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. 

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

The classic orange and blue Gulf livery of the Ford GT40 racecar provided the inspiration for Aurelia and her matching 5.5 metre Castoldi tender. Launched by Heesen Yachts in 2011, she remains one of the most instantly recognisable yachts in the world and features exterior design by Dobroserdov Design. The number 10 on the side is a nod to her place as the tenth yacht in the Dutch yard's successful Heesen 3700 series, which was designed by Omega Architects.

Launched in 2011 as the first superyacht from Croatian yard Zepter, 49.9 metre JoyMe boasts a bold exterior colour scheme that sets the tone for her extravagant Pop Art-inspired interior by Marijana Radovic of the Standby studio. She offers accommodation for up to 12 guests and impeccable service courtesy of an 11-strong crew.

When it comes to the world’s largest superyachts, blue is undoubtedly the most popular choice for a coloured hull, with Octopus, Luna and Le Grand Bleu all sporting a classic navy blue colour scheme. However, 99 metre Feadship superyacht Madame Gu takes an altogether more radical approach to blue superyacht styling, with a striking electric blue hull colour, which can also be seen on her customised tender.

The sporty black exterior of 39.5 metre Golden Yachts’ O’Pati with her eye-catching red racing stripe is not just for show — it is an appropriate reflection of her dynamic performance. Triple 2,000hp MTU engines give this fast planing yacht a top speed of 32 knots.