Stone dials, i.e. dials made of mineral stone, are a real eye-catcher. They emphasize the beauty of nature and deliver a very individual touch. Whether lapis lazuli, malachite, onyx, tiger’s eye, or meteorite, each stone dial is unique and captivates with its unique play of colors and fascinating depth. What was considered a stylish statement in the 1970s is making a comeback today. But it’s not just the big luxury brands that have re-discovered stone dials. Independent manufacturers and micro brands also use them for their timepieces. In this article, we’re taking a closer look at five watches with a stone dial.
Rolex GMT-Master II Tiger Iron – Structurally Unstructured
As early as the 1970s, the Geneva-based watch giant Rolex introduced various versions of the Datejust and Day-Date with stone dials. In 2017, the manufacturer presented a Daytona with a meteorite dial under the reference 116519LN. This watch was followed in 2018 by a variant of the GMT-Master II (ref. 126719BLRO) featuring a dial made from meteorite rock. Rolex finally launched a new variant of the “Rootbeer” GMT-Master II Ref. 126715CHNR at the Watches and Wonders fair in 2025. This model, whose case and bracelet are made of 18-karat Everose gold, is equipped with a very special stone dial. The dial is made of a stone called tiger iron. It has both a special coloring and a distinctive structure. The colors range from golden brown to deep red and black. This unique coloration is created by the three main components of the stone. Tiger’s eye provides the golden-brown tone, while red jasper contributes the fiery red. Finally, the iron dioxide mineral hematite adds the silvery to black part of the overall look. The appearance of the dial can probably be described as unstructured – some say chaotic. As a unique piece, however, it is the result of a natural process that ensures a highly individual appearance on the wrist. The Rolex GMT-Master II 126715CHNR has a diameter of 40 mm and is equipped with the Rolex in-house caliber 3285. The automatic movement has a power reserve of 70 hours. The official list price for the Rolex GMT-Master II tiger iron was $49,400 when it was launched.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak – With Sky Stone Turquoise
The Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet also looks back on a long tradition of producing stone dials. The brand has been presenting Royal Oak models with stone dials made from lapis lazuli, malachite, or turquoise since the 1970s. The watchmaker typically combines the colorful dials with precious metals such as yellow or white gold. This also applies to the Royal Oak ref. 15550BA presented in 2023, whose dial is made of turquoise stone. In contrast to the multicolored tiger’s eye, turquoise is a stone that stands out in particular due to its intense, blue-green color. The turquoise gets its blue hue from copper, which is bound within the stone. If the color of the stone tends to be greenish, the stone contains a higher proportion of iron. The surface of the turquoise is often streaked with brownish-black veins, which also give the stone its individual structure. These can consist of different minerals and range from iron oxide, quartz or sandstone, to slate, or even basalt. Depending on the specific mineral, the veins are light, gray, brown, or black. The technical features of the watch correspond to those of this particular AP product line featuring additional dial colors and styles. The watch has a 37-mm case with an integrated bracelet. Both components are made from 18-karat gold. Inside the watch ticks the 5900 in-house caliber with a power reserve of 60 hours. The Royal Oak 15550BA comes with a price tag of around $73,000. On Chrono24, however, the watch is traded for far higher, reaching prices sometimes of well over double that amount.
Piaget Andy Warhol Watch – In Honor of An Icon
The watch and jewelry manufacturer Piaget and pop art icon Andy Warhol had a close relationship during his lifetime. The American artist, who died in 1987, was a close friend of Yves Piaget and owned seven of the brand’s watches. In collaboration with the Andy Warhol Foundation, founded in 1987, Piaget presents fine timepieces with stone dials, which are part of the Andy Warhol collection. The most recent result of this collaboration is the Andy Warhol watch with a tiger’s eye dial (G0A50240) presented at Watches and Wonders 2025. Tiger’s eye is a quartz stone that stands out with its golden yellow to brownish color and a striking wave or stripe pattern. The stone gets its name from the light reflections on its surface, which are reminiscent of a cat’s eye. The color of the tiger’s eye is created by the iron-containing mineral crocidolite. Piaget manufactures the 45-mm x 43-mm case of the Andy Warhol watch with the tiger’s eye dial out of rhodiumized white gold. At the heart of the watch is the automatic 501P1 manufacture caliber, which has a power reserve of 40 hours. The manufacturer offers the model for around $65,000. Other variants that can be found within the Andy Warhol collection bear the reference numbers G0A43238 and G0A49238. While the former has a green stone dial made from malachite, the latter has a blue dial made from meteorite stone.
Gerald Charles Maestro GC39 – With Jumping Hour
The roots of the still young and independent Swiss watch brand Gerald Charles go back to 2001, when none other than designer icon Gérald Genta founded the company in Geneva, where Gerald Charles is still based today. The manufacturer continues the legacy of Gérald Genta, who died in 2011, and regularly presents fine timepieces in the unmistakable look he created. in 2005, the watchmaker presented its first Maestro model. With the Maestro GC39 25th Anniversary Edition, Gerald Charles launched a titanium model limited to 100 pieces in 2025, with deep blue lapis lazuli integrated into the dial. The stone forms the center of the dial and is surrounded by a Colormix blue frame and a black minute display. The gemstone gets its deep blue color from the mineral lazurite, which is the main component of the stone. The in-house movement 4.0 with its gold winding rotor sets the pace inside the 42-mm x 42-mm case. The movement has a jumping hour, which is displayed in Arabic numerals between 11 and 1 o’clock. The power reserve of the caliber 4.0 is 50 hours. The Gerald Charles Maestro GC39 will be launched on the market for $42,300.
Omega Seamaster 300 – Dial In Green Malachite
Since 2022, the Biel-based luxury watch manufacturer Omega’s range has included two models of the Seamaster 300, which the watchmaker has equipped with a stone dial. The variant with the reference number 234.93.41.21.99.001 is a watch whose case is made of platinum-gold, while the case of the Seamaster 300 ref. 234.63.41.21.99.001 is made of yellow gold. Both references have a stone dial made of green malachite. Malachite is a mineral known for its intense green color and distinctive structure. The green color is due to the high copper content bound in the rock. Each stone has a unique pattern with concentric circles, a wavy structure, or stripes. From a technical point of view, this is a typical Seamaster 300: both watches have a diameter of 41 mm, but unlike the other references in the series, the Malachite variants are equipped with a green bezel. Matching: a green alligator leather strap. The Omega-manufactured 8913 caliber with its patented Co-Axial escapement powers the Seamaster 300. The power reserve of this movement is around 60 hours. The platinum version is available on Chrono24 in mint condition for around $38,500, while the yellow gold model can be had for around $32,000.
Summary
Luxury watches with a stone dial are still in vogue in 2025, and are offered by numerous manufacturers. They combine the art of watchmaking with the unique aesthetics of nature. Whether lapis lazuli, malachite, turquoise, or tiger’s eye: thanks to the individual properties of the stones, each watch is unique, making models with a stone dial particularly interesting for collectors and design enthusiasts. Attractive wristwatches with a stone dial don’t have to cost a fortune. The Hong Kong-based brand Dennison, for example, specializes in timepieces with stone dials, which are available for around $700. Dennison’s range includes high-quality two-hand quartz watches with dials made of either tiger’s eye, malachite, or lapis lazuli.
