Such expressive dials played a prominent role in Rolex watches produced in the 1960s and 1970s. It was an era where the Geneva-based company was experimenting with new dial materials, designs, and techniques to reflect the shifting sensibilities. Rolex produced the bright, enamel colored, and now coveted ‘Stella’ lacquer dial watches at this time. It also experimented with stone dials, including malachite, lapis, and onyx, while, in the same avant-garde spirit, it began manufacturing its first ombré dials. These offbeat dial choices all but disappeared during the quartz crisis era of the 1980s, which saw a return to more conservative black, white, silver, and champagne colors.
These days, we’re fortunate that the pendulum has swung again, with Rolex leaning on lacquer to produce the dials for more of its vibrant dial models, including its recent series of brightly colored Oyster Perpetuals. Introduced in 2020 and offering a new palette of candy pink to turquoise, and, most recently, updated with matte-lacquer pastels from subtle beige to pistachio green last year, the rich colors of lacquer dials are again a significant pillar in the catalog.
Andy Hoffman
2026-04-13 22:00:00