Watches for Women: Shop 28 Forever-in-Style Timepieces

The staying power of the wristwatch – when many use their phone as a clock – speaks volumes. The best watches are among some of the most covetable luxury goods out there. Nestled among bracelets or worn solo as a standalone piece, a women’s wristwatch is an expertly utilitarian piece of jewellery. “Wearing a watch is much more than telling the time,” says jewellery designer Carolina Bucci, who designed the Frosted Royal Oak watch in collaboration with Audemars Piguet. “In general, my life is so filled with emails and being chained to a smartphone, that I take great pleasure in the analogue parts of my day.” Indeed, a watch is a lot less anxiety-inducing to look at than a mobile phone.

It might sound like a stretch, but for all intents and purposes, they’re also one of the easier pieces of hardware to wardrobe. Petite evening watches are as elegant as a diamond bracelet; chunkier models have informed heft. Not to mention, there’s something deeply satisfying when a piece not only looks fantastic but is also functional – a true common denominator for the best watches.

Read More: Vogue’s Edit Of The Best Jewellery Brands

The purchase of a watch is something that can feel intimidating. There’s the look but also the complications (watch speak for the technical elements in the timepiece). Knowing how to navigate the frenzy of watch obsessives is also something to get used to.

When it comes to the purchase of a watch, there’s something special about investing in lasting pieces that can be markers of anniversaries, birthdays, or (quite simply) time. Those looking for hard-to-find models or vintage classics may find more luck in the pre-owned market. And, as Bucci adds, “of course, alongside all of it is the aesthetic side of things – some designs…are truly iconic.” Here are our recommendations for the best watches for women at any point of life.

The best watches for women, according to Vogue

The classics

The quintessential women’s watch is petite and demure. Though an evening watch isn’t always required, the dimensions and hallmarks of one (slim, a tad sparkly, and often with a leather strap) look just as good with a white T-shirt as with an evening gown.

Watches as jewellery

Disguised as a bracelet, these watches are the most obvious bridge between the worlds of jewellery and timepiece. Each is a statement on its own or an over-the-top addition to a wrist of bracelets.

Borrowed from the boys

There’s no limit to the pieces that women borrow from men’s wardrobes. Just like a well tailored suit, a men’s watch on a woman is a tried-and-true stylish move. As more and more women have adopted traditional men’s watches, companies have scaled back the bulk on the dials while keeping all the other details the same.

Under £1,000

A smaller budget shouldn’t mean sacrificing a fashionable watch. Besides exquisite clothing, fashion houses create excellent timepieces – take Isabel Marant or Tory Burch’s variations on the classics. If you’re happy to try vintage or pre-loved, savvy shoppers should look to eBay for one-of-a-kind pieces at enticing price points.

Sporty chic

Sporty doesn’t have to mean a running watch – although the Apple Watch has the technology to help with that. These sporty options have functions that may have traditionally been used for divers or the tracking of laps on the race course, but look just as good on the wrist.