Spring/summer watches take on a splash of colour

WHEN it comes to fashion and beauty, the spring/summer season always signals the arrival of more colourful collections. Even the accessories are brighter this time of year, and watches are no exception. Between delicate pastels and intense reds and yellows, a splash of colour on the wrist can give an energy boost to an entire outfit.

Colourful doesn’t always mean showy. Contrasting with the neon trends of summer 2013, with its watches in fluorescent yellow and shocking pink, the colours of the season are peppy without being flashy. The emphasis is on contrasts, and how a touch of certain shades can liven up an understated outfit. In fact, the season’s make-up collections indicate a similar trend, combining subtle pastel eyeshadows with intense lipsticks.

Luxury brands and watchmakers are reflecting the trend with timepieces inspired by the rainbow, including some two-tone and multicoloured pieces.

From soft shades ...

Certain watch brands have chosen a subtle and delicate approach to colour, combining soft pastels with traditional metal designs. Chanel illustrates this tendency with its Première Rock, a watch with a young and modern style, unveiled in February. Two separate versions are available: the Première Rock Métal with a black lacquered dial and a double-wrap steel chain bracelet and the Première Rock Rose, Beige or Bleu with a mother-of-pearl dial and a triple-wrap bracelet interlaced with dyed leather in pink, beige or blue, respectively.

Similarly, Casio has come out with a range of fairly subdued shades for its signature G-Shock watch this spring with the Heather collection. Through a unique multi-angle printing technology, the brand has applied a heather effect all over the case and bracelet of the watch, which is available in white, yellow, black, grey, red, blue and green.

... to intense hues

Other brands have selected peppier, more vibrant colours for this season’s watches, which can liven up any outfit, day or night. Aight, a company specialising in “lifestyle watches”, has introduced the Aight Is The New Black, which consists of a removable anodised metal case worn on a silicone slap bracelet. This hip accessory is available in red, purple, brown, army green, yellow and blue.

The styles of the 1980s inspired the spring 2015 watch collection from Marc by Marc Jacobs, with its multicoloured bracelets and dials. The X-Up, for example, is a sportswear-inspired watch with a yellow and pink silicone strap and a matching dial. — AFP

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on April 9, 2015.