3 watch icons with a salmon dial

Were you to try to convince a stranger to the wonderful world of watches that salmon-colored dials are all the rage, you would at best be able to elicit an incredulous frown. But it’s true, more and more watch brands are jumping on the “salmon train.” And we are not talking about exotic microbrands from the Far East, but the crème de la crème of the watch industry: Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Patek Philippe, Greubel Forsey, F.P. Journe and even A. Lange & Söhne, all of them (and many more) are on board.

First blue, then green, and now… salmon?

So, what is it that has made salmon watch dials so popular lately?

The color as such is a sort of less vibrant pink, although naturally the intensity varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. While the Montblanc Heritage Pulsograph is almost copper-colored, the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon takes a more subtle approach. Still, pink watches are not popular – quite the contrary – so there must be another reason.

The paradox is that salmon-colored watches are generally very popular in watch communities and social media, but never sell like hot cakes. Nevertheless, or precisely because of this, they are usually offered in small series as a limited edition.

Color of the year 2019:  a coral red

Back to the causal investigation: In 2019, when the popularity of salmon dials really took off, the color PANTONE 16-1546 “Living Coral” was chosen as the color of the year. With its “happy, life-affirming coral red”, it is said to provide energy and gently invigorate. A quick Google search confirms that 16-1546 Living Coral appears suspiciously close to our salmon.

Sheer coincidence? Ultimately, as is so often the case in life, it is most likely the allure of the new, and soon enough we will probably have had enough. Anyway, we have given three great watch classics a salmon dial finish: the Patek Philippe Nautilus (Re. 5711), the Rolex Submariner Date (Ref. 116610LN) and the Bulgari Octo Finissimo (Ref. 102713).