Round-UpColour Bomb: Presenting Unapologetically Flamboyant Rainbow Watches This Holi

It’s that time of year again when the snow starts to melt, the sun shines hot, and a refreshing zephyr blows during the day. As nature revives itself, green buds appear on trees, a sweet, musky, floral scent lingers in the air, and the sky is painted with the prettiest shade of blue. This is also the time when Holi is celebrated across India, marking the advent of spring and the end of winter. Dubbed as a festival of colour, the occasion witnesses people coming together to splash myriad hues on each other as they dance to the beats of dhol. Owing to the use of a brightly coloured powder called ‘gulal’, the surroundings are engulfed by a blanket of vibrant rainbow hues—red, orange, yellow, pink…you name it!

And speaking of such dazzling hues seen during Holi, the horological industry itself has been witnessing a raging trend of bright, colourful timepieces in the form of ‘rainbow’ watches that showcase the entire spectrum of colour as seen in rainbows. Having been around for decades, these flashy yet beguiling timepieces serve as a platform for the watch brands to not only showcase their boundless creativity but also skilful craftsmanship, through novel creations and flagship offerings. Here’s a look at five flamboyant examples of rainbow watches that are sure to garner maximum attention.

Breitling Superocean Heritage’57 Special Edition

The Breitling Superocean Heritage’57 Special Edition presents a retro-styled look but with a twist. Inspired by the timepieces manufactured by the Swiss watchmaker during the 1950s, this model comes with two key elements of the original range—a concave, bidirectional ceramic bezel and oversized indices—and features a dial in blue or black. However, what gives the watch a funky character are its rainbow-inspired design elements. Apart from the splashes of colours marking the hours at 12, three, six and nine o’clock, the dial consists of hour indices and timekeeping hands that have been coated with Super-LumiNova in rainbow gradation of yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, red, and orange. This not only elevates the legibility of the display but also makes it eye-catching and visually appealing. Under the hood, we have the brand’s COSC-certified calibre 10, which is capable of storing a minimum power reserve of 42 hours. The Breitling Superocean Heritage’57 Special Edition is housed in a high-quality 40mm stainless steel case that has been flawlessly polished and comprises elongated lugs for a comfortable wearing experience. What’s more, the timepiece is secured to the wrist with a delightfully elegant mesh bracelet or a single-piece strap crafted from ECONYL—a patented yarn that is made from nylon waste retrieved from the ocean, such as old fishing nets.

The Breitling Superocean Heritage’57 Special Edition presents a retro-styled look but with a twist

Inspired by the watches manufactured by the watchmaker during the 1950s, this model comes with two key elements of the original range—a concave, bidirectional ceramic bezel and oversized indices

Apart from the splashes of colour marking 12, three, six and nine o’clock, the dial consists of hour indices and timekeeping hands that have been coated with Super-LumiNova in rainbow gradation

Under the hood, we have the brand’s COSC-certified calibre 10, which is capable of storing a minimum power reserve of 42 hours

The Breitling Superocean Heritage’57 Special Edition is housed in a high-quality 40mm stainless steel case that has been flawlessly polished and comprises elongated lugs for greater comfort

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Corum Golden Bridge 43 White Gold Baguette

First introduced in 1980, the Golden Bridge by Corum, owing to its iconic in-line baguette movement, still enjoys an ardent following of admirers. Offering an avant-garde design language, the timepiece comes with an uninterrupted view of the sapphire crystal on both sides of the case. Moreover, it takes inspiration from the Golden Gate Bridge in California, USA, and features intricate lattice structures connected to either side of the linear movement. The Golden Bridge 43 White Gold Baguette, seen here, perfectly encapsulates the essence of the collection. Presented in a 43mm 18-karat white gold case, the model features 68 baguette-cut multicolour gemstones on its bezel, including 15 peridots, eight tsavorites and five rubies that make for a visual spectacle. This rainbow palette has been meticulously executed by Corum and it exemplifies their mastery in gem-setting and craftsmanship. As for the technical aspects, it is powered by the manual-winding CO113 movement that runs at a frequency of 28,800vph and offers a power reserve of 42 hours. The timepiece is fashioned with a supple black alligator leather strap, which adds to the overall charm of the watch.

Hublot Big Bang Unico Rainbow King Gold

The Hublot Big Bang Unico Rainbow King Gold is as extravagant as a timepiece can get. Housed in an exquisite case made from King Gold—Hublot’s proprietary 18-karat red gold alloy—the watch features a whopping 436 precious and semi-precious stones along with a combination of satin and polished surfaces. Out of the total number of stones, 176 of them are paved on the case, 48 on the bezel and 212 of them are featured in the dial. Each one of these gemstones—presented in a variety of colours including pink, blue, yellow and orange—is flawlessly polished and treated with an anti-reflective coating. To top that, the designers have paired it with an alligator strap that has been created with a multicolour gradient effect, matching all the gemstones on the watch. Although the centrepiece here is the captivating looks, Hublot haven’t compromised on any of the watch’s other details. The skeletonised display offers optimal readability with central, two-hand timekeeping, a column wheel placed at nine and a minutes counter at three o’clock position. These attributes are powered by the self-winding HUB1242 Unico, which includes 38 jewels and beats at a frequency of 28,800vph with a power reserve of up to 72 hours. Besides the open-worked face of the timepiece, the movement is also visible through the transparent caseback and is attached to a skeletonised rotor.

 Parmigiani Tonda 1950 Rainbow

 Exemplifying opulence, the Parmigiani Tonda 1950 Rainbow is presented in a case of 18-karat rose gold and a bezel that is studded with myriad precious stones. Carefully handpicked and placed by the watchmaker, the 21 sapphires in pink, blue, yellow and orange; three rubies; six tsavorites; and six amethysts resemble the hues of the rainbow and exude a luxurious vibe. In a bid to add to the ravishing appearance of the watch, the designers have used a perfectly executed mother-of-pearl dial that instantly grabs the attention of a beholder. Featuring rose gold-plated indices, a small seconds sub-dial at six o’clock, and skeletonised delta-shaped timekeeping hands, the display remains well-balanced and aesthetically pleasing. The ergonomically designed 39mm timepiece is equipped with the automatic PF701 movement that beats at 21,600vph and ensures peerless accuracy and performance. With a standard power reserve of 42 hours, the calibre comes with a slender profile and includes 29 jewels. The Parmigiani Tonda 1950 Rainbow is secured to the wrist with an indigo blue Hermès alligator leather strap that stands in a contrast against the vibrant bezel.

The Parmigiani Tonda 1950 Rainbow is presented in a case of 18-karat rose gold and a bezel that is studded with myriad precious stones, including 21 pink, blue, yellow and orange sapphires; three rubies; six tsavorites; and six amethysts

Zenith Defy 21 Chroma Chronograph Limited Edition

 In recent years, Zenith have used the Defy 21 collection to introduce some of their most colourful interpretations. However, the Defy 21 Chroma Chronograph Limited Edition, released this year at LVMH Watch Week, has to be their most ambitious and audacious attempt. Offered in a white ceramic case with a matt finish, the timepiece features splashes of colour on its skeletonised movement and hour markers, starting with 12 o’clock marked by red and then shifting through orange, yellow, green, blue, violet and pink in a clockwise manner. Following the overall rainbow aesthetic of the watch, the crown comes with a yellow rubber grip ring and the Cordura-effect rubber strap consists of stitching that matches the colour spectrum of the dial. Meanwhile, the watch is equipped with Zenith’s El Primero 21, which is capable of displaying 1/100th of a second, runs at the frequency of 36,000vph and has a separate escapement for the chronograph feature that vibrates at an astounding 3,60,000vph. The movement powers three sub-dials at three, six and nine o’clock, in addition to the central chronograph hand, and hour and minute hands. Limited to just 200 units, the timepiece features an exhibition caseback, which offers a glimpse of the open rotor that is marked with the Zenith’s five-point star emblem.

Offered in a white ceramic case with a matt finish, the Zenith Defy 21 Chroma Chronograph Limited Edition features splashes of colour on its skeletonised movement and hour markers

Following the overall rainbow aesthetic of the watch, the crown comes with a yellow rubber grip ring and the Cordura-effect rubber strap consists of stitching that matches the colour spectrum of the dial