It’s now been well recorded that we’re currently having a pink revolution, with the colour taking its rightful place at the forefront of haute couture. While in previous years the catwalks have been brimming with ultra-seriousness and minimalism, now designers are embracing optimism and joyfulness – all concepts encompassed by different shades of pink. There even appears to be a swing back to pink being popular in menswear, with the colour becoming trendy within the luxury streetwear scene. This reflects how within fashion, pink goes beyond merely being aesthetic and is in fact a symbol of our culture today. As a recent article published on Vogue pointed out, “besides just looking great, pink matters more than ever right now”.
But what has this got to do with the watch industry? While the colour pink is not at the forefront of watchmaking, the new approaches of what makes good design in horology (led by the likes of Hublot and Richard Mille) have shifted what people look for in a watch. Now there is a greater demand for intricately designed pieces, or models that play with the constructs of colour in an interesting and dynamic fashion. Just taking into account that within a 30-day period there were 2.7% more online mentions of pink in relation to watches than blue and black combined* shows there is now a real desire for watches that push the boundaries of colour.
While the Rococo Period (1720 – 1777) may be hailed as the golden age of pink – led by socialites like Madame de Pompadour – changes in high-end fashion, and watches by brands from Chanel to Rolex, Tag Heuer to Harry Winston, Zenith to Cartier, Louis Vuitton to Bulgari, suggest that it may be time to rethink when the golden age of pink actually is. To get you started, here are 5 luxurious models that incorporate pink in their designs.
Hublot Big Bang Tutti Frutti
The Big Bang Tutti Frutti in rose is boldly electrifying. With Hublot’s use of 48 pink baguette sapphires and a stylish pink gummy alligator strap, the timepiece is exquisite and vibrant without ever feeling gaudy.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust ‘Floral Dial’
As you would expect from Rolex, this watch has been crafted masterfully, with the pink dial containing floral motifs which have been produced using an electroforming technique.
Roger Dubuis Velvet Pink
Roger Dubuis’ women’s collection has become hugely popular this year. The Velvet Pink itself is rich in colour, laced with stunning diamonds and featuring a mother-of-pearl dial plentifully bestrewn with grand feu enamel floral motifs.
Richard Mille RM 07-02
Perhaps known better by its nickname, the Pink Lady Sapphire, Richard Mille’s RM 07-02 perfectly balances modern feminine design and meticulous attention to detail.
Harry Winston Premier Monkey
While the use of pink on the dial of this model enriches the vibrancy of the watch, the technical detail behind the design persists Harry Winston’s commitment to refinement.
*Data was gathered using Salesforce’s Radian6, from May 15th to June 14th