Another Friday, another Top 5! This week, we take a step away from used watches, which we've been discussing lately.
Earlier this week, IWC announced the first fully luminous ceramic watches. Observers spotted them on the wrist of Formula 1 driver and IWC ambassador Lewis Hamilton last weekend during the Monaco Grand Prix. The new conceptual IWC Ceralume watches inspired us to select our favorite watches with fully luminous dials.
When IWC announced the new full-bodied Pilot’s Chronograph 41, we immediately thought of the now-defunct brand Tockr. While luminous ceramic watches might be new, a case that glows in the dark is far from novel. Tockr created several hydro-dipped versions of its Air Defender chronograph, which looked fun by day and glowed like a Christmas tree at night. The new IWC concept watches are the next step in creating luminous watches, and it will be interesting to see how the brand develops this technology. Meanwhile, inspired by this release and the presentation of the new Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Pro-Diver with a full-color dial, we've selected five of our favorite watches with full-color dials this week. Let's begin.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Date Night Diver
Let's start this list with a personal favorite. It's been just under three years since I reviewed the Aquaracer Night Diver from TAG Heuer. The watch in a stealth case and with a fully luminous dial effect remains one of my favorite Aquaracers in the collection. I thoroughly enjoyed testing this modern version, inspired by the 1980s TAG Heuer night divers. The Heuer/TAG Heuer ref. 980.032L became famous for its fully luminous dial, allowing owners to read the time in the dark. James Bond fans will undoubtedly remember the black PVD version of this watch (ref. 980.031) on Timothy Dalton's wrist in the 1987 Bond film 'The Living Daylights'.
These watches inspired the creation of the darkened version of the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 with a white dial coated in Super-LumiNova, which glows green in the dark. The watch features a 43mm stainless steel case with sandblasted and black DLC coating. This case is paired with the 12-sided unidirectional Aquaracer bezel, also in black. On the matte black bezel insert, white numbers and markers are placed, and the triangle with luminous light glows blue in the dark, as do the minute and the tip of the second hands.
Still the Best TAG Heuer Aquaracer
TAG Heuer equips the watch with the Caliber 5, based on the Sellita SW200-1. The automatic movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, has 26 jewels, and a 38-hour power reserve. In addition to time indication, it also features a date function displayed at the 6 o'clock position. The watch comes with a black rubber strap with a curved end and a folding clasp, making it very comfortable.
- Three years after its presentation, this is still my favorite version of the Aquaracer, available for €4,150.
Doxa Sub 300 Carbon Whitepearl
Our second choice is another modern version of a classic. I've expressed my love for Doxa Whitepearl models on WatchTested several times. The white versions of Doxa's classic models are surprisingly crisp and atypical for the brand. Usually, Doxa is associated with colorful renditions of its classic dive watches. However, the white versions have allowed a new look at the classic, which I really like. The Sub 300 Carbon Whitepearl has an extra little trick up its sleeve with a fully luminous dial.
The watch features a forged carbon case measuring 42.5mm x 45mm, with a thickness of 13.4mm and water resistance up to 300 meters. The case is paired with a forged carbon bezel, with two scales in white matching the dial. The dial contrasts with black markers and hands coated in white Super-LumiNova. As with the TAG Heuer model, the dial has two luminous colors. In the dark, the dial glows green, while the hands and markers glow blue, creating a contrast.
Doxa Sub 300 Carbon Whitepearl - A Complete Package
The Sub 300 Carbon Whitepearl comes with a white rubber strap, perfectly balancing the lightweight case on the wrist. Inside, Doxa uses a COSC-certified version of the automatic Sellita SW200-1 movement, providing a 38-hour power reserve. We've seen several remarkable versions of the Sub 300 since this Whitepearl model was released.
- But two years later, this Sub 300 Carbon Whitepearl model, priced at €4,290, remains one of the coolest Doxa Sub 300 models.
Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Pro-Diver
Our next choice is the brand new Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Pro-Diver with a fully luminous dial. I mentioned these watches this week after the special RedBar edition was announced two weeks earlier. The watches are inspired by the Night Divers model from the 1980s, with a pistachio green dial that glows blue in the dark. The Super Sea Wolf Pro-Diver features a 42mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 13mm and a length of 49.8mm, with a 20mm lug width. Since this is the Pro-Diver version of the Super Sea Wolf, the dive depth rating is increased from 200 to 300 meters.
The green dial is paired with a black ceramic bezel insert. The hour markers, hands, and markers on the ceramic bezel insert are white, glowing green in the dark. As with the first two models on this list, this creates a luminous combination of blue and green lume.
Zodiac uses the chronometer-certified STP 1-21 caliber inside the case. This movement is based on the renowned ETA 2824 and operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, providing a 40-hour power reserve. The watch comes on a seven-link stainless steel bracelet, adding extra character.
- The new Super Sea Wolf Pro-Diver is available now for $2,295.
At the time of publication, Zodiac even has a limited RedBar edition available for the same price. We can't wait to get these watches for a hands-on review.
Isotope HydiumX “Will Return”
One of the most fun watches I've reviewed in the past couple of years has been the Isotope HydriumX “Will Return”. The design was inspired by the iconic 'Will Return' sign on clocks and doors that indicates when a store will reopen. These watches with full-color dials sold out in a flash back in 2021.
Two months ago, Isotope brought the watches back in a reverse color combination and added fully luminous wall clocks. Unsurprisingly, they were also quickly sold out. But now the brand has another luminous version of the popular HydriumX model - “Exit”. The design of these watches is inspired by the potentially life-saving sign directing people to exit buildings.
The watch has a 40mm x 48mm stainless steel case with micro-blasted finishing and a thickness of 14.9mm. The lug width is 22mm, with a dive depth of 300m. The bezel is adorned with a glossy green insert featuring a luminous pip as the only marker. The white dial with green Arabic numerals is coated with Super-LumiNova, which glows bright green in the dark. At the 4 o'clock position, a small figure runs towards a door, indicating an exit sign, as does the tiny second hand shaped like an arrow.
The watch uses an automatic Landeron movement. The caliber operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, with a 40-hour power reserve and a precision rate of ±12 seconds per day.
- The watch looks very stylish on a white rubber strap, and you can purchase it for about €1,080.
But hurry, as only 100 pieces of this fun watch have been released.
Citizen Promaster Aqualand Depth Meter ref. JP2007-17W
Our fifth and final choice is the Citizen Promaster Aqualand Depth Meter with a full-color dial. Reviewing this version of Citizen's classic 1980s diver was a fascinating journey. It took me back to the times when ana-digi watches were popular. But this quirky model has even more tricks up its sleeve. The original watch was released in 1985 and became the first to incorporate an electronic digital depth gauge.
This explains the odd case shape with a depth gauge on the left side. But that's not all. The stainless steel case has a gunmetal PVD coating, and the dial is fully luminous, immediately distinguishing the watch from others.
With the depth gauge, the case measures 50.7mm in diameter, but this measurement is slightly misleading. Without it, the diameter is a very wearable 42.5-43mm, with a thickness of 14.8mm. Thanks to the 24mm lug width, the very comfortable polyurethane strap is prominent and balances the watch, which I like. The case is paired with a black bezel that gently slopes down towards the glass. On the full-color dial, minute markers are placed on the rehaut to make room for large hour markers.
The lume on the dial glows yellow in the dark, while the markers glow bright blue. The digital display at the top of the dial shows a wide range of useful functions. They are executed by the Citizen C520 quartz caliber, with an accuracy of ±20 seconds per month.
- These ISO-compliant Promaster Aqualand divers offer great 80s style and functionality with a full-color dial for €449, rounding off our list this week.
Final Thoughts on the Top 5 Watches with Full-Color Dials Today
That's it - our favorite watches with full-color dials, in no particular order. We could have chosen many more watches that would have fit perfectly into this list. The point is, we love watches with full-color dials. As a little teaser, I can say that if you're also interested in them, you should keep an eye on what's happening on WatchTested. You might be in for a pleasant surprise soon! In the meantime, tell us in our Telegram channel which are your favorite watches with luminous dials, and we'll see you next week for another Top 5 list!