For those of us who have caught the watch collecting bug, it can sometimes become tiresome to see the same color dials over and over again. Black, white, silver, blue and even green are so common on watches these days and sometimes we just want something a little different. Yellow definitely isn’t the most common dial color for a watch, but it makes a bold (and fun) statement. So in this article we thought we would take a look at 8 of our favorite watches with yellow dials.
F.P. Journe Centigraphe CTS2 LineSport Titanium
Price: $130,000-$140,000, Case Size: 44mm, Thickness: 11mm, Lug-to-Lug: N/A, Lug Width: N/A, Water Resistance: 30M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Manual, Material: Titanium
We tend to think of F.P. Journe as a more traditional watchmaker. But the truth is, the brand is willing to take chances, not only with materials, but colors. One example of this is the very sporty Centigraphe CTS2 LineSport. Not only is this watch made of titanium, but it has an incredibly bright yellow dial. But beyond the dial color, the 3 subdials host a chronograph function with the elapsed times from a 100th of a second to 10 minutes. It truly is an impressive watch.
F.P. Journe Octa Sport ARS Titanium
Price: $65,000-$75,000, Case Size: 44mm, Thickness: 11.6mm, Lug-to-Lug: N/A, Lug Width: N/A, Water Resistance: 30M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic, Material: Titanium
I bet you didn’t expect Journe to have a second titanium watch with yellow dial in its catalog. The Octa Sport ARS Titanium features a similar case a bracelet design, but lacks the chronograph complication of the Centigraphe. Instead it has a big date, subsidiary seconds and power reserve indicator. If you are looking for something sporty, but don’t need any complications, the Octa Sport ARS Titanium is a great choice
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref. 124300
Price: $15,000-$15,500, Case Size: 41mm, Thickness: 12mm, Lug-to-Lug: 47.4mm, Lug Width: 21mm, Water Resistance: 100M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic, Material: Stainless Steel
If you are looking to get into your first Rolex, the Oyster Perpetual is an obvious place to start. It not only is one of the most affordable collections, but often is a place where Rolex experiments a little bit. A prime example of this is the Oyster Perpetual with Celebration Dial. Well, since Celebration Dial isn’t yellow, we didn’t include it on the list. But Rolex does offer a Ref. 124300 with yellow dial. The yellow is almost a mustard color, and stands out from much of the brand’s collection. If you want something a little more affordable, but that will make a statement, this is a great watch.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref. 16202BA
Price: $114,000-$118,000, Case Size: 39mm, Thickness: 8.1mm, Lug-to-Lug: 48.6mm, Lug Width: N/A, Water Resistance: 50M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic, Material: Yellow Gold
If you are looking to pick up a true grail piece with yellow (or yellow gold) dial, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref. 16202BA would be my pick. This watch is just special. And the true star of the show isn’t the yellow gold case or bracelet, but the gradient dial. The dial not only includes AP’s signature Grand Tapisserie pattern, but the pattern is a gradient. In the middle of the dial, it is a gold-yellow color, which darkens to black around the outside of the dial. It is truly stunning and will definitely be a conversation piece if you manage to pick one up.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver Ref. 15710ST
Price: $20,000-$25,000, Case Size: 42mm, Thickness: 14.1mm, Lug-to-Lug: 54mm, Lug Width: N/A, Water Resistance: 300M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic, Material: Stainless Steel
The second AP on our list is on the sportier side. The Royal Oak Offshore Diver Ref. 15710ST features 300 meters of water resistance and a unidirectional dive bezel, without losing the model’s iconic octagonal bezel with screws. How does the brand accomplish this? Well, the diving scale is actually located on an interior bezel just inside the main bezel. And it is operated by a crown at 10 o’clock. So, if you want a real tool watch, but don’t want to give up that Genta aesthetic, this is the watch for you.
Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222
Price: $75,000-$80,000, Case Size: 37mm, Thickness: 7.95mm, Lug-to-Lug: N/A, Lug Width: N/A, Water Resistance: 50M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic, Material: Yellow Gold
One of our favorite watches to be released in recent years, was actually a reissue. The Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 is the perfect retro-inspired integrated bracelet sport watch to go along with the more modern Overseas. From the tapering bracelet with hexagonal inner links, to the wide fluted bezel and tonneau shaped case, there’s not much not to like. And the fact that the yellow gold case is matched with a yellow dial, just furthers the vintage theme that we love so much. But that’s not to say we don’t hope to see the 222 in steel one day.
Breitling SuperOcean Ref. A17367
Price: $3,000-$4,000, Case Size: 44mm, Thickness: 14.2mm, Lug-to-Lug: 53mm, Lug Width: 22mm, Water Resistance: 1,000M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic, Material: Stainless Steel
If you are looking for a solid tool watch without breaking the bank, you should definitely look at Breitling. From pilot’s watches to divers, the brand is known for producing some very high quality watches at a more affordable price-point. And the SuperOcean Ref. A17367 is a no-frills diver that also happens to have a fun yellow dial. And this watch is a true diver. It boasts a whopping 1,000 meters of water resistance. So, if you want an affordable dive watch to accompany you on your next deep water dive, the SuperOcean Ref. A17367 is the perfect choice.
H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Perpetual Calendar “Passion Fruit”
Price: $68,000, Case Size: 42mm, Thickness: 12.8mm, Lug-to-Lug: 53mm, Lug Width: N/A, Water Resistance: 100M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic, Material: Stainless Steel
One of the most interesting watches to come out of Geneva Watch Days 2024, was actually a collaboration. Haute horology brand H. Moser & Cie worked with affordable microbrand Studio Underd0g to produce a pair of watches along the same theme, Passion Fruit. Both these brands are known for not taking things to seriously, so the fact that they teamed up makes a lot of sense. But Moser’s contribution to the collaboration was also some seriously watchmaking. The Endeavour Perpetual Calendar, features a perpetual calendar complication, to go along with a purple sunburst and a yellow Grand Feu enamel dial. Truly a stunning watch. But if you want to pick up one or the other watch, they are only sold as pair.
For more, check out our 30 favorite yellow gold watches.