Watches That Make You Smile: Emoji Dials, Minions, Kermit & More
4 min read
Before we all carried tiny glowing screens in our pockets, our emotions lived in words, scribbles, and maybe the odd 🙂 or :-P typed out in an email or SMS. But in 1999, a quiet revolution began when a young Japanese designer, Shigetaka Kurita, sketched out the first set of 176 tiny icons to help users on NTT DoCoMo’s pagers express feelings quickly. Those pixelated symbols — a sun, a heart, a crying face — became the ancestors of the emojis we send millions of times every day.
From those humble beginnings, emojis exploded into a global language. They’re now part of our keyboards, our memes, even our marketing. Unicode maintains an ever-growing library of thousands of pictograms — each one designed to help us say more with less, and maybe to lighten the mood a little. Every year on July 17, the date shown on the 📅 emoji, the world celebrates World Emoji Day — a playful reminder that communication doesn’t have to be stiff or serious.
And if emojis can live in our messages, why not on our wrists? That thought — that timekeeping too can be joyful — has inspired some delightful watches over the years. From vintage smiley‑face quartz models to high‑end Swiss masterpieces featuring emojis and cartoon characters, these are timepieces that don’t just tell the time — they make you grin when you check it. So let’s wind back the clock and look at some of my favorite emoji‑and‑character watches, from back in the day to now.
😊 Why These Watches Make Me Smile
When I think about watches that truly bring me joy — the kind that make me grin just by glancing at my wrist — it’s these little mood‑boosters that stand out.
The Rolex Day‑Date Puzzle (Emoji) Watch feels like a wink from the world of high horology — a rare moment when the most serious brand let its hair down and gave us something playful, colorful, and human. Every day, the dial surprises you with uplifting words and emojis instead of the usual calendar, reminding you that even time can have a sense of humor.
Then there’s the Konstantin Chaykin Minions (2021) — perhaps the purest embodiment of joy. The “eyes” that tell the time, the goofy grin on the dial, and that unmistakable Minion personality all come together in one of the most charming mechanical watches ever made.
The Oris Kermit Edition is another favorite — its bright green dial and that cheeky Kermit face peeking out on the first of every month never fail to lift my spirits. It’s understated yet unapologetically fun, a watch that knows not to take itself too seriously.
And how could I forget the Richard Mille RM 88 Smiley? It’s a technical marvel that somehow manages to feel lighthearted, with its tourbillon surrounded by rainbows, pineapples, and that classic yellow smiley face — a luxury watch that radiates happiness in every gear.
Another brand that embodies this spirit beautifully is Studio Underd0g. This young British microbrand has made a name for itself with its witty, colorful designs — like the Watermelon chronograph, the Go0fy Panda, and the Strawberries & Cream. While they don’t feature literal emojis on the dial, their playful use of color, cheeky names, and whimsical aesthetic capture the same joy and lightheartedness that emoji watches offer. Studio Underd0g proves that serious mechanical watchmaking doesn’t have to look serious.
Beyond the big names, I have a soft spot for brands that build joy into their DNA: Mr. Jones Watches, with their witty designs like “The Last Laugh” or “A Perfectly Useless Afternoon,” and Undone Watches, which let you personalize your own quirky, character‑filled dial. Even smaller players like Vanen Watches bring a smile with their playful collaborations and colorful characters.
Ultimately, these watches matter because they highlight an important truth: watches are more than tools; they are personal statements and emotional companions. They remind us that time is precious — and sometimes, it should be spent smiling.
