The fashion gods (and industry experts) have deemed the cool coffee palette as the trend to watch out for this year. What started as a summer beauty trend in 2023 has gradually seeped into styling in shades of mocha, cappuccino, and iced caramel. „Pay special attention to the styling trick called the ‚cortado rule,‘ which translates to wearing espresso-brown pieces at the waist and creamy layers on top, mimicking the colors (and proportions) of the famous Spanish drink,“ said Julia Hobbs, fashion features director, last summer when the fashion industry was busy resembling a glass of iced coffee. Now, a year later, the world of watches is catching up on the trend, with the „latte“ look infiltrating styles wrist-deep.
Caramel, oat, and macadamia: the latte makeup is the new big trend
Leading inspiration for the iced latte watch is Piaget and the limited edition Polo for the 150th anniversary of the Swiss house. Chic and stylish sports watch, complemented by a brown rubber strap. While Polo is a practical sports watch at its core, its elegant camel color complements both a polo shirt and an evening gown with delicate straps. Similarly, Hermès Cut exudes this elegance; its rounded square case and classic creamy dial are complemented by interchangeable rubber straps offered in eight distinctive Hermès shades. The one we all want? „Capucine“ – perfect for the trend.
Those looking for a bolder hue may be drawn to watches exuding vibes of black coffee, like the new Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona. Technically, its dial is made of black sapphire, but its natural sheen looks brilliantly brown. Meanwhile, Bulgari, in collaboration with Japanese architect Tadao Ando, released a new model of the Serpenti Tubogas with a tiger eye dial that shines in a warm coffee bean color. The distinctive twisted strap and elegant case are made of 18-carat rose gold and combined with bare 90s cuts would make a killer combination for sultry summer evening events.
Rose gold and copper are certainly kind companions to neutral-toned dials, and the new Carrera Date from Tag Heuer uses these warm, earthy tones to effect. Featuring a polished dial that adds shade and sparkle, its copper tones range from light brown to beige, easily blending with any ensemble. This is the best everyday watch; we pair it with a white t-shirt and denim for a casual look or let its chameleon charisma come alive with sheer fabrics and drop-waist evening dresses.
Like any trend in the world of watches, technical innovations continue to drive design codes, and Audemars Piguet’s inventiveness in metal production has allowed the best latte-like hue to become a reality at an ultra-luxurious level. The Swiss brand recently introduced its first watch in „Sand Gold,“ a new 18-carat gold alloy composed of gold, copper, and palladium, inspired by sun-drenched sand dunes. The 41mm case size of the Royal Oak Self-winding Flying Tourbillon Openworked is truly larger for some, but plays perfectly into the watch-as-partner aesthetic, much like the limited edition Laureato series from Girard-Perregaux, which has an almond-colored dial that complements all skin tones.
While dressing and makeup a la latte rely on nuanced layering of different colors to make a maximum impact, when it comes to watches, it’s unlikely we wear three at once. Instead, we opt for precious bracelets and beads to complement – creamy pearls, brown diamonds, rich agate, and chocolate quartz to breathe life into the watch – the most important accessory.