11 of the best purple dial watches for when you want something a little funky

Russell Sheldrake

We are obsessed with dial colour trends in the watch industry. There’s nothing the horological press loves more than proudly proclaiming every year what the “on trend” colour will be, and while it’s always a fun game to play, it can get a little tiresome when you start to run out of colours. Given the sheer size of the industry and the fact that watches no longer get released on an annual cycle but rather a continual push throughout the year, it’s so much harder to pin down what the specific trend might be.

Having gone through normal blue, Tiffany blue, orange, and green in recent years, I feel like a colour never gets fully utilised is purple. Whether you’re a fan of Prince or you like to mix it with gold and support the LA Lakers, the power of purple is incredibly strong, evoking royalty, luxury, and wealth – all things many of the big brands would like to be associated with these days. But you don’t have to be royalty to get a great purple watch – here are some of the best that we’ve found.

Baltic Prismic

We’ve been fans of Baltic designs for a long time now, and when the Prismic was released last February, it showed yet again just how capable the French brand is at taking a classic design and giving it just enough of a twist to make it interesting again, without losing sight of the original inspiration. This Prismic is the perfect example of reimagining what a cocktail watch can be with a modern, Parisian flair. And even better, these watches can be bought from our London and Melbourne Discovery Studios. Price (exc. VAT): €1,050 (~US$1,100), available from the T+T Shop

Nomos Club Campus Blue Purple

The Club Campus range from Nomos is one of the industry’s best everyday watches that you can buy right now. It has classical proportions and shape, with enough subtle differences from its Bauhaus styling that give it an edge over generic minimalist watches. The purple California dial of the Club Campus Blue Purple doesn’t shout here, it’s a far softer, more pastel shade that allows the little pops of orange to brighten the whole affair. If you want a purple dial watch that doesn’t demand attention, this might be the best one to go for. Price: US$1,500

Christopher Ward The Twelve Ti

The market for integrated bracelet watches has been criticised of late, and rightfully so, for being overcrowded. But I believe The Twelve from Christopher Ward offers an extremely attractive new take on the concept at a price point that doesn’t immediately put you off. The dial texture is new and works well with the company’s branding. The design of the bracelet makes it look a lot more expensive than you’d think, and the different dial colours, such as this purple, mean it can suit many different tastes. Price: US$1,895 

I also can’t talk about purple dials and Christopher Ward without giving a quick mention to the Bel Canto. An extremely fun watch that offers a unique complication for its price point, and the purple dial version goes excellently with its exposed mechanism.

King Seiko KS1969 SJE111

A King Seiko is a statement in and of itself, but when you add a purple dial on top, it adds another layer to what is already a standout watch. The rich colour works well off the expertly polished barrel case and beveled, applied indices. The slim case and butter-like bracelet make the KS1969 a great choice for an alternative dress watch with some real heritage behind it. Price: US$3,100

Atelier Wen Perception Millésime Mù

The brand that is at the very forefront of changing perceptions around Chinese watchmaking, Atelier Wen combines classic calling cards across both Western and Eastern cultures in a distinctly modern package, and this latest version of their Perception model delivered that in spades thanks to its rich, purple guilloché dial. While the case and integrated bracelet of this watch are fully in titanium, three people that bought this watch had the chance of being sent a full tantalum piece instead. That would be a very welcome surprise! Price: US$3,588

Norqain Adventure Sport 37mm

Norqain is known for its tough sports watches that our own Andrew McUtchen swears by, being able to withstand pretty much any physical activity. But the brand is not a one trick pony. This 37mm Adventure Sport is far closer to an everyday watch than an out-and-out sports piece, and by adding diamonds to the bezel and indices to the purple dial model, it creates a dressy, adaptable watch. Price: US$6,090 

TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox Chronograph and Tourbillon

Perhaps one of the more exciting releases from this year’s LVMH Watch Week, the purple dial on both the standard chronograph and tourbillon Glassbox Carrera has really captured my eye. They play with light like nothing, else with flashes of purple when the sun is out catching you off guard, creating an almost optical illusion. The applied batons are also highly polished and slightly concave, meaning they reflect light so much that they could almost be mistaken for diamonds.

The tourbillon features TAG Heuer’s in-house TH20-09 calibre with that rare combination of a tourbillon and chronograph that does make it a little bigger than the base model, but brings in an entirely new dimension to this sporty watch. Only limited to 200 pieces, it is not easy to get hold of. Price: US$6,650 (Carrera Chronograph), US$34,850 (Carrera Tourbillon Chronograph)

De Bethune DB28 xs Purple Rain

We’re not in Kansas anymore. The DB28 xs Purple Rain from De Bethune turns the purple up to 11, and it might be the most purple watch on this list. Coming from an independent watchmaker known for pushing the boat out, this model shows the brand is a master of materials, creating this deep, vibrant purple through heating titanium. Add on top the articulated lugs and intricate dial texture, and you will find it hard to compare this watch to anything else. Price: US$99,000 

Bovet Récital 27

Where user friendliness and opulence meet is normally where you find Bovet, and the Récital 27 is no different. Three different time zones are read off three different handsets to make the process of working out the time in another part of the world effortless. There are even city discs in case you forget where your secondary or tertiary times are. Combining this level of functionality with top-of-the-line levels of finishing and design, you have an incredible horological machine. Price: US$105,00 

T+T Timeless pick: Baltic Experiments Premier Quantième Perpétuel ref. QP01

I couldn’t finish this list off without mentioning this incredible, unique piece created by Baltic for the delayed Only Watch 2023/4 auction. While Baltic is a brand we often talk about for its creative design at affordable prices, here it pulled out all the stops to create their first perpetual calendar. What is often considered a very traditional complication, here it has been given a modern, Baltic twist with this rich purple dial. And clearly the bidders at Christie’s thought the combination worked well too, as it hammed at CHF 55,000 (~US$65,000). Here’s hoping it makes it into production…