Gift Guide: White Dial Watches for Winter
Any time of year is the right time of year for a white dial, but when the snow starts to fall in our northern regions, those wrist-mounted whites seem especially appropriate. It’s effectively one of the top three dial colors out there market-wide, though not all are created equal. This made life interesting, as we had plenty to choose from, with the ability to be a little more picky than when looking at other more niche categories.
White Dial Watches for Winter Vacations
Whether you’re in the market for a new piece for yourself or for someone you care about as the holidays draw nearer, white dials in general bring a lot to the table. They’re more versatile than many, usually highly legible, and have a certain air of class and refinement to them that their colorful counterparts may lack. If there aren’t any crisp whites in your current collection, now’s the time for this to change.
Grand Seiko Spring Drive “Snowflake” (SBGA211)
OBVIOUSLY the Grand Seiko Spring Drive Snowflake had to make the cut in this list. For those in the know, this is the epitome of Grand Seiko dial making, and to many the one must-have from the brand’s repertoire. For those less familiar, Grand Seiko is making some glorious textured dials, including this mildly undulating white example, aptly dubbed the Snowflake. Often hard to capture in photographs, the 41mm beauty comes in a titanium casing, and is fitted with some of the more beautifully chamfered hands out there.
Bremont Solo White
Not near as dressy but also exceptionally well executed, the Bremont Solo is as versatile as a daily-wear tool watch can get. It features a sharp multi-piece case with exceptional shock resistance, a domed crystal with impeccable anti-reflective properties, and the brand’s straps are about as comfy as they come. With 100m of water resistance, a change out to a rubber strap would be the only thing keeping it from tackling every part of your day or week.
Panerai Luminor Base Logo
Not everyone will be a fan here but I’ve always been of the belief that things like this white dial Base Logo are the perfect Panerai for the “non Paneristi”. For some, owning a Panerai is all about having that classic look, which effectively means a black dial or bust, but things like this white dial, or even more obscure the 40mm PAM00069, are the kind of watch that will surprise (and sometimes confuse) fellow watch enthusiasts. It’s a fun twist on a classic, and that’s why I dig it.
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Good Planet
This crisp white Seamaster Aqua Terra–Omega’s anti-magnetic response to the much loved Rolex Milgauss–also makes a compelling alternative the Grand Seiko Snowflake listed above, as it bares a relatively striking similarity in some respects. Its hands are less elaborate in finish and it uses a fair bit more blue to accent its hands and indices, But its case profile and bracelet (also titanium) are very much in the same vein. Its price is a touch more affordable, and its dimensions are a touch more conservative as well, measuring 38.5mm in diameter.
Cartier Santos 100 Large
Speaking of iconic, the Cartier Santos actually holds rank as the world’s first mass produced wristwatch, as well as the first pilot’s watch. Though the brand is more well known for their jewelry these days, Cartier’s wristwatch division continues to make some very cool pieces including the modern-day Santos seen here. Details like its square case shape and use of Roman numerals carries forward all the way from the first example produced back in 1904.
A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1
Off to the other end of the spectrum, the Lange 1 is the dressiest of our pack by a fair margin. While many have a soft spot for yellow or pink gold variants, there’s something about this white gold variant and its white mother-of-pearl dial that makes it an absolute standout. The reference 110.029 is by no means a common one, and one that doesn’t hit the market all that often. The hand-wound piece is beautifully finished, with its movement clearly visible via the sapphire display caseback of its 38.5mm case.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph
Depending on the variation at hand, the Royal Oak can quickly tip from being ultra casual to calm and conservative, though this particular chronograph has no issue playing the role of the former. In this panda configuration, on the one hand you have the conventional tapisserie dial that AP fanatics know and love, and on the other, aesthetic details like contrasting red accents on its hands give the piece an almost motorsport-themed vibe. At 39mm across it’s in the sweet spot for any integrated bracelet piece, and frankly it’s the kind of look I didn’t expect to work so well with a classic like the Royal Oak.