Desert hues are the current trend for luxury watches

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What is the hottest color trend in high-end watches this summer? For a hint, watch one of Denis Villeneuve’s videos Dune movies, or put the convertible top down and head down I-15 toward the Mojave to experience the desert hues that are currently inspiring luxury watchmakers.

This California desert vibe is echoed across a wide range of brands, from budget-friendly to stratospheric models from brands beloved by Hollywood stars. Texture also plays a role in conveying the trend, from the suede straps of Baume & Mercier and Laurent Ferrier watches to the hand-grained, sand-like finish of the latest Parmigiani Fleurer Toric Chronograph Rattrapante (Keanu Reeves is a fan of the brand). Speake-Marin’s latest dial, meanwhile, is meant to evoke the ripples of a sand dune, while the dial color of IWC’s recently launched Portugieser Automatic 42—a brand beloved by celebrities including Chris Pratt, Sterling K. Brown, and Lewis Hamilton—has indeed been dubbed Dune.

Unisex models are also getting in on the desert trend, including the new Alpina Alpiner and an Oris Aquis Date in a gorgeous, highly wearable pale beige. Here’s a look at a dozen watches that pack a lot of summer pizzazz into this must-have color trend.

Alpina Alpiner Extreme Quartz

On the latest Alpina Alpiner Extreme, a beige dial with triangular patterns is set in a 34mm brushed and polished stainless steel case on a matching steel bracelet. The hour, minute and second hands and indexes are adorned with a luminescent treatment, while this quartz watch also includes a date window at 6 o’clock. $1,295 at Watch Connection, Costa Mesa, huckberry.com and alpinawatches.com

Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium

Limited to 88 pieces, the new Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium pays homage to the historic chronometers crafted by the house’s founder, 18th-century English watchmaker John Arnold. This certified chronometer is presented in a 42.5mm polished and satin-finished titanium case on a titanium bracelet designed with gentle curves to sit flat and smoothly on the wrist. The dial is offered in a vertical satin-finished sand hue nicknamed “Kingsand,” named after the Cornish beach where Arnold grew up. Features include a small seconds subdial and a power reserve indicator. $23,900, at Feldmar Watch Company, Los Angeles, and feldmarwatch.com

Baume & Mercier Classima 10782