BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
Inspired by our Top 5 watches that are all black article, which we posted back in April, we’re pleased to present the polar opposite to that. This is our Top 5 White watches piece. The rules are roughly the same for this list. We’re only considering watches that have a white case, white dial and white strap. The watches don’t need to be completely white, they can have other colour markers and detailing in other colours, but the majority has to be white. With that said, let’s begin!
5 – Girard Perregaux X Bamford Laureauto Ghost Limited Edition
Kicking off our list is Girard Perregaux with their Bamford partnership Laureauto Ghost. It’s fair to say this one caused quite a stir in the scene, perhaps not as significant or as long-lasting as Girard Perregaux would have hoped, but that doesn’t detract from the watch itself. It’s certainly a wild card from this company, which tends to show off via its technical skills and craftsmanship than through particularly bold design. It was indeed a visual punch in the face, but it was striking nevertheless, and it’s not from Girard Perregaux’s slightly OTT Laureauto Absolute collection either.
4 – Chanel J12 Ref. H5705
Chanel has been known as a maker of full-ceramic watches for a while. Despite not being at the forefront of sports watches like the brands we usually cover, there’s more flair from one of these. I see your comments when a Rolex mention quite regularly mention how repetitive the designs seem to be, so if you’re looking for something that’ll break the mould, this could be it. It is only 38mm in diameter, but these days, watches are more unisex than ever, so anyone could pull this piece off quite easily.
3 – Richard Mille RM-055 Manual Winding Bubba Watson
It was inevitable that a Richard Mille would be on this list (and I’m glad it did, I was running out of all white watches that aren’t a G-Shock). The RM-055 Manual Winding Bubba Watson is a simple piece compared to other Richard Mille pieces, but with the power drives that a professional golfist makes, that’s just what’s required. It still has Richard Mille design details though, including the free-sprung variable inertia balance wheel, which performs better when subjected to shocks. So, when you’re really swinging the golf bat, you can be sure that this watch will continue running with ease.
2 – Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver Ref. 15707CB.OO.A010CA.01
Audemars Piguet might be going through the process of replacing the watches in the Offshore Diver range, but we can still appreciate the watches it’s given us. One of them is this white ceramic Royal Oak Offshore Diver, complete with a white dial and white rubber strap. It’s fair to say that no one who ever bought a Royal Oak Offshore Diver is likely to have gone near a set of scuba gear with one on, but it’s good to know that this watch with its 300m of water resistance and inner-rotating diving bezel would be ready for the job. It also looks cool, in my opinion.
1 – Omega Speedmaster White Side of the Moon Ref 311.93.44.51.04.002
Number one on the list is the watch I first thought of when discussing this topic with Jovan. He’d had the idea for white watches, and my mind immediately turned to the White Side of the Moon, with its case, crown, pushers, bezel, caseback and clasp made of white ceramic. There’s some colour detailing in there, so it doesn’t look like it’s spent a few years on Hoth, but it’s still mostly white and definitely cool. While bound to get dirty, the white leather strap is also a great touch, and this watch made Omega’s sides of the moon collection complete.
What all-white watches with white dials would you have? If you can find some, that is.
