The stone age: how watchmakers like Rolex, Chopard and Biver have embraced the hardstone dials trend

Within this broader revival, however, a subcategory has emerged. Dark hardstones such as tiger’s eye, obsidian, onyx and even meteorite are growing ever popular, absorbing light rather than reflecting it and offering a moodier, more tactile alternative to lacquered or sunburst finishes. As with any natural hardstone, each dial is inherently unique, a thin slice of the earth – or, in the case of meteorite, outer space – brought directly to the wrist.