Words: Jonathan Wells
Black will never go out of fashion. Other colours will come and go, ascend into trendiness and then fall out of favour, but the humble, understated and coolest of all the colours will always be black. From the dinner jacket to the little black dress, its influence is all over the world of fashion, proving it is a colour capable of withstanding the tests of time.
"It is a colour capable of withstanding the tests of time..."
And, speaking of time, black has been a major mover in the watch industry of late. Brushed black ceramic cases, black NATO straps and titanium clasps with black DLC coatings are all having their moment in the market. So here are six of the best, and why you should move to the dark side…
Breitling Chronospace Military Black Steel
It’s not only a cool colour scheme, white markers on a black background have also been suggested to improve legibility. That’s why we’re fully on board with this Breitling Chronospace Military in Black Steel.
Large square numerals and the luminescent, oversized hands and hour markers guarantee that this isn’t just a good-looking watch, but a practical one, too.
Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Co-Axial Chronograph
It may have been the adventures and the accomplishments of the Apollo 8 astronauts that inspired the all-black, ceramic Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon, but it is the mystique of the moon that has spurred the creation of this ‘Black Black’ edition.
With a brushed black ceramic case body, matt black ceramic dial and black fabric strap, it is dusky, sexy and very, very cool.
Tag Heuer Monaco Heritage Bamford
It’s one of the world’s most iconic racing watches — worn by Steve McQueen, no less — so we’re likely to love any version or variant of the Tag Heuer Monaco Heritage. And this, from Bamford Watch Department, is no exception.
But this model of the world’s first square-cased, water-resistant automatic chronograph has got our motors running even faster than usual. True, the dial may not be fully black, but with those dark sub-dials, case and strap, we’re still certain that it’s a worthy addition to this starting lineup.
Zenith Defy El Primero 21
This Zenith, however, is more about substance than style. True, it rocks the all-black look just as well as any of the other watches on this list, but we’re more interested in the movement.
It’s a new 1/100th of a second Chronograph, with an exclusive dynamic signature of one rotation per second. It’s an exciting development for Swiss watchmaker. And, even if what’s inside the case doesn’t grab your attention, it still doesn’t look half bad, either…
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe
There’s something about a satin-brushed bezel that we just can’t resist. And, when it’s the crowning glory of an all-black watch such as this offering from Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms range, we’re helpless to its charms.
There’s something a little utilitarian about this watch — it is, indeed, water resistant to 30 bar — that, coupled with that NATO strap, gives it a practical, cool and timeless look.
Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Nightlum
Like Tag’s square, black watch, there’s something about this shape that just looks so good when cast in black. Tough, resilient and a striking silhouette against the wrist, this Bell & Ross offering is made even more dusky by its matte texture.
And, if that’s not good enough, the SuperLuminova hands and numbers will keep visibility up even when you’re diving to 100 metres — which, yes, it’s more than capable of doing.
Feeling the heat this summer? Here are 5 of our favourite fabric strap watches to stay cool…
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