From Apple to Chanel to Rolex, 8 of the best rainbow watches for Pride Month – or just for fun
- Once considered unusual and flashy, rainbow-coloured watches such as Apple’s Pride Edition are now de rigueur – especially during Pride Month in June
- Rolex’s Day-Date 36 is the discreet rainbow option, while Chanel’s Premiere Electro weaves a rainbow-coloured leather strap through the chain bracelet
For decades the watch market was dominated by classic stainless-steel sport models and rose gold dress pieces with white dials and clean stylings.
In recent years, that’s changed as watchmakers have embraced their creativity and designed models that allow wearers to truly express themselves and their personal style. These days watches can feature wild motifs, unusual materials and bold colours, including dials that encompass all the colours of the rainbow.
A sprinkling of rainbow-coloured luxury timepieces have come to market over the past decade, with Rolex making Daytona models with colourful sapphire bezels in 2012, and Hublot and Chopard not far behind. By 2019 there was a veritable downpour, with the trend moving to watches by Parmigiani Fleurier, Audemars Piguet, and even Apple.
Once considered outré and flashy, rainbow gradients on watches are now de rigueur – especially during June, which is Pride Month. Here are eight watches at various price points so you can get in on the action.
1. Rolex Day-Date 36 Watch
For a more discreet rainbow, Rolex’s Day-Date 36 is the way to go. This fabulous jewelled watch has a diamond-paved dial (we said the rainbow was discreet, not the watch) with 10 fancy-coloured sapphires as hour markers. The centre link of the 18K white gold president bracelet is also set with diamonds, as is the bezel. The watch displays the day of the week at 12 o’clock and the date at 3 o’clock. It’s powered by the in-house Calibre 3255, which has a 70-hour power reserve. Price: on request
2. Gucci Rainbow Plexiglas Watch
This colourful and playful watch from Gucci has a 40mm rectangular Plexiglas case with rainbow hues, including a band of gold glitter. The narrow Plexiglas bracelet is studded with coloured crystals on the back, as well as Gucci’s signature bee motif.
The watch has a white mother-of-pearl dial and is powered by a quartz movement. Price: US$920
3. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Self-winding Chronograph
This ultra-luxe Royal Oak Offshore from Audemars Piguet has a monochrome pink gold look – even the chronograph counters and date aperture match – with the added touch of 32 rainbow-coloured sapphires encircling the bezel.
The dial is a textured masterpiece, mixing the marque’s iconic Lady Tapisserie pattern with circular guilloche decorations. Price: US$80,200
4. Apple Pride Edition Apple Watch
Every year, Apple releases a limited-edition band for the Apple Watch in honour of Pride Month. The one for 2021 braids together all the colours of the rainbow, as well as hues from additional Pride flags honouring the larger LGBTQ+ community, including transgender and nonbinary individuals and the Black and Latinx communities.
The band is made from recycled polyester yarn braided around silicone thread, making it soft, durable, and water-resistant. If you already have an Apple Watch, you can buy the band separately or download the matching watch face for free. Price: US$449
5. Michael Kors Oversized Dylan Gold Tone and Silicone Pride Watch
The Oversized Dylan Gold Tone and Silicone Pride watch makes quite a statement with its 48mm gold-tone case and swirling, rainbow enamel dial. The quartz chronograph movement has three counters artfully hidden on the dial, and there’s a small date aperture at 6 o’clock, too.
It has a sporty, white silicone strap and is water-resistant to 10 standard atmosphere. Price: US$250
6. Hublot Spirit of Big Bang King Gold Rainbow
Hublot’s creative designers have decked out the iconic Big Bang watch in everything from coloured velvet and bold ceramic to clear sapphire, and now, the new rainbow-hued collection is turning heads. The Spirit of Big Bang King Gold Rainbow has a tonneau-shaped case made from Hublot’s proprietary King Gold, which is warmer-looking than traditional gold.
Best luxury watches to invest in and who Jamie Foxx buys his from
The case, bezel, and dial are fully set with a rainbow of gemstones, and the alligator strap is also dyed in rainbow colours. Price: US$92,600
7. Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36 South Sea
Breitling’s new Chronomat watches are inspired by the colours of the South Sea and its tropical islands. The midnight blue model has colourful gemstones set around the stainless-steel bezel. Each hour marker is topped with a diamond for a bit of extra sparkle. It features the automatic Breitling 10 movement that has a 42-hour power reserve. Price: US$8,500
8. Chanel Premiere Electro
Chanel’s designers had rainbows on their minds when designing its 2021 watch collection. There are several models that feature a rainbow in some way, including multicoloured indicators, gem-set bezels on the J12, and hidden rainbow-coloured gemstones along the side of a diamond-set bracelet.
The Premiere Electro weaves a rainbow-coloured leather strap through the chain bracelet, which wraps around the wrist three times. Price: on request
