Fratello’s Top 5 Recently Released Two-Tone Watches — Featuring Girard-Perregaux, Rolex, Sinn, And More…

Another Friday, another list! For this week, we prolong our series of lists focused on materials used for watch cases and bracelets. Whereas we covered modern ones over the past three weeks, today’s list focuses on a classic combination of materials. However, we deliberately chose to create a list of two-tone watches rather than just steel-and-gold ones. We have seen some interesting combinations of materials in recent years, so we didn’t want to limit ourselves to a mixture of steel and yellow or rose gold. Let’s find out what our favorite recent two-tone watches are.

Before we get into our list, allow me to clarify what we mean by “recently released.” Our oldest pick for this list dates back to Watches and Wonders 2023, so it’s fair to say that “recent” means roughly the past 2.5 years. As already mentioned, we didn’t limit ourselves to just steel and gold. For this list, we also picked a watch that features a different combination of materials. As always, this selection of five watches is just the tip of the iceberg. However, these watches definitely stood out to us when they first appeared. So, without further ado, I think we should get going.

Laventure Transatlantique II GMT

We kick this list off with a personal favorite. It’s no secret that I love Laventure’s Transatlantique GMT. Ever since the first generation of the model came out, I have wished that I had gotten one when I had the chance. It’s one of my very few watch-related regrets. For the second generation of this retro GMT, Laventure founder Clément Gaud decided to redesign the case, update the colors, and use a new movement.

As Daan explained, one of the three newly introduced models was a steel and gold version of the watch, which looks stunning in combination with the gradient matte brown sandwich dial and a GMT bezel featuring two shades of brown. The result is a wonderful version of the brand’s popular Transatlantique GMT.

The Transatlantique II’s case measures 38.9mm wide, 12mm thick (including the domed acrylic crystal), and 46.2mm from lug to lug. Considering the case itself is only 9.3mm thick, it indicates that this is quite a slim watch. The Transatlantique II GMT’s wonderful case proportions accommodate a wide range of wrist sizes. For this two-tone version, the case features an 18K yellow gold bezel and crown, and the bracelet has matching yellow gold center links.

The retro vibes are strong with the Laventure Transatlantique II GMT

To complement the steel and gold of the case and bezel, Gaud chose a striking gradient sandwich-style dial and a dark and light brown GMT bezel insert. Hovering over the dial is a really nice handset. The hour and minute hands are executed in a gold tone, while the central seconds hand is a nice contrasting white, and the GMT hand is a combination of gold-plated and brown caramel colors. If you like ’70s retro vibes, it’s hard not to like this bicolor version of the Transatlantique II GMT.

Hiding behind the engraved 18K yellow gold medallion on the case back, you will find the Laventure Cal. 3. The automatic movement is based on the Sellita SW330-2. It operates at 28,800vph and offers a 56-hour power reserve. Additionally, the caliber is a COSC-certified chronometer and looks beautiful thanks to a fully brass-colored finish and a custom Laventure rotor. It is a fitting powertrain for this two-tone version of the wonderful Laventure Transatlantique II GMT.

All 50 available pieces of this watch, which retailed for CHF 8,200, unsurprisingly sold out quickly after their introduction. Let’s hope we get to see more variations at some point, as the retro vibes suit the watch perfectly.

Girard-Perregaux Laureato Fifty

If you are a regular Fratello reader, this next pick should not come as a surprise. Adored by the majority of the team, the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Fifty has quickly become a Fratello favorite. This special 50th-anniversary edition of the Laureato oozes 1970s style in all the right ways. If there’s a modern watch that perfectly represents the brilliance of ’70s two-tone watches, this is it! I passionately defended the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Fifty in an installment of our Sunday Morning Showdown series not too long ago. This €28,100 watch was available in a limited run of 200 pieces, which have undoubtedly sold out since the release.

The Laureato Fifty features a 39mm case with a 9.8mm thickness, resulting in a sleek, slim appearance on the wrist. The tonneau-shaped case is crafted from stainless steel, while the octagonal bezel and crown are fashioned from 18K yellow gold. Additionally, the stainless steel H-link bracelet features 18K yellow gold center links.

A ’70s-inspired statement piece

A stroke of genius, I feel, is the gray dial with the Clous de Paris pattern, which ups the retro vibes even more. It is combined with yellow gold applied indexes and hands for some extra retro bling. However, the watch isn’t too blingy overall. It’s the perfect 1970s-inspired statement watch. And if you turn it around, you will get a glimpse of Girard-Perregaux’s brand-new in-house caliber 4800.

As you can see, the design is a nod to the brand’s three-bridge architecture. Additionally, the mix of materials and finishes shows Girard-Perregaux’s excellent craftsmanship. The caliber consists of 163 parts, operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, and offers a 55-hour power reserve.

It also contains a silicon escapement and a variable-inertia balance, making it more precise and reliable. Not to mention, the caliber’s finishing and gold rotor perfectly complement the look of the Laureato Fifty, which is a joy to wear thanks to the comfortable bracelet. It comes with a clever, quick-pull 4mm extension, providing a perfect fit and ensuring that this statement piece’s wearing experience is just as impressive as its looks.

Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 126713GRNR

Our next pick is the brilliant Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 126713GRNR. This watch was introduced at Watches and Wonders in 2023. It formed a duo with the full-gold version that is equally impressive. As Robert-Jan explained, the two watches have a retro feel that many modern Rolexes lack. However, it’s great to see that these two watches stylishly continue the legacy of legendary two-tone GMT-Master models, such as the famous “Tiger Eye.”

The GMT-Master II ref. 126713GRNR features the familiar 40mm stainless steel case combined with an 18K yellow gold bezel and crown. The bezel features a black and gray ceramic insert adorned with gold numerals. I love the two-shade bezel because it adds a visual sparkle that an entirely black insert would not have. The watch also features a black dial with large yellow gold hour markers filled with lume. Hovering over the dial is a complete set of 18K yellow gold hands that add a nice, chic touch to the overall design.

This GMT-Master II is one of the few modern Rolexes I would pick

The watch comes on a brilliant two-tone Jubilee bracelet, featuring steel outer links and yellow gold center links. This combination of materials emphasizes the characteristic look while also highlighting its comfort. Inside the case, Rolex uses its caliber 3285. This automatic GMT movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a 70-hour power reserve. Rolex also adjusts it to run within ±2 seconds per day on average, like all the brand’s movements these days.

All this results in a modern watch with some lovely retro touches. But unlike the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Fifty, this GMT-Master II is not looking back. While it incorporates the two-tone look of its predecessors, the overall vibe, execution, and construction are unmistakably modern. If you ask me, at €18,650, this two-tone GMT-Master II is one of the best options in the current Rolex catalog, and it properly continues the brand’s legacy of two-tone brilliance.

Sinn T50 GDBR

Our next pick also debuted in 2023, but it features a different combination of materials than the GMT-Master II. The Sinn T50 GDBR was one of a trio of new T50 models from the German brand. The first was the limited-edition T50 Goldbronze that Lex covered. The other two models are the T50 GDBR, which we selected for this list, and the full-titanium T50, which I also had the opportunity to review. While the last is undoubtedly the most popular offering, the two-tone T50 GDBR is the one that suits me best.

This two-tone watch features a very different combination of a lightweight titanium case with a bezel made of Sinn’s proprietary Goldbronze. It measures 41mm in diameter, a lovely 12.3mm thick, and 47mm from lug to lug. The beautifully proportioned titanium case and Goldbronze bezel look stunning in combination with the brand’s light gray rubber strap. That color combo makes it one of my favorite dive watches currently on the market.

For Sinn, functionality always comes first

As aesthetically pleasing as it is, this would not be a Sinn watch if the materials weren’t chosen for practical reasons. The brand uses Goldbronze because of its better compatibility with the skin and higher corrosion resistance in seawater. Add the titanium case, which is lightweight, robust, resistant to corrosion, and hypoallergenic, and you know this is a hardcore dive watch that also happens to look good. I’m joking, of course, because that would be doing the designers a disservice.

They came up with a nice matte black dial with large white hour markers, smaller minute/seconds markers, and a bright white Sinn logo on the upper half. Located at 3 o’clock is a well-integrated date window that is there when you need it but never an eyesore. A nice touch is the light gray shade of the text on the lower half of the dial, as it matches the gray rubber strap nicely. Topping it all off is a luminous handset. The dagger-style hour and minute hands are executed in white, and the central seconds hand is light gray with a white luminous part to ensure that you can read the time in the dark.

Powering the watch is the Sellita SW300-1. This automatic caliber ticks at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a 56-hour power reserve, making it a great choice for a tool watch like the Sinn T50 GDBR. At €4,140 on the rubber strap, this is one of my favorite dive watches under €5K and one of the most affordable and brilliant two-tone watches.

Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch ref. 310.20.42.50.02.001

The fifth and last spot left a lot of options on the table. Then we were reminded of the duo of two-tone Omega Speedmaster Moonwatches that came out in the summer of 2024. I was not immediately excited when the news broke that there would be a duo of bicolor Moonwatches. But as always, seeing the watches and getting a chance to wear them makes all the difference. Initially, I was a bigger fan of the version in Sedna Gold and steel, but the lighter aesthetic of the Moonshine Gold and steel version soon started growing on me.

The combination of materials works so well with the sunray silver dial and its gold sub-dials. But let’s start at the beginning. The watch has a 42mm diameter, a 47.5mm lug-to-lug, and a 13.2mm total thickness including the domed sapphire crystal. The stainless steel case is combined with a Moonshine Gold bezel, crown, and pushers. Additionally, the bezel features a Ceragold tachymeter ring that adds to the visual brilliance.

For something completely different, a two-tone Moonwatch works really well

Finishing the look of the watch is the brilliant current Moonwatch bracelet executed in a combination of Moonshine Gold center links and stainless steel outer links. If you have ever worn one of the current Moonwatch models, you know how well executed and comfortable the bracelets are. It makes the watches an absolute joy to wear. Hiding behind the closed case back is Omega’s 3861 caliber. This manual-winding Master Chronometer movement operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour and provides a 50-hour power reserve.

Overall, this two-tone Speedy is not the first gold and steel watch you might think of, nor is it the first Moonwatch that springs to mind. However, the two-tone execution works exceptionally well. The light, silvery dial with applied Moonshine Gold markers ensures the watch has a light and airy presence, which the other Moonshine Gold accents only amplify. As a result, we get a Speedy that rocks the two-tone aesthetic nicely and can be yours for €20,600. That will buy you one of the most worthy two-tone watches currently available, making it the perfect fifth and last pick for this list.

Final thoughts on our five favorite two-tone watches

There you have it — our five favorite recently released two-tone watches. As always, this is just a small selection of the many available options. What are your thoughts on bicolor watches, and what are some of your favorites that weren’t on this list? Let us know in the comments section, and we will see you next week for another Top 5.