A St. Patrick’s Day Themed Parade Of Our Favorite Shamrock-Shaded Dials
This year, it’s decidedly uncool to go out and party for St. Paddy’s Day. Instead, we’re celebrating with some of our favorite emerald-faced timepieces.
By Rhonda Riche
Editor-At-Large
There ain’t no party like a St. Patrick’s Day Party, so just because we’re social distancing doesn’t mean we have to give up the wearing of the green!
But a green dial isn’t just for March 17. While most buyers think of blue when it comes to colored dials, a rich emerald is a surprisingly versatile alternative. With a stainless steel case and bracelet, it suggests an upscale sportiness. With a yellow gold case and a tan leather strap, you’re looking at the laidback elegance of Chris Evans wearing that fisherman’s sweater in Knives Out — you know, old money.
Another good reason to go green is texture. The hue is a natural fit with any finish, from matte to sunburst to fumé. Here’s a selection of great green watches that are better than a pot of gold!
Grand Seiko Four Seasons Summer SBH271
Part of Grand Seiko’s four-piece, US only Four Seasons editions, this verdant green model represents the lush foliage of the summer months.
As with all things Grand Seiko, a lot of thought went into creating this dial. The face features a horizontal, stacked finish to recreate the feeling of tallgrass rustling in a summer breeze. And, gold-toned hands and hour markers resemble amber waves of grain.
All four seasons come in a comfortable 40mm by 12mm case, making this watch awesome for daily wear, and the Zaratsu-polished stainless steel case of the SBGH271 makes it even easier to transition between day and night. The warm green glow of the dial makes it even more unique and particularly relevant for St. Patrick's day.
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra In Green
It isn’t easy describing the color of this new take on the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra. Because the textured lines on the dial are meant to evoke the deck planks on a boat, you might first assume the dial is some sort of marine green. But the horizontal patterns also suggest blades of grass or leafy tree boughs, so maybe the dial is more of a forest green color.
The color adjusts slightly depending on the light, which has a hypnotic affect. And while the inner workings of this Master Chronometer certified piece are the same as the rest of its 41mm Aqua Terra brethren, this new shade radically changes the watch.
Although it’s got all the elements of a sturdy sports watch (a screw-in crown, 150m water-resistance, and lots of lume for legibility), the green face model has a certain nobility that also makes it appropriate for more formal business attire. And because it comes with both a stainless steel bracelet and a dark green alligator strap, you can dress it up or down for the occasion.
Oris Divers 65 With Bronze Bezel And Green Dial
Green dials give off a vintage vibe, and this Oris Divers 65 radiates all kinds of 1960s sexiness.
Oris has released a couple of different versions of the Divers 65 with a gradient racing green, curved dial. The company calls this shade Oceanic Green, and it pops in contrast to the watch’s applied indices and hour, minute, and seconds hands filled with creamy Super-LumiNova.
The most memorable model, in our opinion, is this version with a stainless steel case and bronze bezel. It’s modern, 40mm case keeps it from looking too retro, and the bronze accent gives it extra rugged appeal, as do the quick release leather and tropic rubber straps or optional steel rivet bracelet options.
And if you’re into saving green, this watch is priced at just $2,200.
Frederique Constant Classic Worldtimer Manufacture
There’s never been a wider variety of green-dialed watches on the market. And that includes a broader selection of complications.
Take, for example, this handsome world timer from Frederique Constant. It’s a true world timer with a display featuring a finely etched world map on an earthy green background. But the display is also very opulent with a date counter at 6 o’clock, a 24-hour disc with day-night indication, and a disc with 24 cities.
This timepiece has other luxe touches such as perlage and circular Côtes de Genève decoration, viewable through a sapphire case back. The three-part, 42mm, polished stainless steel case is also quite attractive. But the real beauty is its deep green dial, which is showcased under a convex sapphire crystal.
NOMOS Tetra Ode to Joy
Celebrations don’t have to be over-the-top. Take, for example, Ludwig Van Beethoven’s exhilarating 9th Symphony. Likewise, while NOMOS Glashütte is well known for its clean lines and flat-finished colored dials, the olive green face of the Tetra Ode to Joy makes the the heart sing!
Named after the most well-known movement of that famed symphony, this square-cased Tetra model is as minimalist as minimalism can be, but it’s pop tone packs lot of punch.
This elegant, olive watch is part of a four piece collection celebrating the legendary composer. The other models include Divine Spark, Immortal Beloved, and the Fidelio with copper, turquoise, and dark blue dials respectively.
And yes, Beethoven and NOMOS are both very German and not very Irish, but the Tetra Ode to Joy’s in-house, hand-wound Alpha caliber will help music lovers from every nation keep the beat.
Breitling Aviator 8 B01 Chronograph 43 Curtis Warhawk
One of the most memorable hues on the watch color palette is military green. And the matte green finish of the Aviator 8 B01 Chronograph 43 Curtiss Warhawk captures the stylistic cues aviation fans live for.
This Aviator 8 B01 Chronograph 43 is inspired by the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, a warplane made by American manufacturer Curtiss-Wright between 1938 and 1944. During WWII, it was famously piloted by a squad of American volunteers in the Chinese Air Force known as the Flying Tigers.
Apart from the dial and military green strap, the striking 43mm stainless steel case also holds a transparent sapphire case back inscribed with a Curtiss logo and an image of the Warhawk’s dramatically painted shark mouth nose cone.
Another advantage of the Aviator 8 B01 Chronograph 43 Curtiss Warhawk’s matte green finish is the way it contrasts with its luminous numerals and hour and minute hands. It looks sharp, and it is legible in any lighting condition.
Happy St. Patrick's Day! Stay safe out there!
(Photography by Liam O'Donnell)
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