Pigments of the imagination: The most colourful superyacht exteriors

The design of Dynamiq superyacht Stefania was inspired by the art-deco style of the roaring twenties, and her gilded exterior wholeheartedly embraces this modern take on a golden age theme. According to Maria Dobroserdova, Dynamiq sales director, the owner initially considered both white and grey paints, but ultimately concluded that the metallic gold from DuPont, paired with a white superstructure, worked best with the lines and interior of the 41 metre superyacht. This gilt colour scheme continues throughout her interiors, interspersed with splashes of oceanic blue. 

Mondomarine’s new 50 metre superyacht Ipanema turned heads when she was launched in June 2016, with her striking red hull by Hot Lab setting her apart from the traditional white-hulled crowd. The Italian yard said that the exterior design was "enriched by the magnificent colour combinations attributed to the owner’s exquisite taste”.

The 77 metre flagship of  Damen Yachting’s new SeaXplorer range, La Datcha is a rugged explorer that nonethless exudes glamour. Her strengthened hull has been designed to withstand icy waters in Kamchatka or Antarctica, but is coated in bronzed layer of paint. The theme of fire was reportedly a particularly important aspect of the design for the owner and this is reflected in the golden shades of the hull as well as the presence of on-board fireplaces.

Explorer yacht K584 sports a military look with her gunmetal silver hull. But a pop of colour is interjected in the bright crimson arrowhead which decorates the bow and which is a recurring shade throughout her interior and exterior design. Launched in 2020, the 36.6 metre superyacht Is the first by Italian shipyard CPN.

Launched in 2018, Turquoise's new 77 metre flagship GO was designed inside and out by British studio H2 Yacht Design with a hull colour that pays tribute to the yard's name. “The turquoise is a theme that’s carried through the yacht,” says Ruth Thomas from H2. “The design concept of the yacht is based on water in motion, so shades of turquoise made sense.” Accommodation is for a total of 18 guests split across nine cabins with crew quarters for a staff of 20. Key features include an owner's deck, 162 square metre superyacht beach club and a garage big enough to store a 10 metre limousine and eight metre multi-purpose tender.

The Amels 55 metre Limited Editions 180 series Nomad sports a bespoke colour scheme specified by the owner and designed in collaboration with exterior design Tim Heywood and the Amels in-house design team. The blue hull and anthracite grey superstructure emphasise the "long times of the bridge and sundecks," according to the yard. Standout features include a 190 square metre sundeck, bridge deck sun lounge and main deck owner's suite.

The dazzling pearlescent gold finish of 49 metre Palmer Johnson PJ265 yacht Khalilah is just one of the things that makes her a futuristic superyacht. When she was launched in 2015, she was believed to be the largest yacht in the world built entirely out of carbon fibre. What’s more, her radical, angular hull design allows for a 30-knot top speed and exceptional stability and comfort without the need for fins or gyro stabilisers.

At the beginning of 2020, charter favourite Axioma was spotted sporting a brand new Caribbean-sea blue hull, a far cry from her previously understated dove grey exterior. Onboard highlights include a beach house-style interior by the late Alberto Pinto with a huge aft swimming pool. 

Nature is the key theme of the 62 metre Feadship superyacht Sea Owl, which features a deep forest green finish on her topsides and matching custom tenders. This theme is carried through to her interiors, which were created by British studio Winch Design and feature intricate murals depicting Charles Darwin's voyage on board HMS Beagle.

The deep ruby red colour of 55 metre Admiral superyacht Quinta Essentia is a tribute to her owner's favourite tipple, Tuscan Merlot. Swirling the wine in a glass produces tones similar to the accent colour that underlines architectural features on the hull and superstructure. This sophisticated exterior design was created by the Dobroserdov Design studio.

Image credit: Emilio Bianchi