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There is something magnetic in the dark. Refined and timeless, the watches which display it on their dial defy conventions and appear in a wide range of different styles. Minimalists, sportswomen, divers, classics: the black dial is a chameleon that knows how to adjust perfectly.
Without further delay, discover five watchmaking creations that perfectly embody this dark elegance.
Herbelin Cap Camarat square chronograph – 35646A14CA
This chronograph watch from Herbelin immediately stands out with its bold and geometric design. Starting with its square 40.5 x 40.5 mm case topped with a bezel with six visible screws, and connected to a black rubber strap. Its design gives it a nautical, very sporty chic air, which complements both casual and more formal outfits.
Let’s then move on to the dial, the big star of this selection. Black of course, but dressed in horizontal stripes which bring texture and change solid backgrounds.
Above, simple luminescent indexes and hands, as well as three black counters at 6, 9 and 12 o’clock, used for the small seconds, 1/10th of a second and 30 minutes of the chronograph. All that remains is the white date window embedded in the circle at 6 o’clock and you then have the essentials. This French watch water-resistant to 100 meters contains the Ronda 3540-D caliber, a quartz movement very precise and reliable.
Herbelin Cap Camarat Square Chronograph watch on Swiss Made Watch.com
Sinn 556 I steel
Another elegant sports car, this time offered by the German manufacturer Sinn. If you are looking for a simple and functional model, you should greatly appreciate this 556 I.
It is in fact satisfied with a casing made of stainless steel 38.5 mm in diameter, a metal bracelet, a full black dial with large hands and white stick-style indexes, with a discreet black window indicating the date at 3 o’clock. An ultra minimalist front and optimal readability day and night for this Sinn watch which does its job perfectly, namely telling the time. In a word: sobriety.
On the movement side, the 556 I is equipped with the caliber SW200-1, a automatic movement Swiss known for its robustness and reliability. Small pleasant detail for those who like to admire the workings: they are visible on the back thanks to a transparent glass.
Sinn 556 I steel watch on Swiss Made Watch.com
Faded Black Underwater Brass (Limited Edition) – 524.407
Known for its military timepieces inspired by the aeronautical world, the Airain brand offers us here a truly exceptional piece which is only available in a limited number of examples.
This Submarine features a faded black dial and a domed sapphire glasstwo elements which give it a unique vintage appearance that is very visually pleasing. On it, it’s impossible to miss the time indications as they are large and coated with a luminescent treatment. Visible, the aperture at 3 o’clock is also visible with its red indication on a white background. Here we have a simple watch that is not lacy but functional. It’s clean and very efficient.
For the structure, this model offers a compact housing (37.5 mm) barrel-shaped in 316L stainless steel, topped with a unidirectional notched rotating bezel with 120 clicks. Two bracelets accompany the watch: a textured black rubber and an extendable stainless steel model signed “Fixoflex”.
Overall, this diving watch embodies the perfect balance between retro style and modern performance. It operates thanks to the AM5 caliber, a Swiss automatic movement equipped with a stop seconds device, and is waterproof up to 200 meters.
Faded black Airain Sous-Marine watch Limited edition on Swiss Made Watch.com
BA111OD – CHPTR_Δ.2
Radical change of scenery with this futuristic creation which offers a asymmetrical reading of time. We keep our black dial base but in a completely different style which looks nothing like what we usually see.
In the steel case, a dark round surface includes several distinct parts which sit side by side, overlap, and expose each other. In the center proudly sits a steel triangle with numbers and indexes. The time is indicated using a central disc which, when rotating, sets a small red dot in motion. For the minutes, the gray steel hand scrolls on the black track. It may seem complex at first, but you quickly get a taste for this strange reading.
To make this unique model work, BA111OD has opted for a automatic movement Swiss BA111OD 09310 coupled with a home-made module with hypocycloidal time reading. A beautiful mechanism which can be admired from the rear thanks to the transparent background.
BA111OD CHPTR_Δ.2 watch on Swiss Made Watch.com
Seiko King Seiko – SJE091J1
We end up with a King Seiko watch, more precisely the reference SJE091J1. Elegant and efficient, it pays a modern homage to the brand’s legendary pieces produced in the 1960s.
Its deep black dial is housed in a 38.6 mm diameter case, whose stainless steel benefits from the famous Zaratsu polishing which we find on other creations of the brand. The surface is smooth, bright, the lines sharp and angular, recalling the typical style of the King Seiko series.
Under the dial, we find the caliber 6L35an ultra-thin automatic movement with a 45 hour power reserve. It is responsible for animating the three hands as well as the date window. Finally, note that this watch is waterproof up to 100 meters.
King Seiko automatic watch SJE091J1 on Swiss Made Watch.com
As you can see, black is used in a multitude of designs and remains a flagship shade in the world of watches. And you, a favorite among these five models?
