Red dial watches gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s due to a cultural shift towards bold fashion, with notable models from brands like Seiko, Omega, and Rolex’s “Stella” dials. Today, they continue to be sought after for their distinctive look. Here are some of our recent favourites.
Breitling Top Time B01 Chevrolet Corvette
Red is a colour commonly associated with cars and motorsport and while you may think of a certain Italian marque, red is also the signature colour of Chevrolet Corvette. Which is why the Breitling Top Time B01 Chevrolet Corvette has a red dial. The bright colour has been paired with black squircle chronograph counters. It measures 41mm in diameter in steel with the Breitling 01 Calibre housed inside with a 70-hour power reserve.
Price and Specs:
More details at Breitling.
Montblanc Iced Sea Automatic Date
The Iced Sea from Montblanc is in general one of my personal favourite collections, I really like the cracked ice motif. Presented with a red dial, the design gains an added sense of intensity and vibrancy above and beyond its more icy or aquatic themed siblings. On top of that it’s a solid dive watch with 300m water resistance, a 41mm steel case and is powered by the MB 24.17 calibre.
Price and Specs:
More details at Montblanc.
Omega De Ville Prestige
Bringing a rich, velvety red to the fore is the Omega De Ville Prestige. It’s a dark, sumptuous tone of red that emphasises the luxurious attitude of the collection, in contrast to the many sporty offerings included in this article. Powering this 41mm steel dress watch is the Omega calibre 8802 with 55-hour power reserve and Master Chronometer certification.
Price and Specs:
More details at Omega.
Citizen Tsuyosa
The Citizen Tsuyosa is a fun, accessible timepiece with a design inspired by iconic integrated bracelet steel sports watches. It’s the ideal vehicle for bright, colourful dials and this red fumé edition is the perfect example of that. It offers great value too at a price of £299 with a Miyota movement offering 40-hour power reserve.
Price and Specs:
More details at Citizen.
Oris Aquis Taste of Summer
With a strawberry red dial and white ceramic insert bezel, the Oris Aquis Taste of Summer is about as well named for a watch as it’s possible to be. Wimbledon might have concluded, but the strawberries and cream are still flowing. It measures 41.5mm in diameter in steel with 300m water resistance. Beneath the bright surface of the dial is the Oris 733 calibre with 41-hour power reserve.
Price and Specs:
More details at Oris.
Nomos Glashütte Club Campus Nonstop Red
The Nomos Glashütte Club Campus Nonstop Red has an incredibly striking and intense red dial that really captures your attention. That bold colour is contrasted to the traditional (for Nomos) Bauhaus inspired minimalist display. Interestingly, red is also a signature colour for Bauhaus so its use is thematically appropriate.
Price and Specs:
More details at Nomos.
Grand Seiko ‘Yuka Momiji’
As you might expect from Grand Seiko, the name Yuka Momiji has a very specific meaning ‘floor maple’, as in wooden flooring made from maple. The resulting dial is therefore shaped like wooden panels in a rich red colour inspired by the red leaves of the maple tree in autumn. It is stunningly beautiful in the light. Also beautiful is the 9S86 hi-beat movement inside the 39.5mm case.
Price and Specs:
More details at Grand Seiko Boutique.
Longines Legend Diver
With a dark red fumé dial, the Longines Legend Diver has a rich retro appeal like a fine aged whisky. It has a super compressor style case with an internal rotating bezel operated by the second crown at 2 o’clock. It also leans into that retro styling with a 36mm diameter case, which houses the calibre L592 with 45-hour power reserve.
Price and Specs:
More details at Longines.
William Wood Valiant Bronze Ruby
Mixing things up slightly, the William Wood Valiant Bronze Ruby has a 41mm case in bronze, which you probably guessed from its name. The Ruby part of its name comes from the red sandwich dial and matching red bezel. This watch is perhaps one of the most thematically appropriate for William Wood whose designs are inspired by fire fighting and you don’t get more like a fire engine than this.
Price and Specs:
More details at William Wood.
Zenith Defy Revival A3691
What is the craziest case design in the watch industry? Because it might just be the original Zenith Defy, a design that Zenith have been revisiting in a series of watches. This red dial edition, the A3691 is very impressive with its multiple facets and distinctive fluted hour markers. Powering it is the calibre ELITE 670 with 50-hour power reserve.
Price and Specs:
More details at Zenith.
