When More Is More: A Spectrum Of Rainbow Watches
Whether you consider them primarily as jewelry pieces or timepieces, rainbow watches have been adding some serious color to the luxury watch landscape lately. Here are four of our favorite rainbow watches to chase right now!
Photo Credit: Rolex
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Rainbow
Making its appearance at Baselworld 2018, the Everose Rolex Daytona Rainbow was a head-scratcher for some but a must-have for others. Featuring 36 baguette-cut sapphires in a rainbow sequence on the bezel, 11 baguette-cut rainbow-colored sapphires on the dial, and 56 brilliant-cut diamonds on the familiar 40mm Daytona style case, there’s plenty of sparkle to grab your attention on Rolex’s newest chronograph. This is not the first time Rolex creates a rainbow Daytona — the new Everose pink gold edition joins the yellow gold and white gold versions, which made their debut six years ago.
Photo Credit: Hublot
Hublot Big Bang One Click Sapphire Rainbow
Also new for this year is the Hublot Big Bang One Click Sapphire Rainbow. The transparency of the technically impressive 39mm ice-like sapphire case is a striking contrast to the 48 baguette-cut colored sapphires, amethysts, rubies, topazes and tsavorites paving a rainbow path on the white gold bezel. Aside from the vibrant precious gems, you can also add even more pigment to this Hublot rainbow watch by switching out the transparent strap with a colored one via the clever “One Click” quick-release push-button system. Limited to only 50 pieces, the new Hublot Big Bang One Click Sapphire Rainbow may be quite smaller than the 45mm Big Bang Unico Sapphire Rainbow from last year but the effect is just as striking.
Photo Credit: Chopard
Chopard Imperiale Joaillerie Rainbow
What do you get if you blend Chopard’s mastery of fine jewelry and skillful watchmaking traditions? The arresting Chopard Imperiale Joaillerie Rainbow watch. Flaunting 581 sapphires totaling 47.98 carats, it took more than 1,000 hours of work solely to get the gem-setting portion of this high-jewelry rose gold watch right. And it’s not just the 40mm case, bezel, and dial of the automatic Chopard Imperiale Joaillerie Rainbow that shines bright with a kaleidoscope of sapphires — the bracelet is a veritable work of art too, featuring links set with different hued gems to get the rich gradient effect.
Photo Credit: Richard Mille
Richard Mille RM 68-01
Compared to the other rainbow watches on our list, this Richard Mille option is quite different in that there are no decorative precious gems. However, the Richard Mille RM 68-01 certainly falls into the rainbow category thanks to the hand-painted movement executed by the renowned painter and graffiti artist, Cyril Kongo. Using miniaturized spray-painting tools, Kongo brought the tourbillon movement within the TZP black ceramic tonneau-shaped case to the forefront with an intoxicating medley of hues. As a result of the handcrafted decorating, each of the 30 pieces of the Richard Mille RM 68-01 features a unique colorway.
