Top 5 Holi Watches for 2022: Time To Embrace The New

It’s that time of year yet again, when we shed all our inhibitions and hit that restart button. Our reasons for celebrating this festival of colour could differ but the core remains the same - “Out with the old, embrace with the new”. In a country that believes in the grandeur of celebrating rich cultural traditions, Holi is yet another joyous occasion for us to throw aside our cultural norms and talk about the Holi watches.

What is Holi and why do we celebrate it?
Besides social gatherings, splashing colour at each other, indulging in gujiya (dumplings stuffed with khoya, dry fruits, or coconut) and bhaang (cannabis plant crushed into a pulp and combined with milk and different spices) the festival of Holi symbolises the end of the winter and arrival of spring. It also marks the victory of good over evil. On day one a bonfire is lit to signify the burning of the demon Holika. Well as per Hindy mythology, demon King Hiranyakashyap who had the power of not being killed by any man or animal was angered that his own son Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, did not worship him. He ordered his sister Holika to sit in a pyre while holding his son in an attempt to kill him. Well, as Holika died in that fire, Prahlad was saved by Lord Vishnu and later went on to kill the demon King. Hence on a full moon night in March, a bonfire is lit and people pray that the evil inside them is destroyed just like the demon Holika was.

As mentioned before, the festival of Holi also signifies the onset of the new. Listed below are a few Holi watches we think could add some newness to your wardrobe this Holi…

1. Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch

Owning one of the most iconic chronographs is an absolute no-brainer and this year Omega has dropped one with a lunar glow - the new Speedmaster Moonwatch in moonshine gold. Read more here.

Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch

2. Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean Special Editions

Seiko’s reputation for reliable and durable diver’s watches was forged in the 1960’s and 1970’s when they were chosen by adventurers and researchers on expeditions to the north and south poles. As a part of the Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean series, here is the version with a light blue dial and a dark blue bezel that graces the re-creation of the 1968 diver’s watch which was the first Seiko watch with 300m water resistance and a 10-beat automatic movement. Sized at 42mm, this diver is powered by Caliber 6R35 which delivers a power reserve of 70 hours. They are 200 meters water-resistant and are presented on steel bracelets with secure clasps and extenders.

Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean Special Editions

3. Oris Big Crown X Cervo Volante

Here is a fresh colour and a fresh perspective to the Big Crown. Truly representing the season of transition Oris launched a Big Crown in collaboration with Cervo Volante, a sustainable deer leather manufacturer. These 38mm Big Crowns are powered by Oris 754, base SW 200-1 featuring a centre hand for hours, minutes and seconds, date centre hand, instantaneous date, date corrector and a stop-second. Read more here.

Oris Big Crown X Cervo Volante

4. Kurono Tokyo White Shiro

For those who are unaware, Kurono is an initiative to create high-quality, Japan-made luxury timepieces designed by independent Japanese watchmaker Hajime Asaoka. Although already sold out this watch is most certainly on our list. Here is Hajime Asaoka’s Kurono Chronograph II in white - nicknamed 'Shiro' - a refined classical interpretation of his iconic Chronograph II design launched in black in early 2021.

Simple elements such as the white on the dial are much more than just color - the brilliance of the white was achieved by fine sandblasting of the dial followed by silvering, and with the thick lacquer giving it the appearance of bright white'. Hajime chose the mechanical chronograph calibre NE86 from one of Japan's most esteemed movement manufactures positioned by SII as its newest flagship chronograph movement and successor to the 6S a premium caliber, the 311-part movement combines traditional chronograph features like a column wheel, vertical clutch, and a magic lever winding system it has a unique three-pointed hammer system that starts, stops, and resets all three wheels simultaneously this allows for all the counters to advance continuously rather than only at one-minute intervals additionally, instead of driving the minute and hour counters from the chronograph seconds wheel, each is driven by a powered wheel with its own clutch this delivers increased accuracy and longer-term durability the movement has a power reserve of 45 hours. However, priced at US$3,700 (approx INR 2,82,704), as mentioned before these watches are currently sold out on the website.

Kurono Tokyo White Shiro

5. MING 22.01

Post their last GMT in 2018, MING has revisited the complication and introduced the MING 22.01. The new 22-series also bridges the gap between the new 37-series and outgoing 17-series. Unlike the earlier Gilt watches, the dial here has a more modern take. With a dark cyan outer chapter ring and dark gold center, both with grained texture, and GMT markings in gilt, it certainly adds a punch to the watch.

With the base metal dial being overlaid with sapphire, it exhibits their inversion under certain lighting conditions during which, the underlying colour disappears completely, and multiple internal reflections deliver dynamic layering. The 38mm case features alternating brushed and polished layers; it is a monobloc construction in grade 5 titanium and without spacers, and water-resistant to 100m. The lugs retain their signature flare and feature a continuous twist highlighted by brushing that runs continuously from the case flanks through the underside of the lugs. The watch is powered by the automatic-winding Sellita SW330-2 in a black circular-grained finish with a skeletonized rotor. The intermediate crown position adjusts the 24-hour GMT hand unidirectionally in one-hour increments, and the third crown position hacks the movement and adjusts all hands simultaneously. Priced at CHF 3,250, the orders open today 5.30 pm IST.

MING 22.01

Here’s to celebrating a vibrant festival full of newness and colours with the above Holi watches. Happy Holi!