceramic or even titanium. The model featured here comes in a 47mm black Carbotech case topped by a unidirectional-rotating black Carbotech bezel. It features a black carbon dial with luminous hands and dot hour markers. There’s a date display at the three o’clock position as well as a small seconds sub-dial at nine o’clock. It is powered by an in-house automatic movement with a 72-hour power reserve. Water-resistant to 300m, the watch also features a solid caseback made of blackened titanium and is presented on a black rubber strap.

The Panerai Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech 47mm features a black carbon dial with luminous hands and dot hour markers. There’s also a date display at the three o’clock position

Water-resistant to 300m, the watch also features a solid caseback made of blackened titanium and is presented on a black rubber strap

Panerai Submersible

₹18,62,800

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Rado D-Star Chronograph

Known for being one of the pioneers to use high-tech ceramic in their watches since 1986, Rado have seamlessly integrated the use of this material in almost all their collections. This Rado D-Star chronograph comes in a 41mm black ceramic case, topped by a black bezel in the same material. The watch features a black dial with luminous silver-tone hands and index hour markers. There’s also a tachymeter scale around the outer rim of the watch face. There’s a date display neatly tucked between four and five o’clock positions. One can also see the small seconds sub-dial at three, the 12-hour counter at six and the 30-minute counter at the nine o’clock positions. It is powered by an automatic movement that’s further protected by a solid caseback. Water-resistant to 100m, the watch is presented on a black rubber strap that matches the case and dial colour.

TAG Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 5 Carbon

The Aquaracer line from TAG Heuer is known for its timepieces with high water resistance, apt for outdoor activities such as snorkelling or scuba diving. The Aquaracer Calibre 5 Carbon features a 41mm, sand-blasted black titanium case, topped by a unidirectional bezel in the same material with carbon inserts. This frames a black dial with rose gold luminescent hands and index hour markers. The date window is positioned at three o’clock and one can also see the longer and more slender seconds hand sweeping across the watch face. This all-black timepiece is driven by TA Heuer’s calibre 5, a self-winding automatic movement, which boasts a 38-hour power reserve, while beating at a frequency of 28,800vph. It is further protected by scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment, and also a solid caseback and screw-down crown that ensure high waterproofness of up to 300m. This timepiece comes a black nylon strap that complements the overall design aesthetic.

Zenith Chronomaster Revival ‘Shadow’

Inspired by the black chronograph prototype from the 1970s, the Chronomaster Revival ‘Shadow’ is housed in a 37mm case—on the lines of the very first watch fitted with the El Primero, the A384. But instead of the traditional choice of stainless steel with a superficial layer of black coating, Zenith have opted for micro-blasted titanium, which impart the dark hue in a fine matt finish. Despite its dark demeanour, the chronograph remains highly legible, with grey counters and a tachymeter scale that subtly contrast against the deep, matt black dial. The hands and applied markers are filled with white Super-LumiNova that offers supreme legibility in the dark as it emits a bright green glow. It is driven by the El Primero 4061 automatic movement that operates at a frequency of 36,000vph, offering a generous power reserve of at least 50 hours. Water-resistant to 50m, the Chronomaster Revival ‘Shadow’ is presented on a black rubber strap with a ‘cordura-effect’, fitted with a micro-blasted titanium pin buckle that matches the sleek finish and dark hue of the case.

Zenith Chronomaster

₹8,90,000

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