Naga Opera 39 Lapis Lazuli

When Your Wrist Becomes a Canvas

December 26, 2025

by Anna Kubasik

A Serpent's Promise

I need to be honest from the start - I'm not new to Naga. I already own their first Naga 39 model in green, and it's been one of my most worn watches this year. So when I heard about the Lapis Lazuli version, I was curious but also a bit cautious. Would it be different enough? Would it earn its place in my collection next to the green one I already love?

The answer came the moment I saw that blue dial with golden flecks. This wasn't just another color option. This was something completely different.

Naga Watch Company is an Italian microbrand with a clear vision: create watches inspired by the mythology of the Naga - that half-serpent, half-human creature symbolizing infinity and strength. What I appreciated from the beginning with my green model was how they didn't just add some snake decorations and call it a day. Every element tells this story - from the case shape to the bracelet design to the engraved caseback.

The Opera 39 collection now takes this serpent inspiration further with genuine stone dials. I've noticed more and more brands exploring natural materials for dials lately, and I think it's a beautiful direction. But of course Naga does it in their own way. The Lapis Lazuli version has a dial cut from real lapis lazuli stone - deep blue with flecks of golden pyrite that look like stars in a night sky.

Holding this watch for the first time, I realized they found something special here. They took everything that worked about the original design and gave it this new artistic dimension.

First Impressions

The moment you see the Naga Opera 39 Lapis Lazuli, you understand why they call this collection "Time Becomes Art." That dial is genuinely mesmerizing. The deep cobalt blue has this richness that no printed dial could achieve. And those golden pyrite flecks scattered throughout - they catch light like tiny stars. Every time you look at your wrist, you see something slightly different depending on angle and lighting.

What makes this special is how unique each piece is. Because this is natural stone, no two dials are identical. The pattern of gold specks on mine, the way the blue shifts from deeper to lighter areas - this exact combination exists only on my watch. In a world where quite often watches look identical off the assembly line, that means something.

The case is 39mm - a perfect size that works on many wrists. At only 9.9mm thick, it's genuinely slim for an automatic sports watch. The case shape itself is a rounded hexagon, echoing a snake's coiled form. The way it connects to the integrated bracelet is very smooth and organic. It's not like those angular sports watches with sharp lines - this one has curves and flow, it feels different when you look at it.

When I first put it on, the weight surprised me - about 127 grams with the full bracelet. Substantial but not heavy. It felt premium immediately.

That Dial Though

I need to spend more time on this dial because it's genuinely the star. Lapis lazuli has been valued for thousands of years - ancient Egyptians used it, Renaissance painters ground it into ultramarine pigment. Having it on your wrist feels like wearing a piece of history.

The blue is not a single flat color. It has depth, dimension, life. In bright sunlight, those golden pyrite flecks absolutely glow. In softer light, the blue becomes deeper, more mysterious, almost cosmic. I find myself just staring at it throughout the day, discovering new details I hadn't noticed before. A cluster of gold here, a darker vein of blue there.

Naga pairs this dial with gold-plated hands, which is exactly the right choice. The gold complements those pyrite specks perfectly and provides good contrast for reading the time. The hands are lance-shaped - elegant without being too much. No date window interrupts the symmetry, which I love. The dial stays clean, balanced.

I also need to mention the logo - they've upgraded it from the first model. Now it's simply the snake head design, and it's shiny enough to be clearly visible against the stone. It’s an improvement from the original "NAGA" lettering on my green model, where the letters weren't always easy to see. It's a small thing, but it shows the brand is listening and refining their design.

Here's something that surprised me at first: there are no hour markers or indices on this dial. Nothing. Just the stone, the hands, and that improved Naga logo. When I first saw it, I thought "can I actually read this?" But then I understood the intention. This watch is not for people who need to be precisely on time, counting every second. It's supposed to make you feel a certain way. It gives off this Italian nonchalance - time is there, you can check it, but you're not stressed about it. You're enjoying the moment.

The minimalism actually makes perfect sense. If they had put indices or markers on this dial, they would compete with the natural beauty of the stone. The lapis lazuli needs space to breathe, to be appreciated. Any additional elements would be noise. This way, the stone is the main character, and everything else supports it.

The hands are filled with lume, so even without markers, you can read the time in darkness. The lume glows with subtle elegance that suits the watch's character. This isn't trying to be a tool watch - it's just functional enough.

That sapphire crystal is slightly domed with anti-reflective coating, creating this beautiful effect that makes the dial seem to float. Every detail supports the artistry.

The Serpent Scale Bracelet

This bracelet is genuinely something special. Naga calls it their patented snake-scale design, and once you see it, you understand. The five-link pattern creates this flowing effect that really does look like serpent scales. Each link is individually finished with alternating brushed and polished surfaces, so the bracelet catches light beautifully as you move.

What impressed me most is how comfortable it is. Having worn my green Naga 39 extensively this year, I already knew this bracelet design works. It's flexible and sits naturally on the wrist. The links move smoothly, and there are no sharp edges anywhere. It hugs your wrist without pinching or pulling. I have a 14cm wrist, and after removing several links, it fits perfectly.

The clasp is a milled butterfly deployant - properly machined, not a cheap piece. It's decorated with beautiful perlage patterns that you only see when you take the watch off. That attention to detail on hidden parts shows the brand's commitment to quality. My only small wish would be for micro-adjustment, but honestly, once you size it correctly, it fits so well that I haven't felt the need to adjust it throughout the day.

What I love is how this bracelet makes the watch distinctive. You won't confuse it with anything else. It's conversation-starting without being overly loud.

The Case

That rounded hexagonal case is more interesting than it seems in photos. The polished bezel sits against brushed case flanks, creating beautiful contrast between dressy and sporty. The finishing is exceptional - clean polished areas, precise brushing, everything executed well.

Those lugs are smooth and curved. Some people might prefer sharper angles, but to me this smoothness makes sense. It fits the serpent theme - everything flows. The case connects to the bracelet so naturally that it's hard to see where one ends and the other begins.

At 39mm diameter with lug-to-lug of about 45.5mm, this watch wears perfectly on my smaller wrist. It doesn't overhang, doesn't feel too big, just sits there looking good and feeling comfortable. The slim 9.9mm profile means it goes under shirt cuffs easily, despite being rated to 100m water resistance with a screw-down crown.

The crown is properly sized, easy to grip, and the screw-down action is smooth. It has that characteristic hexagonal shape that echoes the case design, and it's signed with the Naga logo. Crown guards are integrated into the case design, protecting the crown without being too obvious.

When you flip this watch over, you see something special. Through the sapphire exhibition caseback, you can see the Miyota 9039 movement with Naga's custom skeletonized rotor. Surrounding the sapphire is this richly engraved medallion showing a Naga - half-human, half-serpent - spiraling into an infinity symbol. The detail in the engraving is impressive.

The Movement

Inside is the Miyota 9039 - a no-date automatic movement that's become popular in microbrands for good reason. It's a 24-jewel, high-beat (28,800 vph) movement known for reliability and, importantly, its slim profile. That slimness is why this watch can be under 10mm thick.

In my daily wearing experience, it keeps good time. The smooth sweep of the seconds hand, the solid winding feel, the reliable performance - everything you want from a daily automatic. Naga decorates the movement with that custom skeletonized rotor visible through the exhibition caseback, which adds a nice touch even though it's not a fancy Swiss movement.

The 42-hour power reserve is standard but enough. The no-date keeps the dial clean and symmetric, which I prefer. And here's something impressive: Naga offers a 48-month warranty on the movement. That's four years - much longer than the usual 1-2 years. That kind of confidence in their product says something.

Wearing It Daily

This watch has created competition for my green Naga 39. That's saying something because the green one has been one of my most worn pieces this year. Now I find myself choosing between them - the green for normal days, and this Lapis Lazuli for occasions that feel a bit more special.

The thing is, this watch has genuine versatility. It has 100m water resistance and screw-down crown, so it's solid enough for daily wear. But that stone dial and slim profile make it elegant enough for more formal situations. The polished bezel and gold-tone hands dress it up, while the integrated bracelet keeps it from being too delicate.

I've worn it with casual clothes where the blue dial adds personality. I've worn it to a few meetings with friends during this Christmas time, and it made a great impression. People notice it. The serpent-scale bracelet catches people’s eyes, but that blue dial with golden flecks is what starts the questions. It's distinctive without being flashy.

The comfort level is excellent. The way the bracelet sits, the moderate weight, the slim profile - I can wear this all day without thinking about it. Well, not really - because every time I glance at my wrist, that lapis dial catches my attention. But it's comfortable enough that I'm not thinking about the watch itself, just enjoying it.

The Value Story

The Lapis Lazuli version is priced around €790 (roughly $850). For that, you're getting:

A genuine lapis lazuli stone dial (each one unique)
Exceptional finishing throughout
A patented integrated bracelet design
Sapphire crystal with AR coating
Sapphire exhibition caseback
100m water resistance
A reliable automatic movement with 4-year warranty
Premium presentation in a beautiful wooden box

When you consider that many mainstream brands charge this much for a basic watch with a printed dial, the value becomes clear. You're getting genuine artistry, distinctive design, and good build quality. This isn't trying to copy something else - it's doing its own thing with confidence.

The fact that no two dials are exactly alike adds a different kind of value. This isn't just a watch - it's a unique piece. Your specific pattern of golden pyrite exists only on your watch. That exclusivity usually costs much more with established brands.

Who Should Buy This

This watch is perfect for someone who appreciates that watches can be more than just tools - they can be wearable art. If you're drawn to unique designs, if you love the idea of wearing natural stone on your wrist, if you want something that doesn't look like everything else, the Naga Opera 39 is for you.

It works particularly well for someone who wants a versatile piece that can work in different situations. The Italian design sensibility - that blend of style and substance - really shows here. If you appreciate mythology, symbolism, storytelling in design, you'll love how completely committed Naga is to their serpent theme.

This isn't for someone who wants maximum legibility or ultra-traditional design. The lack of indices might not work for everyone - if you need to check precise time constantly, if you're the type who counts every second, this watch will frustrate you. But if you can embrace that Italian approach to time - more relaxed, more about the experience than the precision - it's perfect.

What Surprised Me

The depth of that lapis dial genuinely surprised me. I expected it to look nice, but the way it captures light, the way those gold flecks seem to glow, the dimension and life in the stone - it went beyond my expectations. Photos don't do it justice. You need to see it in person, watch it change throughout the day.

The lack of indices surprised me too, but in a good way. At first I thought it might be a problem, but then I realized it's actually perfect for what this watch is trying to be. It's not a precision instrument - it's a piece of art that happens to tell time. That Italian nonchalance about time, that relaxed approach - it fits perfectly with the overall philosophy.

The level of finishing throughout surprised me as well. The polished details, the decorated clasp, that exhibition caseback, the custom rotor - these things add up to something that feels more expensive than it is. Naga clearly paid attention to details.

What Stays With Me

After wearing the Naga Opera 39 Lapis Lazuli, what stays with me most is that dial. The way it makes checking time into a moment of appreciation. The way those golden flecks catch morning light differently than evening light. The knowledge that this exact pattern exists nowhere else in the world.

I'll remember the bracelet too - how it flows smoothly, how the snake-scale design creates beautiful light effects. The way the whole watch feels like a complete artistic statement rather than just parts assembled together.

But mostly, I'll remember how this watch made me feel. Wearing something genuinely unique, genuinely beautiful, genuinely thoughtful. In a market full of similar designs, the Naga Opera 39 dares to be different. And it works.

My Recommendation

If someone asks me "Should I buy the Naga Opera 39 Lapis Lazuli?", here's my honest answer:

Yes, absolutely - if you want a watch with a soul. If you appreciate design that tells a story. If the idea of wearing a slice of lapis lazuli on your wrist excites you. If you want something distinctive that doesn't sacrifice quality for uniqueness.

This is one of those watches that makes complete sense when you see it. It's not trying to be a cheaper version of something else. It's doing its own thing with confidence and genuine craftsmanship. The Italian design sensibility - that understanding that beauty and function can work together, that style matters, that details count - can be seen in every element.

For under $900, you're getting something truly special. A watch that makes time checking into a moment of joy. A piece of wearable art that happens to be a solid, reliable watch. Something that starts conversations and backs up its looks with substance.

Having owned the green Naga 39 for most of this year, I can say this brand delivers on their promises. The Lapis Lazuli version takes everything good about that design and adds this incredible artistic dimension with the stone dial. Now I have two Nagas competing for wrist time - one for everyday, one for when I want something a bit more special.

The Naga Opera 39 Lapis Lazuli isn't just a good watch. It's a reminder that microbrands can create something genuinely magical when they commit fully to a vision and execute it with passion.

And honestly? That dial. That incredible, mesmerizing, unique-to-my-piece lapis lazuli dial. Worth it.