The Pantone Color of the Year for 2024 is Peach Fuzz. This is a tone intended to have a calming effect and exudes a sense of gentleness, according to this color institute. It’s a shade that is relatively rare in the world of watches, except for the highly coveted salmon dials from some haute-horlogerie brands. Their colorway is similar to peach, but much more bold, vibrant and intense.

Now, with the Chinese New Year celebrations on February 10 marking the official start of the Year of the Wood Dragon, several watch brands have taken the opportunity to create limited special editions. Some of them opt for stunning burgundy tones, reminiscent of the radiant red hues used in the celebrations and associated with the fire-breathing dragon. Like bordeaux and merlot they are named after famous French red wines and regions. Burgundy wine is made in the Burgundy region of eastern France, in the valleys and slopes west of the Saône, a tributary of the Rhône. The most famous wines produced here, and those commonly referred to as “Burgundies,” are dry red wines made from pinot noir grapes.
Here are three examples from IWC Schaffhausen, Panerai, and Longines featuring expressive burgundy dials that also come right in time for Valentine’s Day. Just like the burgundy wines, they display a fascinating dark shaded red with a subtle chocolate undertone.

IWC Portugieser Chronograph Year of the Dragon

Limited to 1,000 pieces, the notably classic an...