Wonderful women’s watches

There was a time when “what women want” came well down watchmakers’ list of priorities. Not so today. Finally, women have a choice of wrist wear worthy of the name. For those who care more about their watch than their lipstick, this is no small victory. Here are our sweet sixteen.

Arnold & Son Nebula 38 Steel

No watch enthusiast can resist the intricacy of skeletonwork, as Arnold & Son’s Nebula, here in a 38mm diameter, confirms. The beautifully finished calibre is constructed with multiple bridges in reference to traditional English movement architecture.

Baume & Mercier Hampton

Baume & Mercier’s Art Deco-inspired Hampton is characterised by its rectangular case with softened corners. Outfitted with a tried and trusted quartz movement, this steel version with gold-toned markers on an opaline silver dial is an excellent introduction to prestige watchmaking.

Bovet 1822 Miss Audrey

Who could fail to recognise the Amadeo convertible case, a hallmark of Bovet 1822. Equally distinctive is the sumptuous guilloché pattern on the lacquered dial, in this instance in a rich shade of green. Turning over the reversible Miss Audrey watch reveals the secrets of its automatic movement, including circular Côtes de Genève decoration.

Breguet Tradition 7038 Boutique Edition

Tahitian mother-of-pearl brings iridescence to the off-centre hours and minutes dial of this boutique-only edition of the Tradition 7038, further accentuated by a diamond-set bezel and a vivid orange strap. The balance mirrors the centre wheel in placement and diameter. They sit partially above the barrel whose central position, as well as the symmetry of the balance and opposite wheel, are based on Abraham-Louis Breguet’s “souscription” calibre.

Breitling Navitimer Automatic 35

Breitling appeals to high-flying women with a Navitimer Automatic 35 that combines all the features – beaded bezel, circular slide rule and a red arrow tip on the seconds hand – of its much-loved pilot’s watch. Fitted with Breitling’s COSC-certified Calibre 17 for 38 hours of power reserve, this version with a champagne-coloured dial ups the seduction stakes.

Chanel Mademoiselle J12 Acte II

After a first encounter in 2017, Mademoiselle Chanel and the J12 meet again. Firmly anchored to the crown, Mademoiselle is full of charm, dressed with characteristic style in a suit fashioned from 224 diamonds. White gold piping contrasts with the black lacquer of her eyes and hair. More diamonds circle the bezel, completed by 12 diamond markers for the hours.

Glashütte Original SeaQ

Since the introduction in 2019 of the SeaQ, based on a 1969 dive watch, Saxon-based Glashütte Original has continued to add depth to a collection that does justice to a tradition of precise and rugged tool watches. This version adds a hint of glamour, courtesy of the 47 brilliant-cut diamonds and one blue sapphire on the rotating bezel.

H. Moser & Cie Endeavour Centre Seconds Diamonds Concept

Launched in 2015, the Concept came to symbolise H. Moser & Cie.’s minimalist approach with its fumé dial, stripped of indexes and with not even a name or logo. Building on its success, Moser went on to create an entire Concept collection and make fumé dials a signature. Three new models mark the watch’s fifth anniversary, including this one whose Burgundy fumé dial is framed by a row of diamonds on the bezel.

Hermès Nantucket Jeté de Chaîne d’Ancre

The diminutive Nantucket interprets the “anchor chain” design that Robert Dumas sketched while holidaying on the Normandy coast in 1938. The chain-link motif defines the rectangular case in steel while a shower of diamonds scatters across the case, as though blown by a sea breeze, landing as more link shapes on the dial.

Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Light Blue Ceramic Titanium

This latest Spirit of Big Bang 39mm comes in powdery shades of pink or blue ceramic, matched with the famous tonneau-shaped sandwich-style case in titanium or King Gold. The bezel set with 50 diamonds adds sparkle to a powerful design. The movement inside is the automatic HUB1710 which is based on Zenith’s Elite 670 calibre.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso One

No year would be complete, from the point of view of women watch connoisseurs, without a Reverso. Jaeger-LeCoultre obliges with an interpretation of its most admired model, the Reverso One. With its elongated case, inspired by the very first Reverso Lady from 1931, and a row of grain-set diamonds, it is the epitome of classical refinement and feminine style.

Omega Aqua Terra Jewellery

The Aqua Terra Jewellery is cased in Sedna™ gold with a diamond-set bezel. Silvery guilloché waves ripple over the gold dial, accentuated by 191 diamonds along with the marquise-cut rubies that mark the hours. Visible through the caseback, a Co-Axial Master Chronometer 8807 movement powers this gem of a watch in 34mm or 38mm diameters.

Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Métropolitaine

Parmigiani presents a new line of Tonda watches with dials, functions and diameters to satisfy every wish. Different diamond cuts combine with flecked aventurine or a delicate gold lace over a mother-of-pearl dial, while a moon-phase display lends romance to the hour.

Pasha de Cartier

A 1985 watch that became a legend in its own lifetime, the Pasha returns in a refreshed version for 2020. Its distinguishing features are a square minute track inside a round dial, a robust case with a 100-metre depth rating, the chained crown and the Clous de Paris on the bracelet. Inside ticks the 1847 MC calibre, an automatic movement protected by a built-in paramagnetic shield.

Vacheron Constantin Égérie Self-Winding

Vacheron Constantin’s Égérie finds inspiration in the rarefied world of haute couture. First the dial, whose centre is embellished with a pleated design, reminiscent of fabric. Then the off-centre date display with its braid of diamonds. As for the Arabic numerals, their specially designed calligraphy suggests the delicacy of lace.

Zenith Defy Midnight

Zenith’s new line of women’s watches favours a sport-chic style with the benefit of an in-house movement. A 36mm steel case, a gradient blue dial sprinkled with stars, diamond hour markers, hands coated with Super-LumiNova® for after-dark visibility, a circle of diamonds on the bezel… we Defy you not to love it.