Monsoon Edit: Shades of Blue

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As monsoon blues take over summer hues, wardrobe must follow suit. We’ve curated a selection of must have watches that reflect the mood of the season

Every season has a signature colour. Summer has pastels, winter has neutrals and monsoon has vibrant blues. Whether it’s the deep navy of rainy days, the midnight blue of stormy nights or the pale blue of cool clear skies — every shade of blue finds a place in the season’s palette. As the colour seeps into everyday life, horology also embraces this timeless hue. Once reserved exclusively for dive watches and nautical instruments, blue now appears everywhere from sophisticated dress watches and high complication pieces to sporty chronographs and bold ceramics. Calm yet moody, minimal yet expressive, the beauty of blue is its versatility. Unlike the sombre shades of black or white, blue softens the sharp angles of a watch as the light bounces off the dial, making it glimmer like the surface of the ocean at golden hour.

Longines Hydroconquest

First introduced in 2007, the Hydroconquest diver series has become one of Longines’ most popular sports watches. Armed with 300 m water resistance and a 72 hour power reserve, it’s one built for real adventures. The new variant is sharper, more refined and features a sunray dial that shifts between different tones of blue with the light. Paired with a ceramic bezel and a stainless steel bracelet, the watch carries an understated glamour and moves seamlessly from city streets to coastal escapes.

IWC Ingenieur

Designed by Gerald Genta in the 1970s, the IWC Ingenieur is one of the OG integrated bracelet icons. Relaunched in 2023, the watch has now found an audience amongst new age collectors drawn to its clean classic architecture. The recently launched pool blue dial carries the Ingenieur’s signature grid pattern rendered in a fresh aquatic hue, creating an intricate interplay of texture and colour. Its satin finished and polished bracelet catches the sun beautifully, while the pop of colour invokes the feeling of cool breezy days.

Breitling Superocean

A rendition of the 1960s Breitling Slow Motion watch that was crafted especially for scuba divers, the Superocean is a modern dive watch that injects the pared back version with colour and charm. Preserving Breitling Slow Motion’s celebrated design codes, while adding updates like a ceramic inlayed bezel and a bright turquoise dial, it’s the right balance of nostalgia and newness. With cleaner lines and bold, luminescent markers, this reimagined version works equally well for an underwater adventure as it does for a cocktail hour at sunset.

Hublot Summer Multi Coloured Ceramic

Created as a part of an annual series, the Big Bang Summer transforms Hublot’s flagship model into a riot of colour. This year’s multi coloured ceramic edition, limited to 10 pieces, layers shades of blue with bursts of pink and green, capturing the energy of sunsets, rainbows and lush landscapes. Featuring a transparent pink sapphire dial and a rubber strap, it is fun, lively and a joyful celebration of rain soaked days.

Panerai Luminor Marina

Originally developed in the 1950s for the Italian navy, the Luminor is an embodiment of Panerai’s engineering precision and savoir faire. The Marina esteel Blu edition introduces a striking shaded blue dial while preserving the signatures that have made the Luminor series legendary, from the oversized cushion case to the crown protecting bridge. Rugged enough for adventures yet sophisticated enough for daily wear, it’s the perfect pick for those who value utility as much as aesthetics.

Omega Seamaster Diver 300

Launched in 1948, the Omega Seamaster with its signature wave patterned dial is one of the most recognisable watches ever. The Seamaster Diver 300 edition combines ceramic and laser engraved waves on a gradient finish blue dial. With a blue rubber strap, rhodium hands and a trident bearing Poseidon on the caseback, it’s functional, dressy and modern luxury at its best.

TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph

A reinterpretation of the iconic Carrera, originally conceived for racing circuits, the TAG Heuer Carrera blue is where classic elegance meets technical prowess. Its sunburst blue dial paired with contrasting chronograph counters, creates depth and visual drama, while the leather strap and domed sapphire crystal give the sporty timepiece a slick upgrade, making it equally appropriate for a boardroom meeting as for an evening out.

Chopard Alpine Eagle

Inspired by the grandeur of Alps, Chopard’s Alpine Eagle is one of the most distinctive integrated bracelet watches. Its textured blue dial is named after Switzerland’s Rhone river, and is etched with radiating lines that mimic an eagle’s iris. The result is a mesmerising play of steel blue and navy hue depending on how the light shifts. Bearing the Alpine Eagle Foundation’s logo on the caseback, it tells a story of heritage and sustainability.

Bvlgari Aluminium

First launched in the late 1990s, the Bvlgari Aluminium challenged the traditional ideas of luxury by pairing aluminium with rubber instead of metal. The latest Ice blue edition retains the freshness and playful energy of the original version through its frosted dial, white bezel and sporty rubber strap. Lightweight and comfortable, it’s the ultimate off duty watch made for spontaneous road trips and weekend adventures.

Franck Muller Vanguard Blue Sea

Sculptural and dramatic, the Vanguard Blue Sea features Franck Muller’s signature tonneau shaped case and avant garde design. Its saturated blue wave patterned dial with rose gold accents and oversized numerals, embraces colour without restraint. Paired with a nylon strap, it’s edgy, bold and just right for those moody monsoon days.