You may not be able to travel to the Italian island of Capri this summer, but Hublot’s newest chronograph is the best way to experience the destination vicariously.

Inspired by Capri’s famous Blue Grotto, a natural sea cave whose azure waters glow with silvery reflections of light, the new Classic Fusion Chronograph Special Edition Capri comes in a 45 mm case of polished black ceramic accented with a ceramic bezel rendered in a vivid turquoise blue. The watch comes on a striated rubber strap in the same blue hue.

“Symbolizing ‘la dolce vita,’ Capri is dotted with secret coves, sunny lanes to be discovered, cliff-top flower gardens and balconies lined with pine, lemon and olive trees,” Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe said in a statement. “Boasting dizzying views over the sumptuous Bay of Naples, the pearl of southern Italy is a veritable treasure trove that inspired Hublot to set up its boutique there in 2017. We think it deserves to be celebrated again.”

The 45 mm model, which retails for $13,600 and is available in an edition of 30 pieces, epitomizes an emerging trend among watchmakers to create pieces steeped in bright colors, perhaps to offset the gloom-and-doom news cycle that has so far dominated 2020.

Last month, Zenith introduced the new Defy El Primero 21 Ultraviolet, a 44 mm high-frequency chronograph bathed in a striking shade of purple. The rationale for the unusual color choice, explained the watchmaker, had to do with violet’s positioning at the short wavelength end of the visible spectrum, meaning it has the highest frequency of all visible colors—and is therefore a perfect match for Zenith’s legendary El Primero 21 chronograph movement, which beats at a frequency of 50 Hz.

Also last month, Audemars Piguet unveiled three new versions of its masculine icon, the Royal Oak Offshore: smoked blue, green, and gray. Encased in black ceramic, the models feature colorful dials and color-coordinated textured rubber straps.

Was there ever a better time for color therapy than now?

Victoria Gomelsky

JCK Editor-in-Chief