5 of the most underrated dials, based on your Instagram feedback

Zach Blass

On our Time+Tide Instagram profile, we often pose questions to you all, and it’s excellent when we get a ton of responses. Why? It’s not because we are so vain about metrics. Rather, as the Home of Watch Culture, we want to give you all a voice and offer you all a chance to be featured on the site. So, definitely make sure you participate in our polls and leave feedback in the comments section! One of the latest questions we posed was: what watches do you think have the most underrated dials? Below are five of your picks that stood out to us.

 

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We will have to circle back soon with a Time+Tide Team Picks, where the editorial team will reveal their personal nominations.

Blancpain Villeret collection

 “Blancpain Villerets. Criminally underrated.” – @colincragin

Colin, I would enthusiastically concur with this sentiment. The Villeret line, at least on the surface and as neo-vintage models flood my IG feed, is best-known for being full of classy watches with various levels of complexity and clean white dials. But do a deep dive on the Blancpain website, or better yet head to a boutique, and you will unearth a variety of coloured and textured dials that are top-notch. Furthermore, considering that the rose gold Ultraplate pictured above on the left is US$22,700 and has a finely decorated movement with 100 hours of power reserve… Calatrava who?

Citizen Eco-Drive Black Washi Paper Dial Limited Edition

“The Citizen washi paper dials are stunning and arguably more interesting in construction than the Grand Seiko Snowflake, for example.” – @benrhphoto

Of course, the aforementioned Grand Seiko is known to be an industry leader in gorgeous dials, but fellow Japanese watchmaker Citizen also has some serious muscle to flex on the subject as well. As @benrhphoto mentions in their comment, the black washi paper dial is a sight to behold: crafted by being sprinkled with gold leaf through Sunago-maki, no two are exactly the same. I also think the dial seen on the Atessa Layers of Time Limited Edition I recently covered, made in partnership with Fujifilm, is one you should definitely check out as well.

Artya Depth Gauge

“The Artya Depth Gauge has [one] of the most genius diver dials of all time, which makes you search about its scientific base.” – @persian_watch_critic 

I have to confess that I am more familiar with Artya when it comes to the incredible spectrum of materials it fabricates its cases in, a standout being coloured sapphire that reacts to light and entirely changes its hue. I also knew of its sapphire-cased dive watch, which looks like Artisans de Genève had their way with a Submariner. But thanks to @persian_watch_critic, the Artya Depth Gauge is now on my radar. Oftentimes, I like the rainbow element of a depth gauge, but not so much how it can make the dial more busy. Artya’s semi-circular solution is so clean and keeps the coloured radial lines in a manner that there are not only rainbow colours visible but also a true rainbow shape on the dial. For those unaware, certain colours are only visible at certain depths. So, as each coloured semi-circle disappears from view, you are able to determine how far down you are under the surface.

Omega Seamaster Railmaster

“The current omega Railmaster lineup! Those brushed dials are insane when the light hits them right 😍.” – @wildbezel 

I have always thought of the Seamaster Railmaster as Omega’s head-to-head contender to the Rolex Explorer, but as @wildbezel points out, the Railmaster is far more interesting when it comes to its dial options (whereas the Explorer I is available strictly in black). While a functional and robust watch, the dials such as the brushed version above really elevate the look and give the professional watch a heightened sense of fashion – perhaps “robust elegance“. As we shared earlier this week, you can catch brand ambassador Eddie Redmayne wearing this Railmaster, among other Omega models, in his new series The Day of the Jackal.

Straum Jan Mayen

“Straum Jan Mayen. I’ll continually sing its praises 🙌🙌.” – @watchrunner80

I recently sang the Straum Jan Mayen’s praises as well @watchrunnet80. It was my do-it-all nomination in my head-to-head collection-building battle with Andrew at Windup Watch Fair New York. While these stainless steel watches are less than US$2,000, they boast a 100-metre depth rating, comfortable 39mm case size, 68-hour La Joux-Perret automatic movement, and of course, stunning dials that intrigue in both their hue and texture. Straum has also brought an on-the-fly micro-adjustment system to its butterfly clasp, allowing you to extend or retract on both sides of the clasp on demand. It’s a lot of watch for the money, and the dials are irrefutable conversation starters.