5 Modern Tropical Dial Watches

Omega Seamaster 300M 007 Edition Titanium Watch

In his last Bond film No Time To Die, Daniel Craig’s James Bond wears a Seamaster Diver 300M Co-Axial Master Chronometer. Daniel revealed in an Omega press release that he and the people behind the brand agreed that a lightweight watch would be very fitting for a military man like 007. The actor also suggested some vintage touches and colors to give the watch a unique edge.

Identical to Bond’s watch in No Time To Die, the Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition comes in a robust yet lightweight grade 2 titanium case, measuring about 42mm. A brown-colored tropical aluminum bezel ring and dial make for a retro sporty look.

Aged Super-LumiNova pigments illuminate the diving scale, hands, and geometric indices after sufficient exposure to sunlight or artificial light, while a titanium mesh bracelet with an ergonomic buckle completes the look. Thanks to the doming of the sapphire-crystal glass, the watch is also slightly slimmer than the standard Diver 300M models.

Panerai Radiomir 1940 Art Deco Steel Mens Watch PAM790 

In 2018, Panerai added an Art Deco flair to their iconic Radiomir dive watch with the PAM790 and 791. These models feature steel construction and faceted hands that have never been used in a Panerai timepiece.

The PAM790 and 791 take inspiration from a historic pendulum clock once sold by Orologeria Svizzera, a watch and clock store in Florence, Italy owned by the Panerai family. The dials of these watches do not have a sandwich construction and are printed in higher detail.

Both the minute and inner tracks are also embossed in copper powder, which gives them a granular, somewhat reflective metallic quality, while the signature below 12 o’clock is etched and filled with black or gold lacquer in traditional Panerai fashion. Bold Arabic numerals offer a stunning contrast against the black and ivory watch faces.

The retro-inspired design of the PAM790 and 791 is further emphasized with the use of Plexiglass – an impact-resistant crystal that is easy to manipulate and re-polish. Production of both watches is limited to 300 pieces each.

IWC Pilot Mark XVIII Heritage Titanium Mens Watch IW327006 

The DNA of historic military designs can still be found in today’s IWC collection, most notably in the Pilot’s Mark XVIII, which are military-styled, aviation-oriented watches. In 2017, the brand created a special Heritage edition of this model, which reverts to the unmistakable design cues of the historic Big Pilot’s Watch 52 T.S.C.

The IW327006 faithfully adheres to the standards set by classic pilot’s watches with its  40mm case size and round display. The black dial includes huge Arabic numbers filled with faux vintage lume to mark the minutes, with two exceptions: the 12 has been replaced with a triangle with dots on either side for enhanced legibility, and the date window stands at 3 o’clock, providing a modern touch.

The use of titanium as a case material lends the IW327006 a utilitarian feel as well as a much lighter overall weight, while a rugged brown calfskin strap ties the whole old-school look together.

Omega Speedmaster Dark Side Vintage Black

The key feature of this watch is the use of “Vintage” Super-LumiNova for the dial, tachymeter scale, date disc, and hands. It gives enough contrast and looks especially stunning when combined with the brown indices and hands.

Like other Dark Side of the Moon watches, the Speedmaster Vintage Black is made from black zirconium oxide ceramic. The two-register matte dial has been created using cutting-edge laser technology, while the brown leather strap boasts a distressed appearance to accentuate the watch’s vintage appeal.

Zenith Heritage Pilot Type 20 Café Racer Spirit 

The watch’s grainy slate-grey dial is stripped off of complications, except the bi-compax chronograph, and features large Arabic numerals and cathedral hands coated with beige Super-LumiNova. These elements give off a rich ivory tone in daylight and transform into a vivid green glow in low-light conditions, delivering exceptional readability.

Other outstanding features of this watch include an onion-shaped crown, which provides a secure grip, and a polished titanium caseback inscribed with an image of a speeding vintage racing motorbike and a Zenith logo. A greenish, oily nubuck aged leather strap complements the case’s retro style and the overall utilitarian design quite well.