White watches that stay actually white

Chanel J12 Couture 33mm

1/5

Chanel’s capsule collection, recently revealed at Watches and Wonders 2024, is a whimsical tribute to its couture heritage. Timepieces take the form of spool-shaped cuffs, rings with pin cushion dials, and pendants that hide tiny watch faces at the end of gold, gem-set safety pins. But the most everyday-friendly of the lot is a new J12 – one of the originators of the white ceramic watch trend back in the 2000s – now with scissors for the hour and minute hands, a needle for the seconds, a pattern-cutting dial design, and a tape measure minute track on the bezel.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding 34mm

2/5

Given the Royal Oak’s massive popularity and inversely related availability, wearing one immediately confers a level of privilege. Wearing one in white ceramic, however, will elevate that even further. White ceramic is a relatively rare material in Audemars Piguet’s lineup, and out of the three available references, two are grand complications (making them laughably less attainable), and one is this chic automatic three-hand model in 34mm. Pink gold accents and a matching ceramic bracelet complete the eye-catching (and envy-inducing) look.

Credit: Corum Admiral 42

3/5

Corum dives deeper into the maritime heritage of its Admiral line — not with a bronze case as many have come to expect from dive watches, but with a ceramic one — a first since the collection’s inception over 60 years ago. Like bronze, ceramic has intrinsic ties to the sea, and has been used to protect boat surfaces from the corrosive effects of seawater, and to prevent the accumulation of algae and shells on the hull. And now the material adds a dash of sportiness and a splash of artistic fun to this Admiral 42 in white ceramic with a paint-splattered dial.

IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Lake Tahoe

4/5

This watch goes big not just in size, as its name suggests, but also in technicity and style. The 46mm case houses a perpetual calendar with plenty of room to indicate the time, date, day of the week, month, year, power reserve, and double moon phase – all of which are easy to read thanks to stark white numerals, indices, and hands that contrast crisply against a matte black dial. It also has a power reserve of seven days. First spotted on the wrist of Lewis Hamilton at the Miami Grand Prix last year, the watch was officially launched to the public shortly after and remains in the permanent collection.

Rado True Round Open Heart Limited Edition

5/5

It was Rado that marketed its DiaStar as “the world’s first scratch-proof watch” when it was released in 1962 with a tungsten carbide case – a pioneering ceramic-metal composite. Since then, the brand has continued to refine its craft, continuously pushing the boundaries of ceramic technology.  This 888-piece limited model showcases a polished ceramic case and bracelet, as well as a dichroic sapphire crystal that shifts colour depending on the viewing angle and lighting.