There are two kinds of people in the world: those who see burgundy and think of a rather expensive bottle of wine, and those who see it on a watch dial and immediately start checking their bank account. Thankfully, we are dealing with the second sort here. Burgundy is one of those colours that sits somewhere between red and brown, which sounds about as exciting as beige, but on a finely finished watch it can be spectacular. It can look almost black in the shade, turn into deep wine under indoor lighting and suddenly explode into a rich crimson when the sunlight hits it. And that is precisely why collectors have become rather fond of it. Unlike the predictable black, white and blue dials that populate half the watch industry, burgundy has personality without behaving like a neon sign. From elegant dress watches to complicated mechanical monsters, brands are increasingly using the shade to give familiar designs an entirely different character. So, if you are looking to add a little colour to your collection without making your wrist resemble a children’s television set, these are five burgundy watches worth knowing.
Trilobe Chateau Trente-Deux
The watch features a 39.5mm 316L stainless steel case measuring 10.15mm thick, with satin brushed, microblasted and mirror polished finishes. A distinctive fluted push button crown sits between crown guards, while the burgundy dial has a matte sunray finish with rotating hour, minute and seconds displays arranged through grained and guilloché elements. Powering the watch is the Trilobe manufacture X Nihilo automatic calibre, comprising 218 components and 34 jewels, measuring 35.2mm by 7mm, operating at 28,800vph and offering a 42 hour power reserve with 5N gold treatment. The watch is completed by an integrated stainless steel bracelet with satin brushed surfaces, bevels and mirror polished central links, secured by a double folding clasp.
Gerald Genta Gentissima Oursin 36 Burgundy
The Oursin collection takes its colour cue from the Iris, a flower associated with beauty and uniqueness, with the rich burgundy hue reinforcing the collection’s sense of elegance. The watch features a 36.5mm glass blasted 4N rose gold case and is powered by the automatic GG 005 calibre, offering a 50-hour power reserve.
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H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Tourbillon
The watch is housed in a 40mm 5N red gold case measuring 12mm thick, combining brushed surfaces with polished accents and distinctive striated recessed casebands. A domed sapphire crystal provides a clear view of the burgundy fumé dial, while the see-through caseback is secured by four screws and paired with a screw-in crown for 120 metres of water resistance. The dial features a sunburst finish, a transparent lacquer logo, faceted applied indices and hour markers accented with Super-LumiNova dots, complemented by leaf-shaped hour and minute hands filled with luminous material. Powering the watch is the HMC 805, an in-house automatic movement measuring 32mm by 5.5mm and operating at 21,600 vibrations per hour. Its bi-directional pawl winding system features a skeletonised 18k red gold oscillating weight, while its one-minute flying tourbillon uses a double hairspring and delivers a three-day power reserve, with the movement displaying hours and minutes. Completing the design is a khaki rubber strap secured by a 5N red gold clasp, with hand-stitched alligator leather and textile straps available separately.
Christiaan Van der Klaauw Ariadne
The watch features a 40mm polished stainless steel case topped by sapphire crystals on both the front and caseback, with an onion-shaped crown and 30 metres of water resistance. Its burgundy dial combines a frosted central area with four circular-brushed sub-dials, each serving a distinct function. At 12 o’clock, the sub-dial houses a 30-minute chronograph totaliser alongside day and month apertures, while the 3 o’clock sub-dial carries an applied “Sun with 12 claws” logo. At 6 o’clock, a 12-hour chronograph totaliser is paired with a moon-phase display, while the 9 o’clock sub-dial combines small seconds with a 24-hour day/night indicator. A red pointer hand tracks the date around the dial’s periphery, while Breguet-style hour and minute hands and applied Breguet numerals reinforce its classical character. Inside, the calibre CVDK7758, based on the Valjoux architecture, is an automatic cam-lever chronograph movement with a complete calendar and moon-phase complication. It features 25 jewels, beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a 48-hour power reserve, with its rotor decorated in guilloché and engraved with the “Sun with 12 claws” motif by Jochen Benzinger. The movement displays hours, minutes, small seconds, a hand-indicated date, weekday and month, day/night indicator, moon phase and chronograph functions with 30-minute and 12-hour counters. Completing the watch is a brown alligator leather strap secured by a round stainless steel folding clasp bearing the CVDK logo.
De Bethune DB25XS Starry Varius
The watch is crafted from polished Grade 5 titanium, giving its 40.6mm case a combination of lightness, strength and a contemporary finish. Measuring just 8.8mm thick, the case features integrated, hollowed lugs that further emphasise its streamlined construction. A sapphire crystal with a hardness of 1,800 Vickers protects the dial and is treated with double anti-reflective coating for improved legibility. Turning the watch over reveals an open caseback in polished Grade 5 titanium, paired with another 1,800 Vickers sapphire crystal and double anti-reflective coating, offering a clear view of the movement within.
