Welcome the vernal equinox with a playful hue that matches the season’s lively and light-hearted mood
As winter’s muted palette fades, purple emerges as the season’s most poetic transition, capturing the first hint of colour pushing through the soil and the hazy twilight of lengthening days. Whether you are looking for a bold ultraviolet statement or a delicate lilac accent, these timepieces are certain to put a spring in your step.
1. Lucky stars
One of the brand’s most recognisable creations, De Bethune’s poetic DB25 Starry Varius takes on a plum, mulberry shade as the backdrop for a luminous Milky Way. Presented in an elegant 40mm grade 5 titanium case, the star-studded display can be customised to immortalise precious dates and occasions, reimagining the exact skyscape overhead using tiny hand-fitted gold pins and 24-carat gold leaf. The watch is powered by the Calibre DB2005, delivering a generous six-day power reserve thanks to the maison’s patented self-regulating twin-barrel system.
2. A new day
When it comes to capturing nature’s fleeting beauty, Grand Seiko is second to none. The limited-edition SLGB005 evokes the first light of day breaking over the icy forests of the Kirigamine Highlands. The deep violet hue gradually lightens towards the centre, revealing a textured dial that mimics the frosted trees emerging at dawn. The Spring Drive UFA creation in Ever-Brilliant Steel houses a groundbreaking movement that boasts an annual rate of ± 20 seconds, making it one of the most accurate wristwatch movements powered by a mainspring today. It is limited to 1,300 pieces worldwide.
See also: Honouring the hour
3. Down to earth While the green varieties of jade may be better known, its lavender counterpart, with misty pinkish-purple tones, has been prized for thousands of years and has come to symbolise peace and good fortune. When framed within the platinum case of Biver’s Automatique Atelier Series timepiece, its slightly translucent surface adds a touch of intrigue while the subtle dark flecks show its natural structure. Setting the 13 baguette diamonds on the delicate hard stone was an arduous task, but the added dimension and hint of sparkle produce a startling effect. Powering it is the exhaustively finished Calibre JCB-003, a three-hand automatic movement wound by a solid 22-carat gold micro-rotor.
See also: Better than flowers
4. May flowers
Embodying timeless grace and femininity, the Longines PrimaLuna collection is a versatile companion for the modern woman. Crafted from high-polished stainless steel, this 30mm model houses a precise quartz movement for effortless daily wear. Its standout feature is the lavender-mauve sunray dial, soft and ethereal. Adorned with brilliant diamond indices for a subtle touch of luxury and shine, this pretty number perfectly balances understated elegance with a pop of seasonal colour.
5. Go with the flow
Tiny but mighty, the Seamaster Aqua Terra achieves its refined proportions through Omega’s innovative Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8750, certified by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology. It offers magnetic resistance reaching 15,000 gauss, water resistance to 150m and a 48-hour power reserve — impressive stats for a watch measuring just 30mm. The
sun-brushed dial with tinted lacquer is studded with 11 boat hull-shaped indices, a nod to Omega’s rich maritime heritage. It is presented on an integrated stainless steel bracelet with rounded polished-brushed links.
6. Victory lap
Born from founder Jack Heuer’s vision of ultimate legibility and named after the treacherous Carrera Panamericana road race, the Tag Heuer Carrera Date gains a sophisticated evolution with this 36mm lilac edition, embracing a softer palette. The modern iteration retains the collection’s signature faceted lugs and clean geometry, but the snail-brushed dial, framed by a gradient track, adds a dynamic touch to the timepiece. Eleven brilliant-cut diamonds mark the hours, pausing only for the angled date window at 6 o’clock. Beyond its exterior, the 10.2mm-thin case is home to the Calibre 7 automatic movement, which operates at 28,800vph, offering a 56-hour power reserve.
7. A cut above
Geometry meets jewellery in the Reverso One Precious Colours, with elongated proportions that perfectly suit slender wrists. A subtle border on the recto gives way to a tangle of geometric shapes hand-painted in Grand Feu enamel on the reverse, where bright pastels and sparkling diamonds form a cheery labyrinth. Fully embodying the Art Deco style, the pattern complements the signature brackets on the mother-of-pearl dial. Crafted in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Atelier des Métiers Rares, the timepiece necessitated a total of 100 hours of decorative work and no less than 15 layers of enamel fired at up to 800°C. There are altogether 277 brilliant-cut diamonds embedded into the case.
