Cult Status: Top 7 Watches with Gold Cases and Black Dials

Gold-case watches with black dials guarantee timeless aesthetics. Both gold and black are classic colours that can never go out of style. This combination has been favoured by many prestigious watch brands for decades. Timepieces with this colour scheme often feature high-end materials and intricate details that showcase exceptional craftsmanship.

GMT India looks at seven such timepieces that are known for their iconic designs and impeccable quality.

‍

TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200

This model comes in a 40 mm rose gold case and has a 60-minute unidirectional bezel. There is a black fumé sunray-brushed dial with 18 ct rose gold-plated trapezoidal hour markers, and hour, minute, and second hands with white Super-LumiNova®. At 3 o’clock is a date window with a black background and white numeral.

The crown is crafted from black DLC-coated steel, while the caseback is made of black DLC-coated titanium. Run by Calibre TH31-00, the watch has a power reserve of 80 hours. Finishing the watch is a black rubber strap with a black DLC titanium Grade 2 folding clasp.

Price: Rs 18,36,000 (approx.)

‍

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel Dragon

The 45.5 mm pink gold ‘made to order' watch has an opaque black Grand Feu enamel primary dial with pink gold faceted appliqué hour markers, pink gold dauphine hour and minute hands, a chemin de fer minutes track, and a crown with the Jaeger-LeCoultre emblem at 12 o'clock. The watch also features a rose gold crown and lugs.

Powering the watch is Jaeger-LeCoultre manually wound Calibre 822 with 42 hours of power reserve. The watch is finished on a black alligator strap.

Price: Rs 19,00,000 (approx.)

‍

Rolex Day-Date 40

The version, housed in 18 ct Everose gold 40 mm case, features slate ombré, a completely new colour for such a dial, whose surface is coloured at the centre and then transitions to deep black around the edge. This watch's dial also has faceted, deconstructed Roman numerals and faceted hour markers made of 18 ct pink gold for the first time ever.

The dial's concentric gradient requires the application of black lacquer, a delicate operation overseen by a specialist whose job it is to ensure a smooth transition from colour to darkness. Powering the watch is Calibre 3255 with a 70-hour power reserve. The watch is finished on an Everose President bracelet. 

‍Price: Rs 37,74,500 (approx.)

‍

Zenith Chronomaster Sport

Zenith’s El Primero runs at a high-operating frequency of 5 Hz (36,000 vph), which enables the central chronograph hand to make a complete revolution every 10 seconds, allowing precise time measurement to 1/10th of a second. The 41 mm watch is crafted from rose gold; the bracelet and the engraved bezel with 1/10th of a second scale are also made of the same material.

There is a black-lacquered dial with three different-coloured counters for the subdials; a date window rests at 4:30. The watch, run by the El Primero 3600 automatic movement, has a 60-hour power reserve. The watch is finished on a rose gold bracelet with a double folding clasp.

Price: 37,90,000 (approx.)

‍

IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Tourbillon Day & Night

This watch measures 42.4 mm in diameter and is housed in a polished and brushed 18 ct Armour Gold® casing. It has an Obsidian lacquered dial, gold-plated hands, and gold hour markers. The flying tourbillon, which sits at 6 o'clock, houses the balance wheel and pallet lever in a small cage that revolves once each minute around its axis. At 9 o'clock, the watch receives a 24-hour indication in the shape of a little planet.

The globe has two sides, one dark and one bright, and revolves around its axis every 24 hours. Powering the watch is Calibre 81925 with an 84-hour power reserve. The watch is finished on a curved black alligator leather strap from Santoni, with an 18-carat Armor Gold® folding clasp.

Price: Rs 76,00,000 (approx.)

‍

‍Breguet Classique 7637 

‍

By activating a slide or a pusher, the watch strikes a series of chimes to indicate the hours, quarters, and minutes. This 42 mm watch comes in an 18 ct rose gold case. The dial comes with a sapphire crystal boasting grand feu enamel protection, consisting of welded lugs, a crown, and a latch on the left side of the case at 9 o’clock to activate the minute repeater mechanism, all in the same material matching the case. The black dial features signature Breguet with eccentric “moon” tip hands, indicating the hours and minutes. Breguet-style Arabic numerals with small stars for the minutes in a powdery silver tone are spotted on the watch face as well.

The Breguet Classique 7637 Répétition Minutes is run by the manual winding movement, Calibre 567.2, with a power reserve of 40 hours. Turning each watch over showcases the sapphire open caseback. The Classique Répétition Minutes watches are fitted with black alligator leather straps, secured by gold triple-blade folding clasps.

Price: Rs 2,10,00,000 (approx.)

‍

‍Franck Muller Cuvex CX Master Jumper

‍

Curved watches or "tonneau watches" feature a unique design wherein the case has a curved or barrel-like shape that conforms to the wrist's natural curvature. This 38 mm watch features a leaping hours, minutes, and date mechanism. There are no hands or markers on the black dial.

Instead, two discs allow the wearer to change the date with a leap. The panes are vertically and evenly positioned on the clock, stressing the three functions' minimalist symmetric design. The gold case features a sapphire crystal that extends from 12 to 6 o'clock, blending seamlessly with the strap.

Price: On Request‍