Peach Fuzz Named Pantone Color Of Year 2024, Watch Brands Deliver

(This article by Roberta Naas first appeared on Forbes.com.)

Every year the fashion world waits anxiously to see what color Pantone names as its color of the year. This is the hue we expect to see embraced by ready-to-wear brands, interior designers, paint companies and more. Even though the watch world moves a little more slowly when it comes to creating new dials that align with the color of the year (simply due to the time it takes to re-tool),  for 2024, savvy watch brands are already on the go. The color of the year: Peach Fuzz – a color already embraced on straps and dials by a host of watch brands.

This year alone, we witnessed new “peach-hued” dials or straps from a host of brands, including Oris, Breitling, Movado and more. That may well be because the watch industry is re-visiting its past and re-thinking its modernity. Salmon has always been an important dial color in watches from the mid 20^th century onward. So it is only natural that watch brands have begun not only unveiling re-inspirations of those salmon dials, but also toning them down for more universal appeal in today’s market. The result: peach, nude and soft, pale coral colors.

The color, according to the Pantone Institute, is designed to be contemporary and nurturing, especially at a time in the world where there is so much discord. It is designed to soothe the soul. Pantone’s  13-1023 Peach Fuzz is, according to the company, “Subtly sensual,  …  a heartfelt peach hue bringing a feeling of kindness and tenderness, communicating a message of caring and sharing, community and collaboration. A warm and cozy shade highlighting our desire for togetherness with others or for enjoying a moment of stillness and the feeling of sanctuary …”

As far as watches are concerned, we expect to see more of these hues as 2024 unfolds – not just because it is Pantone’s color of the year, but because it is a warm, inviting tone for watch brands that also has a history.