White has always been associated with purity, elegance, and simplicity. In many religions, white conveys rich symbolisms, for example, innocence and sacrifice in Christianity and purity, self-mastery, and emancipation in Buddhism. In some cultures, like the Chinese, it is associated with death and commonly worn at funerals.
In fashion, white always makes a statement, although it is notoriously hard to pull off. Glorious exceptions include Marilyn Monroe flirtatiously posing over a subway grate, her white dress fluttering in the air (The Seven Year Itch), and Grace Kelly clad in Dior in The Rear Window.
White on your wrist is equally risky, but with the right outfit and attitude, it can add glam and style to any overall look, placing the wearer in that rarefied category of the perennially elegant.
Breguet’s latest Marine collection, dedicated to modern-day women explorers is an example of elegance and mastery in watchmaking. Part of the series is this Marine Dame 9517 in a 33.8mmm steel case with a white mother-of-pearl dial and white rubber strap with steel buckle. The hour markers and markings are luminescent as well as its faceted open-tipped gold hands, with the date window framed also in gold.
The Marine Dame 9517 exudes elegance and femininity.
If you are going to purchase a white watch for the first time, go for this one. Whatever you are wearing, this Marine Dame model will be noticed… and your good taste recognised.
RRP: £14,700
Blancpain marries femininity and artistry in its Quantième Rétrograde Calendar. Its romantic aesthetic is accentuated by its delicate dial, featuring mother-of-pearl marquetry and extraordinary detailing, with the moon phase at 12 o’clock, nestled in a starry, diamond-studded sky. Echoing the whimsical mood, the serpentine blue hand is tipped with a star. The lunette, set with 40 diamonds, plus the white strap, highlight the femininity of this piece, with the final flourish seen in a diamond-topped crown.
Technique at the service of beauty: Blancpain’s Quantième Rétrograde.
Attention to detail shines through in every part and component of this elegant timepiece, where technique is placed at the service of beauty. The hour and minute counters are decentralised at 6 o’clock. The calendar is indicated by a retrograde hand, which consistently jumps back to the first day of the month.
The sapphire display back showcases the flower-shaped oscillating weight and the beating heart of the watch, the calibre 2650RL.
RRP: £34,300
For women with high expectations, RICHARD MILLE’s RM 07-01 in white ceramic delivers everything any ambitious lady could ask for, effortlessly combining elegance, durability, and practicality.
The heart of the 07-01 is the calibre CRMA2, a highly skeletonised automatic movement developed specifically for this watch. With baseplate and bridges machined from grade-5 titanium, the CRMA2 includes a variable-inertia balance in order to maintain exacting long-term performance and a rotor with shifting geometry to adapt to the owner’s activity. Its crown is not connected to the interior of the movement directly so it is impossible to break. The technical mastery of this watch can be appreciated throughout the skeletonised movement with its balance placed at 6 o’clock.
The RM 07-01: tough and very pretty.
Its curvaceous lines and high-grade finishes add sensuality to the wrist of the wearer. The gemstone set centre field and the water droplet-shaped indexes contrast with the lines of the movement, accentuating the unique personality of this remarkable creation of haute horlogerie.
RRP: CHF195,000
Considered by many as THE watch, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is undoubtedly one of the most iconic timepieces of our time and a watch for all seasons and moods. Crafted in hand-finished white ceramic, this particular Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar features day, date, month, astronomical moon, and week of the year. The leap year indication — pioneered by Audemars Piguet in 1955 — is also featured on the “Grande Tapisserie” decorated blue dial, which features silver-toned counters, white gold applied hour-markers, and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating and blue inner bezel. The white ceramic bracelet comes with an AP folding clasp in blackened polished steel.
The new self-winding calibre 5134 is based on its predecessor, the calibre 2120, but enlarged in accordance with the updated 41 mm case size. The highly finished 4.31mm thick movement is fully visible through the glare-proofed sapphire crystal caseback.
RRP: £93,300
Created in collaboration with Bamford Watch Department, Girard Perregeux recently launched the Laureato Ghost, a limited edition of 45 pieces that pays tribute to the debut version of the original Laureato launched in 1975. Housed in a 38mm white ceramic case, this specific material was selected for its perfectly vitrified surface and its uniform, lustrous appearance, allowing for finishes characteristic of classic steel and gold Laureatos.
The black touches give the Laureato Ghost its sporty character.
The ethereal, ghost-like qualities given by the white ceramic and the luminescent material are compensated by the titanium crown treated with black PVD and black accents on the dial, such as the GP logo presented in relief and the black minute flange, both of which add a touch of sportiness to the general look of the watch. The central sweep seconds hand features a twisted counterweight endowed with a zebra motif, while an aperture at 3 o’clock reveals the date. The case-back is engraved with the text “One of 45” and “Laureato 45th Anniversary”. The innovative design aesthetic is completed by a fully integrated bracelet or a leather strap.
In its heart, this very special ghost carries the Girard Perregeux self- winding Calibre GP03300-0139.
Leather strap: £ 10,300
Ceramic bracelet: £12,000
Even more, hardcore is the new Bell & Ross BR 03-92 WHITE CAMO. Famous for its aeronautical and military references, this is the latest addition to their family of camouflage watches. This new Limited Edition of 999 pieces features a 42mm matt black ceramic case, with a CAMO patterned dial adorned with a patchwork of white, dark grey, and light grey tones and finds its inspiration in the world of alpine soldier units. The cutaway around the numerals and indices reveals the black Super-LumiNova® covering the lower insert of the dial.
As Bell & Ross have us used to, this timepiece retains a perfectly legible display both day and night thanks to the photoluminescent coating on its hands, indices, and numerals. To complete the alpine military look, the strap comes in calfskin with grey-white camouflage and black rubber, buckle in black PVD coated steel.
RRP: £2,990
Opening picture: Girard Perregeux Laureato Ghost.
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